mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 132.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxxxiii" n="cxxxiii" next="Ps.cxxxiv" prev="Ps.cxxxii" progress="67.81%" title="Chapter CXXXII">
<h2 id="Ps.cxxxiii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxxxiii-p0.2">PSALM CXXXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1">It is probable that this psalm was penned by
Solomon, to be sung at the dedication of the temple which he built
according to the charge his father gave him, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.28.2-1Chr.28.21" parsed="|1Chr|28|2|28|21" passage="1Ch 28:2-21">1 Chron. xxviii. 2</scripRef>, &amp;c. Having
fulfilled his trust, he begs of God to own what he had done. I. He
had built this house for the honour and service of God; and when he
brings the ark into it, the token of God's presence, he desires
that God himself would come and take possession of it, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.8-Ps.132.10" parsed="|Ps|132|8|132|10" passage="Ps 132:8-10">ver. 8-10</scripRef>. With these words
Solomon concluded his prayer, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.6.41-2Chr.6.42" parsed="|2Chr|6|41|6|42" passage="2Ch 6:41,42">2
Chron. vi. 41, 42</scripRef>. II. He had built it in pursuance of
the orders he had received from his father, and therefore his pleas
to enforce these petitions refer to David. 1. He pleads David's
piety towards God, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.1-Ps.132.7" parsed="|Ps|132|1|132|7" passage="Ps 132:1-7">ver.
1-7</scripRef>. 2. He pleads God's promise to David, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.11-Ps.132.18" parsed="|Ps|132|11|132|18" passage="Ps 132:11-18">ver. 11-18</scripRef>. The former introduces
his petition: the latter follows it as an answer to it. In singing
this psalm we must have a concern for the gospel church as the
temple of God, and a dependence upon Christ as David our King, in
whom the mercies of God are sure mercies.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132" parsed="|Ps|132|0|0|0" passage="Ps 132" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.1-Ps.132.10" parsed="|Ps|132|1|132|10" passage="Ps 132:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.132.1-Ps.132.10">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.8">Solomon's Prayer for Divine
Favour.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.cxxxiii-p2">A song of degrees.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p3">1 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p3.1">Lord</span>, remember
David, <i>and</i> all his afflictions:   2 How he sware unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p3.2">Lord</span>, <i>and</i> vowed unto the
mighty <i>God</i> of Jacob;   3 Surely I will not come into
the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;   4 I will
not give sleep to mine eyes, <i>or</i> slumber to mine eyelids,
  5 Until I find out a place for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p3.3">Lord</span>, a habitation for the mighty <i>God</i> of
Jacob.   6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the
fields of the wood.   7 We will go into his tabernacles: we
will worship at his footstool.   8 Arise, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p3.4">O Lord</span>, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy
strength.   9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;
and let thy saints shout for joy.   10 For thy servant David's
sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p4">In these verses we have Solomon's address
to God for his favour to him and to his government, and his
acceptance of his building a house to God's name. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p5">I. What he pleads—two things:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6">1. That what he had done was in pursuance
of the pious vow which his father David had made to build a house
for God. Solomon was a wise man, yet pleads not any merit of his
own: "I am not worthy, for whom thou shouldst do this; but,
<i>Lord, remember David,</i> with whom thou madest the covenant"
(as Moses prayed, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.32.13" parsed="|Exod|32|13|0|0" passage="Ex 32:13">Exod. xxxii.
