mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 110.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxi" n="cxi" next="Ps.cxii" prev="Ps.cx" progress="60.24%" title="Chapter CX">
<h2 id="Ps.cxi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxi-p0.2">PSALM CX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxi-p1">This psalm is pure gospel; it is only, and wholly,
concerning Christ, the Messiah promised to the fathers and expected
by them. It is plain that the Jews of old, even the worst of them,
so understood it, however the modern Jews have endeavoured to
pervert it and to rob us of it; for when the Lord Jesus proposed a
question to the Pharisees upon the first words of this psalm, where
he takes it for granted that David, in spirit, calls Christ his
Lord though he was his Son, they chose rather to say nothing, and
to own themselves gravelled, than to make it a question whether
David does indeed speak of the Messiah or no; for they freely yield
so plain a truth, though they foresee it will turn to their own
disgrace, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.22.41-Matt.22.46" parsed="|Matt|22|41|22|46" passage="Mt 22:41-46">Matt. xxii.
41</scripRef>, &amp;c. Of him therefore, no doubt, the prophet here
speaks of him and of no other man. Christ, as our Redeemer,
executes the office of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, with
reference both to his humiliation and his exaltation; and of each
of these we have here an account. I. His prophetical office,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.2" parsed="|Ps|110|2|0|0" passage="Ps 110:2">ver. 2</scripRef>. II. His priestly
office, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.4" parsed="|Ps|110|4|0|0" passage="Ps 110:4">ver. 4</scripRef>. III. His
kingly office, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1 Bible:Ps.110.3 Bible:Ps.110.5 Bible:Ps.110.6" parsed="|Ps|110|1|0|0;|Ps|110|3|0|0;|Ps|110|5|0|0;|Ps|110|6|0|0" passage="Ps 110:1,3,5,6">ver. 1, 3, 5,
6</scripRef>. IV. His estates of humiliation and exaltation,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.7" parsed="|Ps|110|7|0|0" passage="Ps 110:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. In singing this
psalm we must act faith upon Christ, submit ourselves entirely to
him, to his grace and government, and triumph in him as our
prophet, priest, and king, by whom we hope to be ruled, and taught,
and saved, for ever, and as the prophet, priest, and king, of the
whole church, who shall reign till he has put down all opposing
rule, principality, and power, and delivered up the kingdom to God
the Father.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110" parsed="|Ps|110|0|0|0" passage="Ps 110" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1-Ps.110.4" parsed="|Ps|110|1|110|4" passage="Ps 110:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.110.1-Ps.110.4">
<h4 id="Ps.cxi-p1.8">The Messiah's Dominion.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxi-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.cxi-p2">A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxi-p3">1 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxi-p3.1">Lord</span> said
unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies
thy footstool.   2 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxi-p3.2">Lord</span>
shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the
midst of thine enemies.   3 Thy people <i>shall be</i> willing
in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb
of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.   4 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxi-p3.3">Lord</span> hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou
<i>art</i> a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p4">Some have called this psalm <i>David's
creed,</i> almost all the articles of the Christian faith being
found in it; the title calls it <i>David's psalm,</i> for in the
believing foresight of the Messiah he both praised God and solaced
himself, much more may we, in singing it, to whom that is
fulfilled, and therefore more clearly revealed, which is here
foretold. Glorious things are here spoken of Christ, and such as
oblige us to consider how great he is.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p5">I. That he is David's Lord. We must take
special notice of this because he himself does. <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.22.43" parsed="|Matt|22|43|0|0" passage="Mt 22:43">Matt. xxii. 43</scripRef>, <i>David, in spirit, calls
him Lord.</i> And as the apostle proves the dignity of Melchizedek,
and in him of Christ, by this, that so great a man as Abraham was
paid him <i>tithes</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.4" parsed="|Heb|7|4|0|0" passage="Heb 7:4">Heb. vii.
4</scripRef>), so we may by this prove the dignity of the Lord
Jesus that David, that great man, <i>called him</i> his
<i>Lord;</i> by him that king acknowledges himself to reign, and to
him to be acceptable as a servant to his lord. Some think he calls
him his <i>Lord</i> because he was the Lord that was to descend
from him, his son and yet his Lord. Thus him immediate mother calls
him her <i>Saviour</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.1.47" parsed="|Luke|1|47|0|0" passage="Lu 1:47">Luke i.
