mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 22.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxiii" n="xxiii" next="Ps.xxiv" prev="Ps.xxii" progress="28.27%" title="Chapter XXII">
<h2 id="Ps.xxiii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxiii-p0.2">PSALM XXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxiii-p1">The Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets,
testifies in this psalm, as clearly and fully as any where in all
the Old Testament, "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that
should follow" (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.11" parsed="|1Pet|1|11|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:11">1 Pet. i.
11</scripRef>); of him, no doubt, David here speaks, and not of
himself, or any other man. Much of it is expressly applied to
Christ in the New Testament, all of it may be applied to him, and
some of it must be understood of him only. The providences of God
concerning David were so very extraordinary that we may suppose
there were some wise and good men who then could not but look upon
him as a figure of him that was to come. But the composition of his
psalms especially, in which he found himself wonderfully carried
out by the spirit of prophecy far beyond his own thought and
intention, was (we may suppose) an abundant satisfaction to himself
that he was not only a father of the Messiah, but a figure of him.
In this psalm he speaks, I. Of the humiliation of Christ (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.1-Ps.22.21" parsed="|Ps|22|1|22|21" passage="Ps 22:1-21">ver. 1-21</scripRef>), where David, as a type
of Christ, complains of the very calamitous condition he was in
upon many accounts. 1. He complains, and mixes comforts with his
complaints; he complains (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.1-Ps.22.2" parsed="|Ps|22|1|22|2" passage="Ps 22:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>), but comforts himself (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.3-Ps.22.5" parsed="|Ps|22|3|22|5" passage="Ps 22:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>), complains again (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.6-Ps.22.8" parsed="|Ps|22|6|22|8" passage="Ps 22:6-8">ver. 6-8</scripRef>), but comforts himself
again, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.9-Ps.22.10" parsed="|Ps|22|9|22|10" passage="Ps 22:9,10">ver. 9, 10</scripRef>. 2. He
complains, and mixes prayers with his complaints; he complains of
the power and rage of his enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.12-Ps.22.13 Bible:Ps.22.16 Bible:Ps.22.18" parsed="|Ps|22|12|22|13;|Ps|22|16|0|0;|Ps|22|18|0|0" passage="Ps 22:12,13,16,18">ver. 12, 13, 16, 18</scripRef>), of his own
bodily weakness and decay (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.14-Ps.22.15 Bible:Ps.22.17" parsed="|Ps|22|14|22|15;|Ps|22|17|0|0" passage="Ps 22:14,15,17">ver.
14, 15, 17</scripRef>); but prays that God would not be far from
him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.11 Bible:Ps.22.19" parsed="|Ps|22|11|0|0;|Ps|22|19|0|0" passage="Ps 22:11,19">ver. 11, 19</scripRef>), that
he would save and deliver him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.19-Ps.22.21" parsed="|Ps|22|19|22|21" passage="Ps 22:19-21">ver.
19-21</scripRef>. II. Of the exaltation of Christ, that his
undertaking should be for the glory of God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.22-Ps.22.25" parsed="|Ps|22|22|22|25" passage="Ps 22:22-25">ver. 22-25</scripRef>), for the salvation and joy of
his people (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.26-Ps.22.29" parsed="|Ps|22|26|22|29" passage="Ps 22:26-29">ver. 26-29</scripRef>),
and for the perpetuating of his own kingdom, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.30-Ps.22.31" parsed="|Ps|22|30|22|31" passage="Ps 22:30,31">ver. 30, 31</scripRef>. In singing this psalm we must
keep our thoughts fixed upon Christ, and be so affected with his
sufferings as to experience the fellowship of them, and so affected
with his grace as to experience the power and influence of it.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxiii-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22" parsed="|Ps|22|0|0|0" passage="Ps 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxiii-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.1-Ps.22.10" parsed="|Ps|22|1|22|10" passage="Ps 22:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.22.1-Ps.22.10">
<h4 id="Ps.xxiii-p1.16">Sorrowful Complaints.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xxiii-p1.17">
<p id="Ps.xxiii-p2">To the chief musician upon Aijeleth Shahar. A psalm of
David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxiii-p3">1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
<i>why art thou so</i> far from helping me, <i>and from</i> the
words of my roaring?   2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but
thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
  3 But thou <i>art</i> holy, <i>O thou</i> that inhabitest
the praises of Israel.   4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they
trusted, and thou didst deliver them.   5 They cried unto
thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not
confounded.   6 But I <i>am</i> a worm, and no man; a reproach
of men, and despised of the people.   7 All they that see me
laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head,
<i>saying,</i>   8 He trusted on the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p3.1">Lord</span> <i>that</i> he would deliver him: let him
deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.   9 But thou
<i>art</i> he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope
<i>when I was</i> upon my mother's breasts.   10 I was cast
upon thee from the womb: thou <i>art</i> my God from my mother's
belly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p4">Some think they find Christ in the title of
this psalm, upon <i>Aijeleth Shahar</i>—<i>The hind of the
morning.</i> Christ is as the swift hind upon the mountains of
spices (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Song.8.14" parsed="|Song|8|14|0|0" passage="So 8:14">Cant. viii. 14</scripRef>), as
the loving hind and the pleasant roe, to all believers (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.5.19" parsed="|Prov|5|19|0|0" passage="Pr 5:19">Prov. v. 19</scripRef>); he giveth goodly words
like Naphtali, who is compared to a <i>hind let loose,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.21" parsed="|Gen|49|21|0|0" passage="Ge 49:21">Gen. xlix. 21</scripRef>. He is the
hind of the morning, marked out by the counsels of God from
eternity, to be run down by those dogs that compassed him,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.16" parsed="|Ps|22|16|0|0" passage="Ps 22:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. But others
think it denotes only the tune to which the psalm was set. In these
verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p5">I. A sad complaint of God's withdrawings,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.1-Ps.22.2" parsed="|Ps|22|1|22|2" passage="Ps 22:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p6">1. This may be applied to David, or any
other child of God, in the want of the tokens of his favour,
pressed with the burden of his displeasure, roaring under it, as
one overwhelmed with grief and terror, crying earnestly for relief,
and, in this case, apprehending himself forsaken of God, unhelped,
unheard, yet calling him, again and again, "<i>My God,</i>" and
continuing to cry day and night to him and earnestly desiring his
gracious returns. Note, (1.) Spiritual desertions are the saints'
sorest afflictions; when their evidences are clouded, divine
consolations suspended, their communion with God interrupted, and
the terrors of God set in array against them, how sad are their
spirits, and how sapless all their comforts! (2.) Even their
complaint of these burdens is a good sign of spiritual life and
spiritual senses exercised. To cry out, "My God, why am I sick? Why
am I poor?" would give cause to suspect discontent and worldliness.