13</scripRef>, <i>Remember Abraham,</i> the first trustee of the
covenant); "remember <i>all his afflictions,</i> all the troubles
of his life, which his being anointed was the occasion of," or his
care and concern about the ark, and what an uneasiness it was to
him that the ark was in curtains, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.7.2" parsed="|2Sam|7|2|0|0" passage="2Sa 7:2">2
Sam. vii. 2</scripRef>. <i>Remember all his humility and
meekness</i> (so some read it), all that pious and devout affection
with which he had made the following vow. Note, It is not amiss for
us to put God in mind of our predecessors in profession, of their
afflictions, their services, and their sufferings, of God's
covenant with them, the experiences they have had of his goodness,
the care they took of, and the many prayers they put up for, those
that should come after them. We may apply it to Christ, the Son of
David, and to all his afflictions: "Lord, remember the covenant
made with him and the satisfaction made by him. <i>Remember all his
offerings</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.20.3" parsed="|Ps|20|3|0|0" passage="Ps 20:3">Ps. xx. 3</scripRef>),
that is, all his sufferings." He especially pleads the solemn vow
that David had made as soon as ever he was settled in his
government, and before he was well settled in a house of his own,
that he would build a house for God. Observe, (1.) Whom he bound
himself to, <i>to the Lord, to the mighty God of Jacob.</i> Vows
are to be made to God, who is a party as well as a witness. The
Lord is the Mighty One of Jacob, Jacob's God, and a mighty one,
whose power is engaged for Jacob's defence and deliverance. Jacob
is weak, but the God of Jacob is a mighty one. (2.) What he bound
himself to do, to <i>find out a place for the Lord,</i> that is,
for the ark, the token of his presence. He had observed in the law
frequent mention of the <i>place that God would choose to put his
name there,</i> to which all the tribes should resort. When he came
to the crown there was no such place; Shiloh was deserted, and no
other place was pitched upon, for want of which the feasts of the
Lord were not kept with due solemnity. "Well," says David, "I will
find out such a place for the general rendezvous of all the tribes,
a place of <i>habitation for the Mighty</i> One <i>of Jacob,</i> a
place for the ark, where there shall be room both for the priests
and people to attend upon it." (3.) How intent he was upon it; he
would not settle in his bed, till he had brought this matter to
some head, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.3-Ps.132.4" parsed="|Ps|132|3|132|4" passage="Ps 132:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>. The thing had been long talked of, and nothing done,
till at last David, when he went out one morning about public
business, made a vow that before night he would come to a
resolution in this matter, and would determine the place either
where the tent should be pitched for the reception of the ark, at
the beginning of his reign, or rather where Solomon should build
the temple, which was not fixed till the latter end of his reign,
just after the pestilence with which he was punished for numbering
the people (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.22.1" parsed="|1Chr|22|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 22:1">1 Chron. xxii.
1</scripRef>, <i>Then David said, This is the house of the
Lord</i>); and perhaps it was upon occasion of that judgment that
he made this vow, being apprehensive that one of God's
controversies with him was for his dilatoriness in this matter.
Note, When needful work is to be done for God it is good for us to
task ourselves, and tie ourselves to a time, because we are apt to
put off. It is good in the morning to cut out work for the day,
binding ourselves that we will do it before we sleep, only with
submission to Providence; for we <i>know not what a day may bring
forth.</i> Especially in the great work of conversion to God we
must be thus solicitous, thus zealous; we have good reason to
resolve that we will not enjoy the comforts of this life till we
have laid a foundation for hopes of a better.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p7">2. That it was in pursuance of the
expectations of the people of Israel, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.6-Ps.132.7" parsed="|Ps|132|6|132|7" passage="Ps 132:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>. (1.) They were inquisitive
after the ark; for they lamented its obscurity, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.7.2" parsed="|1Sam|7|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 7:2">1 Sam. vii. 2</scripRef>. They <i>heard of it at
Ephratah</i> (that is, at Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim); there
they were told it had been, but it was gone. They <i>found it,</i>
at last, <i>in the fields of the wood,</i> that is, in
Kirjath-jearim, which signifies <i>the city of woods.</i> Thence
all Israel fetched it, with great solemnity, in the beginning of
David's reign (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.6" parsed="|1Chr|13|6|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:6">1 Chron. xiii.
6</scripRef>), so that in building his house for the ark Solomon
had gratified all Israel. They needed not to go about to seek the
ark anymore; they now knew where to find it. (2.) They were
resolved to attend it: "Let us but have a convenient place, and
<i>we will go into his tabernacle,</i> to pay our homage there;
<i>we will worship at his footstool</i> as subjects and suppliants,
which we neglected to do, for want of such a place, <i>in the days
of Saul,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.3" parsed="|1Chr|13|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:3">1 Chron. xiii.