47</scripRef>); even his parents were his subjects, his saved
ones.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p6">II. That he is constituted a sovereign Lord
by the counsel and decree of God himself: <i>The Lord,</i> Jehovah,
<i>said unto him, Sit</i> as a king. He <i>receives of the
Father</i> this honour and glory (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.1.17" parsed="|2Pet|1|17|0|0" passage="2Pe 1:17">2
Pet. i. 17</scripRef>), from him who is the fountain of honour and
power, and <i>takes it not to himself.</i> He is therefore rightful
Lord, and his title is incontestable; for what God has said cannot
be gainsaid. He is therefore everlasting Lord; for what God has
said shall not be unsaid. He will certainly take and keep
possession of that kingdom which the Father has committed to him,
and none can hinder.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p7">III. That he was to be advanced to the
highest honour, and entrusted with an absolute sovereign power both
in heaven and in earth: <i>Sit thou at my right hand.</i> Sitting
is a resting posture; after his services and sufferings, he entered
into rest from all his labours. It is a ruling posture; he sits to
give law, to give judgment. It is a remaining posture; he sits like
a king for ever. Sitting at the right hand of God denotes both his
dignity and his dominion, the honour put upon him and the trusts
reposed in him by the Father. All the favours that come from God to
man, and all the service that comes from man to God, pass through
his hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p8">IV. That all his enemies were in due time
to be made his footstool, and not till then; but then also he must
reign in the glory of the Mediator, though the work of the Mediator
will be, in a manner, at an end. Note, 1. Even Christ himself has
enemies that fight against his kingdom and subjects, his honour and
interest, in the world. There are those that will not have him to
reign over them, and thereby they join themselves to Satan, who
will not have him to reign at all. 2. These enemies will <i>be made
his footstool;</i> he will subdue them and triumph over them; he
will do it easily, as easily as we put a footstool in its proper
place, and such a propriety there will be in it. He will make
himself easy by the doing of it, as a man that sits with a
footstool under his feet; he will subdue them in such a way as
shall be most for his honour and their perpetual disgrace; he will
<i>tread down the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.3" parsed="|Mal|4|3|0|0" passage="Mal 4:3">Mal. iv.
3</scripRef>. 3. God the Father has undertaken to do it: <i>I will
make them thy footstool,</i> who can do it. 4. It will not be done
immediately. All his enemies are now in a chain, but not yet made
his footstool. This the apostle observes. <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.8" parsed="|Heb|2|8|0|0" passage="Heb 2:8">Heb. ii. 8</scripRef>, <i>We see not yet all things put
under him.</i> Christ himself must wait for the completing of his
victories and triumphs. 5. He shall wait till it is done; and all
their might and malice shall not give the least disturbance to his
government. His sitting at God's right hand is a pledge to him of
his setting his feet, at last, on the necks of all his enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p9">V. That he should have a kingdom set up in
the world, beginning at Jerusalem (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.2" parsed="|Ps|110|2|0|0" passage="Ps 110:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): "<i>The Lord shall send the
rod</i> or <i>sceptre of thy strength out of Zion,</i> by which thy
kingdom shall be erected, maintained, and administered." The
Messiah, when he sits on the right hand of the Majesty in the
heavens, will have a church on earth, and will have an eye to it;
for he is <i>King upon the holy hill of Zion</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.6" parsed="|Ps|2|6|0|0" passage="Ps 2:6">Ps. ii. 6</scripRef>), in opposition to Mount
Sinai, that frightful mountain, on which the law was given,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.18 Bible:Heb.12.24 Bible:Gal.4.24-Gal.4.25" parsed="|Heb|12|18|0|0;|Heb|12|24|0|0;|Gal|4|24|4|25" passage="Heb 12:18,24,Ga 4:24,25">Heb. xii. 18, 24; Gal.
