_The kingdom of Christ: kings are exhorted to accept it._ THE Jewish rabbis expound this Psalm (as Raschi informs us in his comment on the first verse) of king Messiah; though he himself explains it in the literal sense, as relative to David. The Chaldee paraphrase seems also to apply the Psalm to t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS OF THE EARTH SET THEMSELVES, &C.— Or, _Rise up, and the rulers assemble together._ Chandler renders it, _Set themselves in opposition, and instigate each other._ This gives a very strong and significant meaning, as David's enemies urged and instigated each other in their opposition to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US BREAK THEIR BANDS— This is the language of the nations and people instigating each other to this impious war. To be in bonds, and tied with cords, is to be reduced to the utmost state of vassalage: and the kings and nations counted their subjection to David the most dishonourable servitude, a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SITTETH, &C.— Or, _He that dwelleth._ This is spoken of God, (after the manner of men,) to denote his utter contempt of the opposition of his enemies; the perfect ease with which he was able to disappoint all their measures, and crush them for their impiety and folly; together with his absol... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HE SPEAK UNTO THEM— This denotes, not God's speaking to them by an audible voice; but his making them know, to their full conviction, by the disappointment of their schemes, and the vengeance taken of them, that David was established king in Jerusalem, and should reign in his son the Mess... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HAVE I SET MY KING— It should have been rendered, _I, even I, have anointed my King on Sion,_ or rather, _over Sion, the mountain of my holiness._ We do not read that David was ever anointed on Mount Sion, or in Jerusalem, king over Israel; and the meaning is not that God had anointed David on S... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DECLARE THE DECREE— Or, _I will tell of a decree._ David having introduced God as declaring that he would speak to the confusion of his enemies, and convince them that he had made him king in Sion, further says, for the encouragement of his subjects, that he would relate to them God's purpose... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK OF ME, &C.— This, as it refers to David, denotes God's promise to extend his dominion over all the neighbouring states and princes that opposed him, around all the borders of Judaea; and this promise was literally made good. But this extent of dominion is too small to come up to the full meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
BE INSTRUCTED— Or, _Be reformed._... [ Continue Reading ]
KISS THE SON— The _Son_ primarily denotes David himself; but the character is more especially applicable to his great successor, who is the Son of God, in a more appropriate and much higher sense than David. A kiss in the East was a token of respect and reverence from inferiors to their superiors: s... [ Continue Reading ]