3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8">II. What he prays for, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.8-Ps.132.10" parsed="|Ps|132|8|132|10" passage="Ps 132:8-10"><i>v.</i> 8-10</scripRef>. 1. That God would
vouchsafe, not only to take possession of, but to take up his
residence in, this temple which he had built: <i>Arise, O Lord!
into thy rest,</i> and let this be it, <i>thou,</i> even <i>the ark
of thy strength,</i> the pledge of thy presence, thy mighty
presence. 2. That God would give grace to the ministers of the
sanctuary to do their duty: <i>Let thy priests be clothed with
righteousness;</i> let them appear righteous both in their
administrations and in their conversations, and let both be
according to the rule. Note, Righteousness is the best ornament of
a minister. Holiness towards God, and goodness towards all men, are
habits for ministers of the necessity of which there is no dispute.
"They are <i>thy priests,</i> and will therefore discredit their
relation to thee if they <i>be not clothed with righteousness.</i>"
3. That the people of God might have the comfort of the due
administration of holy ordinances among them: <i>Let thy saints
shout for joy.</i> They did so when the ark was brought into the
city of David (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.6.15" parsed="|2Sam|6|15|0|0" passage="2Sa 6:15">2 Sam. vi.
15</scripRef>); they will do so when the priests are clothed with
righteousness. A faithful ministry is the joy of the saints; it is
the matter of it; it is a friend and a furtherance to it; we are
<i>helpers of your joy,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.1.24" parsed="|2Cor|1|24|0|0" passage="2Co 1:24">2 Cor. i.
24</scripRef>. 4. That Solomon's own prayer, upon occasion of the
dedicating of the temple, might be accepted of God: "<i>Turn not
away the face of thy anointed,</i> that is, deny me not the things
I have asked of thee, send me not away ashamed." He pleads, (1.)
That he was the anointed of the Lord, and this he pleads as a type
of Christ, the great anointed, who, in his intercession, urges his
designation to his office. He is God's anointed, and therefore the
Father hears him always. (2.) That he was the son of David: "For
his sake do not deny me;" and this is the Christian's plea: "For
the sake of Christ" (our David), "<i>in whom thou art well
pleased,</i> accept me." He is David, whose name signifies
<i>beloved;</i> and we are made accepted in the beloved. He is
God's servant, whom he <i>upholds,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1" parsed="|Isa|42|1|0|0" passage="Isa 42:1">Isa. xlii. 1</scripRef>. "We have no merit of our own to
plead, but for his sake, in whom there is a fulness of merit, let
us find favour." When we pray for the prosperity of the church we
may pray with great boldness, for Christ's sake, who purchased the
church with his own blood. "Let both ministers and people do their
duty."</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.11-Ps.132.18" parsed="|Ps|132|11|132|18" passage="Ps 132:11-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.132.11-Ps.132.18">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxxiii-p8.6">God's Choice of Zion; God's Promises to
Zion.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p9">11 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p9.1">Lord</span> hath
sworn <i>in</i> truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the
fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.   12 If thy
children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach
them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
  13 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p9.2">Lord</span> hath chosen
Zion; he hath desired <i>it</i> for his habitation.   14 This
<i>is</i> my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired
it.   15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy
her poor with bread.   16 I will also clothe her priests with
salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.   17
There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp
for mine anointed.   18 His enemies will I clothe with shame:
but upon himself shall his crown flourish.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p10">These are precious promises, <i>confirmed
by an oath,</i> that the heirs of them might have <i>strong
consolation,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.6.17-Heb.6.18" parsed="|Heb|6|17|6|18" passage="Heb 6:17,18">Heb. vi. 17,
18</scripRef>. It is all one whether we take them as pleas urged in
the prayer or as answers returned to the prayer; believers know how
to make use of the promises both ways, with them to speak to God
and in them to hear what God the Lord will speak to us. These
promises relate to the establishment both in church and state, both
to the throne of the house of David and to the testimony of Israel
fixed on Mount Zion. The promises concerning Zion's hill are as
applicable to the gospel-church as these concerning David's seed
are to Christ, and therefore both pleadable by us and very
comfortable to us. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p11">I. The choice God made of David's house and
Zion hill. Both were of divine appointment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12">1. God chose David's family for the royal
family and confirmed his choice by an oath, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.11-Ps.132.12" parsed="|Ps|132|11|132|12" passage="Ps 132:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>. David, being a type of
Christ, was made king with an oath: <i>The Lord hath sworn and will
not repent,</i> will not turn from it. Did David swear to the Lord
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.2" parsed="|Ps|132|2|0|0" passage="Ps 132:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>) that he would
find him a house? The Lord swore to David that he would build him a
house; for God will be behind with none of his people in affections
or assurances. The promise made to David refers, (1.) To a long
succession of kings that should descend from his loins: <i>Of the
fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne,</i> which was
fulfilled in Solomon; David himself lived to see it with great
satisfaction, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.1.48" parsed="|1Kgs|1|48|0|0" passage="1Ki 1:48">1 Kings i.
