_Why do the heathen rage?_ THE PROPHETICAL ELEMENT IN THE PSALM But though the poem was occasioned by some national event, we must not confine its application to that event, nor need we even suppose that the singer himself did not feel that his words went beyond their first occasion. He begins to s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against the Lord, and against His anointed._ TAKING COUNSEL AGAINST CHRIST Anointed here means the same as Messiah, and both words the same as Christ in the New Testament. How literally were the words of this verse fulfilled, when Herod and Pontius Pilate, and the rulers of the Jews combined toget... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us._ SINNERS VAINLY ATTEMPT TO DISSOLVE THEIR OBLIGATIONS I. The obligations sinners are under to God. 1. Natural obligations. Their nature, as dependent creatures, forms an intimate connection between them and their Maker. They ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. .. and vex them in His sore displeasure._ FIRST A LAUGH THEN A SMITE The heathen and the people, the kings and the rulers are answered with contempt, they are laughed at and derided; and if this be not enough to change their spirit and their purpose, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion._ THE SOVEREIGNTY ZION’S KING Christ is King in Zion, the alone Sovereign of His Church by his Father’s appointment and ordination. I. This sovereign prince. The sovereignty and royalty appears-- 1. From Scripture prophecy. 2. From types. 3. Fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will declare the decree._ THE LORD’S DECREE There is nothing in the economy of life and civilisation that is haphazard. Before all things and round about them as a glory and defence is the Lord’s “decree.” Under all disorder is law. The law is first beneficent, and then retributive. It is benefi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance._ THE CHURCH AROUSED TO THE MISSIONARY WORK I. The Lord’s intercession, in reference to missionary enterprise. The great object of missionary enterprise is the subject of our Saviour’s intercession. The object is the diffusion of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break them with a rod of iron._ JEHOVAH’S IRON ROD This cannot mean that Messiah’s sway is a kingdom of force, but only that His enemies can no more withstand His power than an earthen vessel can withstand the blows of an iron rod. His only weapons of assault are truth and love; and if human power... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be wise now therefore, O ye kings._ HEAVENLY WISDOM Wisdom is the mind’s eye, by which she wyeth into all the secrets of nature and mysteries of State, and discerneth between good and evil, and prudently guideth all the affairs of life, as the helm doth a ship. She is the chief of the four cardina... [ Continue Reading ]
_Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling._ ANTAGONISTIC FORCES The scientist tells us that the laws of nature are arranged on the principle of antagonistic forces; and it is somewhat thus with the laws of the Christian life. I. The two states of feeling referred to. 1. Fear. There a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kiss the Son, lest He be angry._ THE SYMBOL OF THE KISS I. Our duty. “Kiss the Son.” An expression of love. To whom? The Son of God. The testimony of our love to this person is the kiss. This outward act has been diversely depraved and vitiated amongst men. It hath been ill-used. See cases of Joa... [ Continue Reading ]