But, <i>Why has though forsaken me?</i> is the language of a heart
binding up its happiness in God's favour. (3.) When we are
lamenting God's withdrawings, yet still we must call him our God,
and continue to call upon him as ours. When we want the faith of
assurance we must live by a faith of adherence. "However it be, yet
God is good, and he is mine; <i>though he slay me, yet I trust in
him;</i> though he do not answer me immediately, I will continue
praying and waiting; though he be silent, I will not be
silent."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p7">2. But it must be applied to Christ: for,
in the first words of this complaint, he poured out his soul before
God when he was upon the cross (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.27.46" parsed="|Matt|27|46|0|0" passage="Mt 27:46">Matt.
xxvii. 46</scripRef>); probably he proceeded to the following
words, and, some think, repeated the whole psalm, if not aloud
(because they cavilled at the first words), yet to himself. Note,
(1.) Christ, in his sufferings, cried earnestly to his Father for
his favour and presence with him. He cried <i>in the day-time,</i>
upon the cross, <i>and in the night-season,</i> when he was in
agony in the garden. <i>He offered up strong crying and tears to
him that was able to save him,</i> and with some fear too,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.7" parsed="|Heb|5|7|0|0" passage="Heb 5:7">Heb. v. 7</scripRef>. (2.) Yet God
forsook him, was far from helping him, and did not hear him, and it
was this that he complained of more than all his sufferings. God
delivered him into the hands of his enemies; it was by his
determinate counsel that he was crucified and slain, and he did not
give in sensible comforts. But, Christ having made himself sin for
us, in conformity thereunto the Father laid him under the present
impressions of his wrath and displeasure against sin. <i>It pleased
the Lord to bruise him and put him to grief,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.10" parsed="|Isa|53|10|0|0" passage="Isa 53:10">Isa. liii. 10</scripRef>. But even then he kept fast
hold of his relation to his Father as his God, by whom he was now
employed, whom he was now serving, and with whom he should shortly
be glorified.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p8">II. Encouragement taken, in reference
hereunto, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.3-Ps.22.5" parsed="|Ps|22|3|22|5" passage="Ps 22:3-5"><i>v.</i> 3-5</scripRef>.
Though God did not hear him, did not help him, yet, 1. He will
think well of God: "<i>But thou art holy,</i> not unjust, untrue,
nor unkind, in any of thy dispensations. Though thou dost not
immediately come in to the relief of thy afflicted people, yet
though lovest them, art true to thy covenant with them, and dost
not countenance the iniquity of their persecutors, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Hab.1.13" parsed="|Hab|1|13|0|0" passage="Hab 1:13">Hab. i. 13</scripRef>. And, as thou art
infinitely pure and upright thyself, so thou delightest in the
services of thy upright people: <i>Thou inhabitest the praises of
Israel;</i> thou art pleased to manifest thy glory, and grace, and
special presence with thy people, in the sanctuary, where they
attend thee with their praises. There thou art always ready to
receive their homage, and of the tabernacle of meeting thou hast
said, <i>This is my rest for ever.</i>" This bespeaks God's
wonderful condescension to his faithful worshippers—(that, though
he is attended with the praises of angels, yet he is pleased to
inhabit the praises of Israel), and it may comfort us in all our
complaints—that, though God seem, for a while, to turn a deaf ear
to them, yet he is so well pleased with his people's praises that
he will, in due time, give them cause to change their note: <i>Hope
in God, for I shall yet praise him.</i> Our Lord Jesus, in his
sufferings, had an eye to the holiness of God, to preserve and
advance the honour of that, and of his grace in inhabiting the
praises of Israel notwithstanding the iniquities of their holy
things. 2. He will take comfort from the experiences which the
saints in former ages had of the benefit of faith and prayer
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.4-Ps.22.5" parsed="|Ps|22|4|22|5" passage="Ps 22:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>): "<i>Our
fathers trusted in thee, cried unto thee, and thou didst deliver
them;</i> therefore thou wilt, in due time, deliver me, for never
any that hoped in thee were made ashamed of their hope, never any
that sought thee sought thee in vain. And thou art still the same
in thyself and the same to thy people that ever thou wast. They
were our fathers, and thy people are <i>beloved for the fathers'
sake,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.28" parsed="|Rom|11|28|0|0" passage="Ro 11:28">Rom. xi. 28</scripRef>. The
entail of the covenant is designed for the support of the seed of
the faithful. He that was our fathers' God must be ours, and will
therefore be ours. Our Lord Jesus, in his sufferings, supported
himself with this—that all the fathers who were types of him in
his sufferings, Noah, Joseph, David, Jonah, and others, were in due
time delivered and were types of his exaltation too; therefore he
knew that <i>he also should not be confounded,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.7" parsed="|Isa|50|7|0|0" passage="Isa 50:7">Isa. l. 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p9">III. The complaint renewed of another
grievance, and that is the contempt and reproach of men. This
complaint is by no means so bitter as that before of God's
withdrawings; but, as that touches a gracious soul, so this a
generous soul, in a very tender part, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.6-Ps.22.8" parsed="|Ps|22|6|22|8" passage="Ps 22:6-8"><i>v.</i> 6-8</scripRef>. Our fathers were honoured,
the patriarchs in their day, first or last, appeared great in the
eye of the world, Abraham, Moses, David; but Christ is <i>a worm,
and no man.</i> It was great condescension that he became man, a
step downwards, which is, and will be, the wonder of angels; yet,
as if it were too much, too great, to be a man, he becomes a worm,
and no man. He was <i>Adam—a mean man,</i> and <i>Enosh—a man of
sorrows,</i> but <i>lo Ish—not a considerable man:</i> for he took
upon him the form of a servant, and <i>his visage was marred more
than any man's,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.52.14" parsed="|Isa|52|14|0|0" passage="Isa 52:14">Isa. lii.