48</scripRef>. The crown was also entailed conditionally upon his
heirs for ever: <i>If thy children,</i> in following ages, <i>will
keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them.</i> God
himself engaged to teach them, and he did his part; they had Moses
and the prophets, and all he expects is that they should keep what
he taught them, and keep to it, and then <i>their children shall
sit upon thy throne for evermore.</i> Kings are before God upon
their good behaviour, and their commission from him runs <i>quamdiu
se bene gesserint—during good behaviour.</i> The issue of this was
that they did not keep God's covenant, and so the entail was at
length cut off, and <i>the sceptre departed from Judah</i> by
degrees. (2.) To an everlasting successor, a king that should
descend from his loins of <i>the increase of whose government and
peace there shall be no end.</i> St. Peter applies this to Christ,
nay, he tells us that David himself so understood it. <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.30" parsed="|Acts|2|30|0|0" passage="Ac 2:30">Acts ii. 30</scripRef>, <i>He knew that God had
sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according
to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;</i>
and in the fulness of time he did so, and <i>gave him the throne of
his father David,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.1.32" parsed="|Luke|1|32|0|0" passage="Lu 1:32">Luke i.
32</scripRef>. He did fulfill the condition of the promise; he kept
God's covenant and his testimony, did his Father's will, and in all
things pleased him; and therefore to him, and his spiritual seed,
the promise shall be made good. He, and the children God has given
him, all believers, shall <i>sit upon the throne for evermore,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.21" parsed="|Rev|3|21|0|0" passage="Re 3:21">Rev. iii. 21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p13">2. God chose Zion hill for the holy hill,
and confirmed his choice by the delight he took in it, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.13-Ps.132.14" parsed="|Ps|132|13|132|14" passage="Ps 132:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>. He <i>chose the
Mount Zion which he loved</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.68" parsed="|Ps|76|68|0|0" passage="Ps 76:68">Ps.
lxxviii. 68</scripRef>); he chose it for the habitation of his ark,
and said of it, <i>This is my rest for ever,</i> and not merely my
residence for a time, as Shiloh was. Zion was the city of David; he
chose it for the royal city because God chose it for the holy city.
God said, <i>Here will I dwell,</i> and therefore David said,
<i>Here will I dwell,</i> for here he adhered to his principle,
<i>It is good for me to be near to God.</i> Zion must be here
looked upon as a type of the gospel-church, which is called
<i>Mount Zion</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii.
22</scripRef>), and in it what is here said of Zion has its full
accomplishment. Zion was long since ploughed as a field, but the
church of Christ <i>is the house of the living God</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.15" parsed="|1Tim|3|15|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:15">1 Tim. iii. 15</scripRef>), and it is his
<i>rest for ever,</i> and shall be blessed with his presence
always, even to the end of the world. The delight God takes in his
church, and the continuance of his presence with his church, are
the comfort and joy of all its members.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p14">II. The choice blessings God has in store
for David's house and Zion hill. Whom God chooses he will
bless.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p15">1. God, having chosen Zion hill, promises
to bless that,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p16">(1.) With the blessings of the life that
now is; for godliness has the promise of them, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.15" parsed="|Ps|132|15|0|0" passage="Ps 132:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. The earth shall yield her
increase; where religion is set up there shall be provision, and in
blessing God will bless it (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.6" parsed="|Ps|67|6|0|0" passage="Ps 67:6">Ps. lxvii.
6</scripRef>); he will surely and abundantly bless it. And a little
provision, with an abundant blessing upon it, will be more
serviceable, as well as more comfortable, than a great deal without
that blessing. God's people have a special blessing upon common
enjoyments, and that blessing puts a peculiar sweetness into them.
Nay, the promise goes further: <i>I will satisfy her poor with
bread.</i> Zion has her own poor to keep; and it is promised that
God will take care even of them. [1.] By his providence they shall
be kept from wanting; they shall have provision enough. If there be
scarcity, the poor are the first that feel it, so that it is a sure
sign of plenty if they have sufficient. Zion's poor shall not want,
for God has obliged all the sons of Zion to be charitable to the
poor, according to their ability, and the church must take care
that they be not <i>neglected,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.1" parsed="|Acts|6|1|0|0" passage="Ac 6:1">Acts
vi. 1</scripRef>. [2.] By his grace they shall be kept from
complaining; though they have but dry bread, yet they shall be
satisfied. Zion's poor have, of all others, reason to be content
with a little of this world, because they have better things
prepared for them. And this may be understood spiritually of the
provision that is made for the soul in the word and ordinances; God
will abundantly bless that for the nourishment of the new man, and
satisfy the poor in spirit with the bread of life. What God
sanctifies to us we shall and may be satisfied with.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p17">(2.) With the blessings of the life that is
to come, things pertaining to godliness (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.16" parsed="|Ps|132|16|0|0" passage="Ps 132:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), which is an answer to the
prayer, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.9" parsed="|Ps|132|9|0|0" passage="Ps 132:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. [1.]
It was desired that the priests might be <i>clothed with
righteousness;</i> it is here promised that God will <i>clothe them
with salvation,</i> not only save them, but make them and their
administrations instrumental for the salvation of his people; they
shall both <i>save themselves and those that hear them,</i> and
<i>add those to the church that shall be saved.</i> Note, Whom God
clothes with righteousness he will clothe with salvation; we must
pray for righteousness and then with it God will give salvation.
[2.] It was desired that the saints might <i>shout for joy;</i> it
is promised that they <i>shall shout aloud for joy.</i> God gives
more than we ask, and when he gives salvation he will give an
abundant joy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxxiii-p18">2. God, having chosen David's family, here
promises to bless that also with suitable blessings. (1.) Growing
power: <i>There,</i> in Zion, <i>will I make the horn of David to
bud,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.17" parsed="|Ps|132|17|0|0" passage="Ps 132:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. The
royal dignity shall increase more and more, and constant additions
he made to the lustre of it. Christ is the <i>horn of salvation</i>
(denoting a plentiful and powerful salvation) which God has raised
up, and made to bud, <i>in the house of his servant David.</i>
David had promised to use his power for God's glory, to cut off the
horns of the wicked, and to exalt the horns of the righteous
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.75.10" parsed="|Ps|75|10|0|0" passage="Ps 75:10">Ps. lxxv. 10</scripRef>); in
recompence for it God here promises to make his horn to bud, for to
those that have power, and use it well, more shall be given. (2.)
Lasting honour: <i>I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.</i> Thou
wilt <i>light my candle,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.28" parsed="|Ps|18|28|0|0" passage="Ps 18:28">Ps.
xviii. 28</scripRef>. That lamp is likely to burn brightly which
God ordains. A lamp is a successor, for, when a lamp is almost out,
another may be lighted by it; it is a succession, for by this means
David shall not want a man to stand before God. Christ is the lamp
and the light of the world. (3.) Complete victory: "<i>His
enemies,</i> who have formed designs against him, <i>will I clothe
with shame,</i> when they shall see their designs baffled." Let the
enemies of all good governors expect to be clothed with shame, and
especially the enemies of the Lord Jesus and his government, who
shall rise, in the great day, <i>to everlasting shame and
contempt.</i> (4.) Universal prosperity: <i>Upon himself shall his
crown flourish,</i> that is, his government shall be more and more
his honour. This was to have its full accomplishment in Jesus
Christ, whose crown of honour and power shall never fade, nor the
flowers of it wither. The crowns of earthly princes <i>endure not
to all generations</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxxiii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.24" parsed="|Prov|27|24|0|0" passage="Pr 27:24">Prov. xxvii.
24</scripRef>), but Christ's crown shall endure to all eternity and
the crowns reserved for his faithful subjects are such as <i>fade
not away.</i></p>
</div></div2>