Send; or, send forth, into the world. The rod of thy strength; thy strong or powerful rod, by a usual Hebraism. And the rod is put for his sceptre, or kingly power, as it is Isaiah 10:24 Jeremiah 48:17 Ezekiel 7:10,11 Ezekiel 19:11,12. But as the kingdom of Christ is not carnal, or of this world, 1 Thessalonians 18:36, but spiritual; so this rod or sceptre is nothing else but his word published by himself, or by his apostles and ministers, and accompanied with his Spirit, by which the Messias did his great exploits, and set up and established his kingdom, converting some of his enemies, and confounding and destroying others of them, by that same instrument, as is manifest by comparing Isaiah 2:3, Isaiah 11:4 Micah 4:2 2 Corinthians 10:4 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Hence this word is called the word of the kingdom, Matthew 13:19, and the power of God, Romans 1:16. David having spoken of the Messias, Psalms 110:1, now turneth his speech to him. Out of Zion; from Jerusalem, which is frequently understood by the name of Zion, which was an eminent and venerable part of it, as Psalms 48:13, Psalms 87:2 102:13,16, &c.; where the sceptre of the Messias was first to be established according to the predictions of the prophets, Psalms 2:6,8 Psalms 48:3 Isaiah 2:3, &c.; to which the event exactly answered, Luke 24:47 Acts 1:4, Acts 2:1,2, &c.; and from whence it was to be sent forth into all the parts and kingdoms of the world, to bring in the Gentiles, which also the prophets had foretold, as Isaiah 2:3, and in divers of the foregoing Psalms, as hath been already frequently observed and proved. Rule thou; thou shalt rule; the imperative being here put for the future, as it is Genesis 12:12 Psalms 37:27, and oft elsewhere. For this is not a command, but a prediction or a promise that he shall rule; which he doth partly by his grace, converting some, and so ruling their hearts by his word and Spirit, and subduing their lusts in them, and their external enemies for them; and partly by his powerful providence, whereby he defends his church and people, and subdues and punisheth all their adversaries. In the midst of thine enemies; who shall see it, and do what they can to oppose thy dominion, but shall never be able to hinder it, but shall split themselves against it.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising