_The majesty and grace of Christ’s kingdom.—The duty of the church,
and the benefits thereof._
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
A Song of Loves.
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have
made touching the king: my tongue _is_ the pen of a ready writer.
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy
lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Gird thy sword upon _thy_ thigh, O _most_ mighty, with thy glory and
thy majesty.
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness
_and_ righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible
things.
Thine arrows _are_ sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; _whereby_
the people fall under thee.
Thy throne, O God, _is_ for and ever and ever: the sceptre of thy
kingdom _is_ a right sceptre.
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
All thy garments _smell_ of myrrh, and aloes, _and_ cassia, out of the
ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
Kings’ daughters _were_ among thy honourable women: upon thy right
hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also
thine own people, and thy father’s house;
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he _is_ thy Lord; and
worship thou him.
And the daughter of Tyre _shall be there_ with a gift; _even_ the rich
among the people shall intreat thy favour.
The king’s daughter _is_ all glorious within: her clothing _is_ of
wrought gold.
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the
virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter
into the king’s palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make
princes in all the earth.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore
shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
This is a prophecy concerning the gospel and kingdom of Christ; and it
describes, in many rich and sweet figures and expressions, the spouse
of Christ, the church. It describes also Christ, going forth in all
his regal pomp; having all royal gifts, a manly and regal form,
suavity and grace of speech, a warrior’s armour, the splendour of
regal dress, and success in war against his enemies, &c.; and also as
possessing all kingly virtues,—righteousness, clemency, &c.
And moreover that he may set the kingdom of Christ before our eyes in
its sweetest appearance, the Psalmist describes him as having palaces
and houses of ivory; a queen, and her attendant virgins; and sons and
daughters. All these things are to be understood of the spiritual
kingdom of Christ and the church, where Christ is a King, powerful,
wise, just, gracious, and victorious; and moreover, a conqueror
triumphant; and also rejoicing, preserving, comforting and enriching
his own, against sin, the law, and death, &c.
And David here clearly foretels that the law of the Old Testament
should be abrogated. “Hearken (says he) O daughter, and incline thine
ear, forget also thy father’s house: (here he seems to glance at the
synagogue): so shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty, and thou
shalt worship him;” showing, that there is no true God out of Christ;
and ascribing unto Christ truly divine honour; namely, that of the
first and great precept,—that is, adoration. And in the sixth and
seventh verses, he plainly calls him God: thus making him an eternal
king, the foundation of whose throne is in righteousness: who
justifies all that believe in him, and takes away sin, and destroys
death and hell. And no one can be an eternal king that dies not, but
he that is truly and naturally God!—of which we have spoken at large
elsewhere, in our more full commentary on the 45th Psalm.