14</scripRef>. Man, at the best, is a worm; but he became <i>a
worm, and no man.</i> If he had not made himself a worm, he could
not have been trampled upon as he was. The word signifies such a
worm as was used in dyeing scarlet or purple, whence some make it
an allusion to his bloody sufferings. See what abuses were put upon
him. 1. He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, a
sabbath-breaker, a wine-bibber, a false prophet, an enemy to Cæsar,
a confederate with the prince of the devils. 2. He was despised of
the people as a mean contemptible man, not worth taking notice of,
his country in no repute, his relations poor mechanics, his
followers none of the rulers, or the Pharisees, but the mob. 3. He
was ridiculed as a foolish man, and one that not only deceived
others, but himself too. Those that saw him hanging on the cross
laughed him to scorn. So far were they from pitying him, or
concerning themselves for him, that they added to his afflictions,
with all the gestures and expressions of insolence upbraiding him
with his fall. They make mouths at him, make merry over him, and
make a jest of his sufferings: <i>They shoot out the lip, they
shake their head,</i> saying, This was he that said <i>he trusted
God would deliver him; now let him deliver him.</i> David was
sometimes taunted for his confidence in God; but in the sufferings
of Christ this was literally and exactly fulfilled. Those very
gestures were used by those that reviled him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.27.39" parsed="|Matt|27|39|0|0" passage="Mt 27:39">Matt. xxvii. 39</scripRef>); they wagged their heads,
nay, and so far did their malice make them forget themselves that
they used the very words (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.27.43" parsed="|Matt|27|43|0|0" passage="Mt 27:43"><i>v.</i>
43</scripRef>), <i>He trusted in God; let him deliver him.</i> Our
Lord Jesus, having undertaken to satisfy for the dishonour we had
done to God by our sins, did it by submitting to the lowest
possible instance of ignominy and disgrace.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p10">IV. Encouragement taken as to this also
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.9-Ps.22.10" parsed="|Ps|22|9|22|10" passage="Ps 22:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>): Men
despise me, <i>but thou art he that took me out of the womb.</i>
David and other good men have often, for direction to us,
encouraged themselves with this, that God was not only the <i>God
of their fathers,</i> as before (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.4" parsed="|Ps|22|4|0|0" passage="Ps 22:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), but the God of their infancy,
who began by times to take care of them, as soon as they had a
being, and therefore, they hope, will never cast them off. He that
did so well for us in that helpless useless state will not leave us
when he has reared us and nursed us up into some capacity of
serving him. See the early instances of God's providential care for
us, 1. In the birth: <i>He took us also out of the womb,</i> else
we had died there, or been stifled in the birth. Every man's
particular time begins with this pregnant proof of God's
providence, as time, in general, began with the creation, that
pregnant proof of his being. 2. At the breast: "<i>Then didst thou
make me hope;</i>" that is, "thou didst that for me, in providing
sustenance for me and protecting me from the dangers to which I was
exposed, which encourages me to hope in thee all my days." The
blessings of the breasts, as they crown the blessings of the womb,
so they are earnests of the blessings of our whole lives; surely he
that fed us then will never starve us, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.3.12" parsed="|Job|3|12|0|0" passage="Job 3:12">Job iii. 12</scripRef>. 3. In our early dedication to
him: <i>I was cast upon thee from the womb,</i> which perhaps
refers to his circumcision on the eighth day; he was then by his
parents committed and given up to God as his God in covenant; for
circumcision was a seal of the covenant; and this encouraged him to
trust in God. Those have reason to think themselves safe who were
so soon, so solemnly, <i>gathered under the wings of the divine
majesty.</i> 4. In the experience we have had of God's goodness to
us all along ever since, drawn out in a constant uninterrupted
series of preservations and supplies: <i>Thou art my God,</i>
providing me and watching over me for good, <i>from my mother's
belly,</i> that is, from my coming into the world unto this day.
And if, as soon as we became capable of exercising reason, we put
our confidence in God and committed ourselves and our way to him,
we need not doubt but he will always remember the <i>kindness of
our youth and the love of our espousals,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.2.2" parsed="|Jer|2|2|0|0" passage="Jer 2:2">Jer. ii. 2</scripRef>. This is applicable to our Lord
Jesus, over whose incarnation and birth the divine Providence
watched with a peculiar care, when he was born in a stable, laid in
a manger, and immediately exposed to the malice of Herod, and
forced to flee into Egypt. <i>When he was a child God loved him and
called him thence</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.11.1" parsed="|Hos|11|1|0|0" passage="Ho 11:1">Hos. xi.
1</scripRef>), and the remembrance of this comforted him in his
sufferings. Men reproached him, and discouraged his confidence in
God; but God had honoured him and encouraged his confidence in
him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxiii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.11-Ps.22.21" parsed="|Ps|22|11|22|21" passage="Ps 22:11-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.22.11-Ps.22.21">
<h4 id="Ps.xxiii-p10.7">The Sufferings of the Messiah; The Messiah
Supported in His Sufferings.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxiii-p11">11 Be not far from me; for trouble <i>is</i>
near; for <i>there is</i> none to help.   12 Many bulls have
compassed me: strong <i>bulls</i> of Bashan have beset me round.