iv. 24, 25</scripRef>. The kingdom of Christ took rise from Zion,
the city of David, for he was the Son of David, and was to have
<i>the throne of his father David.</i> By the rod of his strength,
or his strong rod, is meant his everlasting gospel, and the power
of the Holy Ghost going along with it—the report of the word, and
the arm of the Lord accompanying it (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.1 Bible:Rom.1.16" parsed="|Isa|53|1|0|0;|Rom|1|16|0|0" passage="Isa 53:1,Ro 1:16">Isa. liii. 1; Rom. i. 16</scripRef>),—the
gospel coming in word, and in power, and <i>in the holy Ghost,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.1.5" parsed="|1Thess|1|5|0|0" passage="1Th 1:5">1 Thess. i. 5</scripRef>. By the word
and Spirit of God souls were to be reduced first, and brought into
obedience to God, and then ruled and governed according to the will
of God. This strong rod God sent forth; he poured out the Spirit,
and gave both commissions and qualifications to those that preached
the word, and <i>ministered the Spirit,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.5" parsed="|Gal|3|5|0|0" passage="Ga 3:5">Gal. iii. 5</scripRef>. It was sent out of Zion, for there
the Spirit was given, and there the preaching of the gospel among
all nations must begin, at Jerusalem. See <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.24.47 Bible:Luke.24.49" parsed="|Luke|24|47|0|0;|Luke|24|49|0|0" passage="Lu 24:47,49">Luke xxiv. 47, 49</scripRef>. <i>Out of Zion</i> must
<i>go forth the law</i> of faith, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.3" parsed="|Isa|2|3|0|0" passage="Isa 2:3">Isa.
ii. 3</scripRef>. Note, The gospel of Christ, being sent of God, is
<i>mighty through God</i> to do wonders, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.10.4" parsed="|2Cor|10|4|0|0" passage="2Co 10:4">2 Cor. x. 4</scripRef>. It is <i>the rod of Christ's
strength.</i> Some make it to allude not only to the sceptre of a
prince, denoting the glory of Christ shining in the gospel, but to
a shepherd's crook, his rod and staff, denoting the tender care of
Christ takes of his church; for he is both <i>the great and the
good Shepherd.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p10">VI. That his kingdom, being set up, should
be maintained and kept up in the world, in spite of all the
oppositions of the power of darkness. 1. Christ shall rule, shall
give laws, and govern his subjects by them, shall perfect them, and
make them easy and happy, shall do his own will, fulfil his own
counsels, and maintain his own interests among men. His kingdom is
of God, and it shall stand; his crown sits firmly on his head, and
there it shall flourish. 2. He shall rule <i>in the midst of his
enemies.</i> He sits in heaven in the midst of his friends; his
throne of glory there is surrounded with none but faithful
worshippers of him, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.5.11" parsed="|Rev|5|11|0|0" passage="Re 5:11">Rev. v.
11</scripRef>. But he rules on earth in the midst of his enemies,
and his throne of government here is surrounded with those that
hate him and fight against him. Christ's church is a lily among
thorns, and his disciples are sent forth <i>as sheep in the midst
of wolves;</i> he knows <i>where they dwell, even where Satan's
seat is</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.13" parsed="|Rev|2|13|0|0" passage="Re 2:13">Rev. ii. 13</scripRef>),
and this redounds to his honour that he not only keeps his ground,
but gains his point, notwithstanding all the malignant policies and
powers of hell and earth, which cannot shake the rock on which the
church is built. <i>Great is the truth, and will prevail.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p11">VII. That he should have a great number of
subjects, who should be to him for a name and a praise, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p12">1. That they should be his own people, and
such as he should have an incontestable title to. They are given to
him by the Father, who gave them their lives and beings, and to
whom their lives and beings were forfeited. <i>Thine they were and
thou gavest them me,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:John.17.6" parsed="|John|17|6|0|0" passage="Joh 17:6">John xvii.
6</scripRef>. They are redeemed by him; he has purchased them to be
to himself <i>a peculiar people,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Titus.2.14" parsed="|Titus|2|14|0|0" passage="Tit 2:14">Tit. ii. 14</scripRef>. They are his by right,
antecedent to their consent. He <i>had much people in Corinth</i>
before they were converted, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.18.10" parsed="|Acts|18|10|0|0" passage="Ac 18:10">Acts
xviii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p13">2. That they should be <i>a willing
people,</i> a people of willingness, alluding to servants that
choose their service and are not coerced to it (they love their
masters and would not go out free), to soldiers that are volunteers
and not pressed men ("Here am I, send me"), to sacrifices that are
free-will offerings and not offered of necessity; we <i>present
ourselves living sacrifices.</i> Note, Christ's people are a
willing people. The conversion of a soul consists in its being
willing to be Christ's, coming under his yoke and into his
interests, with an entire compliancy and satisfaction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p14">3. That they should be so <i>in the day of
his power, in the day of thy muster</i> (so some); when thou art
enlisting soldiers thou shalt find a multitude of volunteers
forward to be enlisted; let but the standard be set up and the
<i>Gentiles</i> will <i>seek to it,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.10 Bible:Isa.60.3" parsed="|Isa|11|10|0|0;|Isa|60|3|0|0" passage="Isa 11:10,60:3">Isa. xi. 10; lx. 3</scripRef>. Or when thou art
drawing them out to battle they shall be willing to <i>follow the
Lamb whithersoever he goes,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.4" parsed="|Rev|14|4|0|0" passage="Re 14:4">Rev.