  13 They gaped upon me <i>with</i> their mouths, <i>as</i> a
ravening and a roaring lion.   14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is
melted in the midst of my bowels.   15 My strength is dried up
like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast
brought me into the dust of death.   16 For dogs have
compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet.   17 I may tell all my bones:
they look <i>and</i> stare upon me.   18 They part my garments
among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.   19 But be not
thou far from me, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p11.1">O Lord</span>: O my
strength, haste thee to help me.   20 Deliver my soul from the
sword; my darling from the power of the dog.   21 Save me from
the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the
unicorns.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p12">In these verses we have Christ suffering
and Christ praying, by which we are directed to look for crosses
and to look up to God under them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p13">I. Here is Christ suffering. David indeed
was often in trouble, and beset with enemies; but many of the
particulars here specified are such as were never true of David,
and therefore must be appropriated to Christ in the depth of his
humiliation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p14">1. He is here deserted by his friends:
<i>Trouble</i> and distress are <i>near,</i> and <i>there is none
to help,</i> none to uphold, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.11" parsed="|Ps|22|11|0|0" passage="Ps 22:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. He trod the wine-press alone; for all his disciples
forsook him and fled. It is God's honour to help when all other
helps and succours fail.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p15">2. He is here insulted and surrounded by
his enemies, such as were of a higher rank, who for their strength
and fury, are compared to bulls, <i>strong bulls of Bashan</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.12" parsed="|Ps|22|12|0|0" passage="Ps 22:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), fat and fed
to the full, haughty and sour; such were the chief priests and
elders that persecuted Christ; and others of a lower rank, who are
compared to dogs (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.16" parsed="|Ps|22|16|0|0" passage="Ps 22:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>), filthy and greedy, and unwearied in running him
down. There was an assembly of the wicked plotting against him
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.16" parsed="|Ps|22|16|0|0" passage="Ps 22:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>); for the
chief priests sat in council, to consult of ways and means to take
Christ. These enemies were numerous and unanimous: "Many, and those
of different and clashing interests among themselves, as Herod and
Pilate, have agreed to compass me. They have carried their plot
far, and seem to have gained their point, for they have <i>beset me
round,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.12" parsed="|Ps|22|12|0|0" passage="Ps 22:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>.
They have enclosed me, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.16" parsed="|Ps|22|16|0|0" passage="Ps 22:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>. They are formidable and threatening (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.13" parsed="|Ps|22|13|0|0" passage="Ps 22:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>They gaped upon me
with their mouths,</i> to show me that they would swallow me up;
and this with as much strength and fierceness as a roaring ravening
lion leaps upon his prey."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p16">3. He is here crucified. The very manner of
his death is described, though never in use among the Jews: <i>They
pierced my hands and my feet</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.16" parsed="|Ps|22|16|0|0" passage="Ps 22:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), which were nailed to the
accursed tree, and the whole body left so to hang, the effect of
which must needs be the most exquisite pain and torture. There is
no one passage in all the Old Testament which the Jews have so
industriously corrupted as this, because it is such an eminent
prediction of the death of Christ and was so exactly fulfilled.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p17">4. He is here dying (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.14-Ps.22.15" parsed="|Ps|22|14|22|15" passage="Ps 22:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>), dying in pain and
anguish, because he was to satisfy for sin, which brought in pain,
and for which we must otherwise have lain in everlasting anguish.
Here is, (1.) The dissolution of the whole frame of his body: <i>I
am poured out like water,</i> weak as water, and yielding to the
power of death, emptying himself of all the supports of his human
nature. (2.) The dislocation of his bones. Care was taken that not
one of them should be broken (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:John.19.36" parsed="|John|19|36|0|0" passage="Joh 19:36">John
xix. 36</scripRef>), but they were all out of joint by the violent
stretching of his body upon the cross as upon a rack. Or it may
denote the fear that seized him in his agony in the garden, when he
began to be sore amazed, the effect of which perhaps was (as
sometimes it has been of great fear, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.6" parsed="|Dan|5|6|0|0" passage="Da 5:6">Dan. v. 6</scripRef>), that the <i>joints of his loins
were loosed and his knees smote one against another.</i> His bones
were put out of joint that he might put the whole creation into
joint again, which sin had put out of joint, and might make our
broken bones to rejoice. (3.) The colliquation of his spirits:
<i>My heart is like wax,</i> melted to receive the impressions of
God's wrath against the sins he undertook to satisfy for, melting
away like the vitals of a dying man; and, as this satisfied for the
hardness of our hearts, so the consideration of it should help to
soften them. When Job speaks of his inward trouble he says, <i>The
Almighty makes my heart soft,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.16" parsed="|Job|23|16|0|0" passage="Job 23:16">Job
xxiii. 16</scripRef>, and see <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.58.2" parsed="|Ps|58|2|0|0" passage="Ps 58:2">Ps.
lviii. 2</scripRef>. (4.) The failing of his natural force: <i>My
strength is dried up;</i> so that he became parched and brittle
like a potsherd, the radical moisture being wasted by the fire of
divine wrath preying upon his spirits. Who then can stand before
God's anger? Or who knows the power of it? <i>If this was done in
the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?</i> (5.) The
clamminess of his mouth, a usual symptom of approaching death:
<i>My tongue cleaveth to my jaws;</i> this was fulfilled both in
his thirst upon the cross (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:John.19.28" parsed="|John|19|28|0|0" passage="Joh 19:28">John xix.
28</scripRef>) and in his silence under his sufferings; for, <i>as
a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not his
mouth,</i> nor objected against any thing done to him. (6.) His
giving up the ghost: "<i>Thou hast brought me to the dust of
death;</i> I am just ready to drop into the grave;" for nothing
less would satisfy divine justice. The life of the sinner was
forfeited, and therefore the life of the sacrifice must be the
ransom for it. The sentence of death passed upon Adam was thus
expressed: <i>Unto dust thou shalt return.</i> And therefore
Christ, having an eye to that sentence in his obedience to death,
here uses a similar expression: <i>Thou hast brought me to the dust
of death.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p18">5. He was stripped. The shame of nakedness
was the immediate consequence of sin; and therefore our Lord Jesus
was stripped of his clothes, when he was crucified, that he might
clothe us with the robe of his righteousness, and that the shame of
our nakedness might not appear. Now here we are told, (1.) How his
body looked when it was thus stripped: <i>I may tell all my
bones,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.17" parsed="|Ps|22|17|0|0" passage="Ps 22:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>.
His blessed body was lean and emaciated with labour, grief, and
fasting, during the whole course of his ministry, which made him
look as if he was nearly 50 years old when he was yet but 33, as we
find, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:John.8.57" parsed="|John|8|57|0|0" passage="Joh 8:57">John viii. 57</scripRef>. His
wrinkles now witnessed for him that he was far from being what was
called, <i>a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber.</i> Or his bones
might be numbered, because his body was distended upon the cross,
which made it easy to count his ribs. <i>They look and stare upon
me,</i> that is, my bones do, being distorted, and having no flesh
to cover them, as Job says (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.16.8" parsed="|Job|16|8|0|0" passage="Job 16:8"><i>ch.</i>
xvi. 8</scripRef>), <i>My leanness, rising up in me, beareth
witness to my face.</i> Or "the standers by, the passers by, are
amazed to see my bones start out thus; and, instead of pitying me,
are pleased even with such a rueful spectacle." (2.) What they did
with his clothes, which they took from him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.18" parsed="|Ps|22|18|0|0" passage="Ps 22:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>They parted my garments
among them,</i> to every soldier a part, and <i>upon my
vesture,</i> the seamless coat, <i>do they cast lots.</i> This very
circumstance was exactly fulfilled, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:John.19.23-John.19.24" parsed="|John|19|23|19|24" passage="Joh 19:23,24">John xix. 23, 24</scripRef>. And though it was no
great instance of Christ's suffering, yet it is a great instance of
the fulfilling of the scripture in him. <i>Thus it was written,
and</i> therefore <i>thus it behoved Christ to suffer.</i> Let this
therefore confirm our faith in him as the true Messiah, and inflame
our love to him as the best of friends, who loved us and suffered
all this for us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p19">II. Here is Christ praying, and with that
supporting himself under the burden of his sufferings. Christ, in
his agony, prayed earnestly, prayed that the cup might pass from
him. When the prince of this world with his terrors set upon him,
<i>gaped upon him as a roaring lion,</i> he fell upon the ground
and prayed. And of that David's praying here was a type. He calls
God his <i>strength,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.19" parsed="|Ps|22|19|0|0" passage="Ps 22:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. When we cannot rejoice in God as our song, yet let
us stay ourselves upon him as out strength, and take the comfort of
spiritual supports when we cannot come at spiritual delights. He
prays, 1. That God would be with him, and not set himself at a
distance from him: <i>Be not thou far from me</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.11" parsed="|Ps|22|11|0|0" passage="Ps 22:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), and again, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.19" parsed="|Ps|22|19|0|0" passage="Ps 22:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. "Whoever stands aloof
from my sore, Lord, do not thou." The nearness of trouble should
quicken us to draw near to God and then we may hope that he will
draw near to us. 2. That he would help him and make haste to help
him, help him to bear up under his troubles, that he might not fail
nor be discouraged, that he might neither shrink from his
undertaking nor sink under it. And the Father <i>heard him in that
he feared</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.7" parsed="|Heb|5|7|0|0" passage="Heb 5:7">Heb. v. 7</scripRef>)
and enabled him to go through with his work. 3. That he would
deliver him and save him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.20-Ps.22.21" parsed="|Ps|22|20|22|21" passage="Ps 22:20,21"><i>v.</i>
20, 21</scripRef>. (1.) Observe what the jewel is which he is in
care for, "The safety of my soul, my darling; let that be redeemed
from the power of the grave, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.49.15" parsed="|Ps|49|15|0|0" passage="Ps 49:15">Ps. xlix.
15</scripRef>. Father, into thy hands I commit that, to be conveyed
safely to paradise." The psalmist here calls his soul his
<i>darling,</i> his <i>only one</i> (so the word is): "<i>My
soul</i> is <i>my only one.</i> I have but one soul to take care
of, and therefore the greater is my shame if I neglect it and the
greater will the loss be if I let it perish. Being my only one, it
ought to be my darling, for the eternal welfare of which I ought to
be deeply concerned. I do not use my soul as my darling, unless I
take care to preserve it from every thing that would hurt it and to
provide all necessaries for it, and be entirely tender of its
welfare." (2.) Observe what the danger is from which he prays to be
delivered, <i>from the sword,</i> the flaming sword of divine
wrath, which turns every way. This he dreaded more than any thing,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.24" parsed="|Gen|3|24|0|0" passage="Ge 3:24">Gen. iii. 24</scripRef>. God's anger
was the wormwood and the gall in the bitter cup that was put into
his hands. "O deliver my soul from that. Lord, though I lose my
life, let me not lose thy love. Save me from <i>the power of the
dog,</i> and <i>from the lion's mouth.</i>" This seems to be meant
of Satan, that old enemy who bruised the heel of the seed of the
woman, the prince of this world, with whom he was to engage in
close combat and whom he saw coming, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:John.14.30" parsed="|John|14|30|0|0" passage="Joh 14:30">John xiv. 30</scripRef>. "Lord, save me from being
overpowered by his terrors." He pleads, "Thou hast formerly
<i>heard me from the horns of the unicorn,</i>" that is, "saved me
from him in answer to my prayer." This may refer to the victory
Christ had obtained over Satan and his temptations (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.1-Matt.4.11" parsed="|Matt|4|1|4|11" passage="Mt 4:1-11">Matt. iv.</scripRef>), when the devil left him
for a season (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Luke.4.13" parsed="|Luke|4|13|0|0" passage="Lu 4:13">Luke iv. 13</scripRef>),
but now returned in another manner to attack him with his terrors.
"Lord, thou gavest me the victory then, give it me now, that I may
spoil principalities and powers, and <i>cast out the prince of this
world.</i>" Has God delivered us <i>from the horns of the
unicorn,</i> that we be not tossed? Let that encourage us to hope
that we shall be delivered from the lion's mouth, that we be not
torn. He that has delivered doth and will deliver. This prayer of
Christ, no doubt, was answered, for the Father heard him always.
And, though he did not deliver him from death, yet he suffered him
not to see corruption, but, the third day, raised him out of the
dust of death, which was a greater instance of God's favour to him
than if he had helped him down from the cross; for that would have
hindered his undertaking, whereas his resurrection crowned it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p20">In singing this we should meditate on the
sufferings and resurrection of Christ till we experience in our own
souls the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his
sufferings.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxiii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.22-Ps.22.31" parsed="|Ps|22|22|22|31" passage="Ps 22:22-31" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.22.22-Ps.22.31">
<h4 id="Ps.xxiii-p20.2">The Messiah's Triumphs; Extension and
Perpetuity of the Church.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxiii-p21">22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in
the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.   23 Ye that
fear the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p21.1">Lord</span>, praise him; all ye
the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of
Israel.   24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the
affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him;
but when he cried unto him, he heard.   25 My praise <i>shall
be</i> of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before
them that fear him.   26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied:
they shall praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p21.2">Lord</span> that seek
him: your heart shall live for ever.   27 All the ends of the
world shall remember and turn unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p21.3">Lord</span>: and all the kindreds of the nations shall
worship before thee.   28 For the kingdom <i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiii-p21.4">Lord</span>'s: and he <i>is</i> the governor
among the nations.   29 All <i>they that be</i> fat upon earth
shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow
before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.   30 A seed
shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a
generation.   31 They shall come, and shall declare his
righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done
<i>this.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p22">The same that began the psalm complaining,
who was no other than Christ in his humiliation, ends it here
triumphing, and it can be no other than Christ in his exaltation.
And, as the first words of the complaint were used by Christ
himself upon the cross, so the first words of the triumph are
expressly applied to him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.12" parsed="|Heb|2|12|0|0" passage="Heb 2:12">Heb. ii.
12</scripRef>) and are made his own words: <i>I will declare thy
name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing
praise unto thee.</i> The certain prospect which Christ had of the
joy set before him not only gave him a satisfactory answer to his
prayers, but turned his complaints into praises; he saw of the
travail of his soul, and was well satisfied, witness that
triumphant word wherewith he breathed his last: <i>It is
finished.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p23">Five things are here spoken of, the view of
which were the satisfaction and triumph of Christ in his
sufferings:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p24">I. That he should have a church in the
world, and that those that were given him from eternity should, in
the fulness of time, be gathered in to him. This is implied here;
that he should <i>see his seed,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.10" parsed="|Isa|53|10|0|0" passage="Isa 53:10">Isa. liii. 10</scripRef>. It pleased him to think, 1.
That by the declaring of God's name, by the preaching of the
everlasting gospel in its plainness and purity, many should be
effectually called to him and to God by him. And for this end
ministers should be employed to publish this doctrine to the world,
and they should be much his messengers and his voice that their
doing it should be accounted his doing it; their word is his, and
by them he declares God's name. 2. That those who are thus called
in should be brought into a very near and dear relation to him as
his brethren; for he is not only not ashamed, but greatly well
pleased, to call them so; not the believing Jews only, his
countrymen, but those of the Gentiles also who became fellow-heirs
and of the same body, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.11" parsed="|Heb|2|11|0|0" passage="Heb 2:11">Heb. ii.
11</scripRef>. Christ is our elder brother, who takes care of us,
and makes provision for us, and expects that our desire should be
towards him and that we should be willing he should rule over us.
3. That these is brethren should be incorporated into a
congregation, a great congregation; such is the universal church,
the whole family that is named from him, unto which all the
<i>children of God that were scattered abroad are collected,</i>
and in which they are united (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:John.11.52 Bible:Eph.1.10" parsed="|John|11|52|0|0;|Eph|1|10|0|0" passage="Joh 11:52,Eph 1:10">John xi. 52, Eph. i. 10</scripRef>), and that
they should also be incorporated into smaller societies, members of
that great body, many religious assemblies for divine worship, on
which the face of Christianity should appear and in which the
interests of it should be supported and advanced. 4. That these
should be accounted the seed of Jacob and Israel (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.23" parsed="|Ps|22|23|0|0" passage="Ps 22:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), that on them, though
Gentiles, the blessing of Abraham might come (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.14" parsed="|Gal|3|14|0|0" passage="Ga 3:14">Gal. iii. 14</scripRef>), and to them might pertain the
adoption, the glory, the covenant, and the service of God, as much
as ever they did to <i>Israel according to the flesh,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.4 Bible:Heb.8.10" parsed="|Rom|9|4|0|0;|Heb|8|10|0|0" passage="Ro 9:4,Heb 8:10">Rom. ix. 4, Heb. viii. 10</scripRef>. The
gospel church is called <i>the Israel of God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p24.7" osisRef="Bible:Gal.6.16" parsed="|Gal|6|16|0|0" passage="Ga 6:16">Gal. vi. 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p25">II. That God should be greatly honoured and
glorified in him by that church. His Father's glory was that which
he had in his eye throughout his whole undertaking (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:John.17.4" parsed="|John|17|4|0|0" passage="Joh 17:4">John xvii. 4</scripRef>), particularly in his
sufferings, which he entered upon with this solemn request,
<i>Father, glorify thy name,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:John.12.27-John.12.28" parsed="|John|12|27|12|28" passage="Joh 12:27,28">John xii. 27, 28</scripRef>. He foresees with
pleasure, 1. That God would be glorified by the church that should
be gathered to him, and that for this end they should be called and
gathered in that they might be unto God <i>for a name and a
praise.</i> Christ by his ministers will declare God's name to his
brethren, as God's mouth to them, and then by them, as the mouth of
the congregation to God, will God's name be praised. All that fear
the Lord will praise him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.23" parsed="|Ps|22|23|0|0" passage="Ps 22:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), even every Israelite indeed. See <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.2-Ps.118.4 Bible:Ps.135.19-Ps.135.20" parsed="|Ps|118|2|118|4;|Ps|135|19|135|20" passage="Ps 118:2-4,135:19,20">Ps. cxviii. 2-4; cxxxv. 19, 20</scripRef>.
The business of Christians, particularly in their solemn religious
assemblies, is to praise and glorify God with a holy awe and
reverence of his majesty, and therefore those that are here called
upon to praise God are called upon to fear him. 2. That God would
be glorified in the Redeemer and in his undertaking.
<i>Therefore</i> Christ is said to <i>praise God in the church,</i>
not only because he is the Master of the assemblies in which God is
praised, and the Mediator of all the praises that are offered up to
God, but because he is the matter of the church's praise. See
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.5" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.21" parsed="|Eph|3|21|0|0" passage="Eph 3:21">Eph. iii. 21</scripRef>. All our
praises must centre in the work of redemption and a great deal of
reason we have to be thankful, (1.) That Jesus Christ was owned by
his Father in his undertaking, notwithstanding the apprehension he
was sometimes under that his Father had forsaken him. (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.24" parsed="|Ps|22|24|0|0" passage="Ps 22:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): <i>For he hath not
despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted</i> one (that
is, of the suffering Redeemer), but has graciously accepted it as a
full satisfaction for sin, and a valuable consideration on which to
ground the grant of eternal life to all believers. Though it was
offered for us poor sinners, he did not despise nor abhor him that
offered it for our sakes; nor did he turn his face from him that
offered it, as Saul was angry with his own son because he
interceded for David, whom he looked upon as his enemy. But when he
cried unto him, when his blood cried for peace and pardon for us,
he heard him. This, as it is the matter of our rejoicing, ought to
be the matter of our thanksgiving. Those who have thought their
prayers slighted and unheard, if they continue to pray and wait,
will find they have not sought in vain. (2.) That he himself will
go on with his undertaking and complete it. Christ says, <i>I will
pay my vows,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p25.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.25" parsed="|Ps|22|25|0|0" passage="Ps 22:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>. Having engaged to bring many sons to glory, he will
perform his engagement to the utmost, and will lose none.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p26">III. That all humble gracious souls should
have a full satisfaction and happiness in him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.26" parsed="|Ps|22|26|0|0" passage="Ps 22:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. It comforted the Lord Jesus in
his sufferings that in and through him all true believers should
have everlasting consolation. 1. The poor in spirit shall be rich
in blessings, spiritual blessings; the hungry shall be filled with
good things. Christ's sacrifice being accepted, the saints shall
feast upon the sacrifice, as, under the law, upon the
peace-offerings, and so partake of the altar: <i>The meek shall eat
and be satisfied,</i> eat of the bread of life, feed with an
appetite upon the doctrine of Christ's mediation, which is meat and
drink to the soul that knows its own nature and case. Those that
hunger and thirst after righteousness in Christ shall have all they
can desire to satisfy them and make them easy, and shall not
labour, as they have done, for that which satisfies not. 2. Those
that are much in praying shall be much in thanksgiving: <i>Those
shall praise the Lord that seek him,</i> because through Christ
they are sure of finding him, in the hopes of which they have
reason to praise him even while they are seeking him, and the more
earnest they are in seeking him the more will their hearts be
enlarged in his praises when they have found him. 3. The souls that
are devoted to him shall be for ever happy with him: "<i>Your heart
shall live for ever.</i> Yours that are meek, that are satisfied in
Christ, that continue to seek God; what ever becomes of your
bodies, <i>your hearts shall live for ever;</i> the graces and
comforts you have shall be perfected in everlasting life. Christ
has said, <i>Because I live, you shall live also,</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:John.14.19" parsed="|John|14|19|0|0" passage="Joh 14:19">John xiv. 19</scripRef>); and therefore that
life shall be as sure and as long as his."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p27">IV. That the church of Christ, and with it
the kingdom of God among men, should extend itself to all the
corners of the earth and should take in all sorts of people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p28">1. That it should reach far (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.27-Ps.22.28" parsed="|Ps|22|27|22|28" passage="Ps 22:27,28"><i>v.</i> 27, 28</scripRef>), that, whereas
the Jews had long been the only professing people of God, now all
the ends of the world should come into the church, and, the
partition-wall being taken down, the Gentiles should be taken in.
It is here prophesied, (1.) That they should be converted: They
<i>shall remember, and turn to the Lord.</i> Note, Serious
reflection is the first step, and a good step it is towards true
conversion. We must consider and turn. The prodigal came first to
himself, and then to his father. (2.) That then they should be
admitted into communion with God and with the assemblies that serve
him; <i>They shall worship before thee,</i> for <i>in every place
incense shall be offered to God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.11 Bible:Isa.66.23" parsed="|Mal|1|11|0|0;|Isa|66|23|0|0" passage="Mal 1:11,Isa 66:23">Mal. i. 11; Isa. lxvi. 23</scripRef>. Those
that turn to God will make conscience of worshipping before him.
And good reason there is why all the kindreds of nations should do
homage to God, for (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.28" parsed="|Ps|22|28|0|0" passage="Ps 22:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>) <i>the kingdom is the Lord's;</i> his, and his only,
is the universal monarchy. [1.] The kingdom of nature is the Lord
Jehovah's, and his providence rules among the nations, and upon
that account we are bound to worship him; so that the design of the
Christian religion is to revive natural religion and its principles
and laws. Christ died to bring us to God, the God that made us,
from whom we had revolted, and to reduce us to our native
allegiance. [2.] The kingdom of grace is the Lord Christ's, and he,
as Mediator, is appointed governor among the nations, head over all
things to his church. Let every tongue therefore confess that he is
Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p29">2. That it should include many of different
ranks, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.29" parsed="|Ps|22|29|0|0" passage="Ps 22:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. High
and low, rich and poor, bond and free, meet in Christ. (1.) Christ
shall have the homage of many of the great ones. <i>Those that are
fat upon the earth,</i> that live in pomp and power, <i>shall eat
and worship;</i> even those that fare deliciously, when they have
eaten and are full, shall bless the Lord their God for their plenty
and prosperity. (2.) The poor also shall receive his gospel:
<i>Those that go down to the dust,</i> that sit in the dust
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.113.7" parsed="|Ps|113|7|0|0" passage="Ps 113:7">Ps. cxiii. 7</scripRef>), that can
scarcely keep life and soul together, <i>shall bow before him,</i>
before the Lord Jesus, who reckons it his honour to be the poor
man's King (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.12" parsed="|Ps|72|12|0|0" passage="Ps 72:12">Ps. lxxii. 12</scripRef>)
and whose protection does, in a special manner, draw their
allegiance. Or this may be understood in general of dying men,
whether poor or rich. See then what is our condition—we are going
down to the dust to which we are sentenced and where shortly we
must make our bed. Nor can we keep alive our own souls; we cannot
secure our own natural life long, nor can we be the authors of our
own spiritual and eternal life. It is therefore our great interest,
as well as duty, to bow before the Lord Jesus, to give up ourselves
to him to be his subjects and worshippers; for this is the only
way, and it is a sure way, to secure our happiness when we go down
to the dust. Seeing we cannot keep alive our own souls, it is our
wisdom, by an obedient faith, to commit our souls to Jesus Christ,
who is able to save them and keep them alive for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p30">V. That the church of Christ, and with it
the kingdom of God among men, should continue to the end, through
all the ages of time. Mankind is kept up in a succession of
generations; so that there is always a generation passing away and
a generation coming up. Now, as Christ shall have honour from that
which is passing away and leaving the world (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.29" parsed="|Ps|22|29|0|0" passage="Ps 22:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>, <i>those that go down to the
dust shall bow before him,</i> and it is good to die bowing before
Christ; <i>blessed are the dead who</i> thus <i>die in the
Lord</i>), so he shall have honour from that which is rising up,
and setting out, in the world, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.30" parsed="|Ps|22|30|0|0" passage="Ps 22:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. Observe, 1. Their application
to Christ: <i>A seed shall serve him,</i> shall keep up the solemn
worship of him and profess and practice obedience to him as their
Master and Lord. Note, God will have a church in the world to the
end of time; and, in order to that, there shall be a succession of
professing Christians and gospel ministers from generation to
generation. <i>A seed shall serve him;</i> there shall be a
remnant, more or less, to whom shall pertain the service of God and
to whom God will give grace to serve him,—perhaps not the seed of
the same persons, for grace does not run in a blood (he does not
say <i>their</i> seed, but <i>a</i> seed),—perhaps but few, yet
enough to preserve the entail. 2. Christ's acknowledgment of them:
<i>They shall be accounted to him for a generation;</i> he will be
the same to them that he was to those who went before them; his
kindness to his friends shall not die with them, but shall be drawn
out to their heirs and successors, and instead of the fathers shall
be the children, whom all shall acknowledge to be a <i>seed that
the Lord hath blessed,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.9 Bible:Isa.65.23" parsed="|Isa|61|9|0|0;|Isa|65|23|0|0" passage="Isa 61:9,65:23">Isa.
lxi. 9; lxv. 23</scripRef>. The generation of the righteous God
will graciously own as his treasure, his children. 3. Their agency
for him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.31" parsed="|Ps|22|31|0|0" passage="Ps 22:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>):
<i>they shall come,</i> shall rise up in their day, not only to
keep up the virtue of the generation that is past, and to do the
work of their own generation, but to serve the honour of Christ and
the welfare of souls in the generations to come; they shall
transmit to them the gospel of Christ (that sacred deposit) pure
and entire, even to a people that shall be born hereafter; to them
they shall declare two things:—(1.) That there is an everlasting
righteousness, which Jesus Christ has brought in. This
righteousness of his, and not any of our own, they shall declare to
be the foundation of all our hopes and the fountain of all our
joys. See <scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.1.16-Rom.1.17" parsed="|Rom|1|16|1|17" passage="Ro 1:16,17">Rom. i. 16, 17</scripRef>.
(2.) That the work of our redemption by Christ is the Lord's own
doing (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiii-p30.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.23" parsed="|Ps|118|23|0|0" passage="Ps 118:23">Ps. cxviii. 23</scripRef>) and
no contrivance of ours. We must declare to our children that God
has done this; it is his wisdom in a mystery; it is his arm
revealed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiii-p31">In singing this we must triumph in the name
of Christ as above every name, must give him honour ourselves,
rejoice in the honours others do him, and in the assurance we have
that there shall be a people praising him on earth when we are
praising him in heaven.</p>
</div></div2>