xiv. 4</scripRef>. <i>In the day of thy armies</i> (so some); "when
the first preachers of the gospel shall be sent forth, as Christ's
armies, to reduce apostate men, and to ruin the kingdom of apostate
angels, then all that are <i>thy people shall be willing;</i> that
will be thy time of setting up thy kingdom." <i>In the day of thy
strength,</i> so we take it. There is a general power which goes
along with the gospel to all, proper to make them willing to be
Christ's people, arising from the supreme authority of its great
author and the intrinsic excellency of the things themselves
contained in it, besides the undeniable miracles that were wrought
for the confirmation of it. And there is also a particular power,
the power of the Spirit, going along with the power of the word, to
the people of Christ, which is effectual to make them willing. The
former leaves sinners without matter of excuse; this leaves saints
without matter of boasting. Whoever are willing to be Christ's
people, it is the free and mighty grace of God that makes them
so.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p15">4. That they should be so <i>in the beauty
of holiness,</i> that is, (1.) They shall be allured to him by the
beauty of holiness; they shall be charmed into a subjection to
Christ by the sight given them of his beauty, who is the holy
Jesus, and the beauty of the church, which is the holy nation. (2.)
They shall be admitted by him into the beauty of holiness, as
spiritual priests, to minister in his sanctuary; for <i>by the
blood of Jesus we have boldness to enter into the holiest.</i> (3.)
They shall attend upon him in the beautiful attire or ornaments of
grace and sanctification. Note, Holiness is the livery of Christ's
family and that which <i>becomes his house for ever.</i> Christ's
soldiers are all thus clothed; these are the colours they wear. The
armies of heaven <i>follow him in fine linen, clean and white,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.14" parsed="|Rev|19|14|0|0" passage="Re 19:14">Rev. xix. 14</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p16">5. That he should have great numbers of
people devoted to him. The multitude of the people is the honour of
the prince, and that shall be the honour of this prince. <i>From
the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth,</i> that
is, abundance of young converts, like the drops of dew in a
summer's morning. In the early days of the gospel, in the morning
of the New Testament, the youth of the church, great numbers
flocked to Christ, and there were <i>multitudes that believed,</i>
a <i>remnant of Jacob,</i> that was as <i>dew from the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.7 Bible:Isa.64.4 Bible:Isa.64.8" parsed="|Mic|5|7|0|0;|Isa|64|4|0|0;|Isa|64|8|0|0" passage="Mic 5:7,Isa 64:4,8">Mic. v. 7; Isa. lxiv. 4,
8</scripRef>. Or thus? "<i>From the womb of the morning</i> (from
their very childhood) <i>thou hast the dew of thy</i> people's
<i>youth,</i> that is, their hearts and affections when they are
young; it is thy youth, because it is dedicated to thee." <i>The
dew of the youth</i> is a numerous, illustrious, hopeful show of
young people flocking to Christ, which would be to the world as dew
to the ground, to make it fruitful. Note, The dew of our youth,
even in the morning of our days, ought to be consecrated to our
Lord Jesus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p17">6. That he should be not only a king, but a
priest, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.4" parsed="|Ps|110|4|0|0" passage="Ps 110:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. The
same Lord that said, <i>Sit thou at my right hand, swore, and will
not repent, Thou art a priest,</i> that is, <i>Be thou a
priest;</i> for by the word of his oath he was consecrated. Note,
(1.) Our Lord Jesus Christ is a priest. He was appointed to that
office and faithfully executes it; he is <i>ordained for men in
things pertaining to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.1" parsed="|Heb|5|1|0|0" passage="Heb 5:1">Heb. v. 1</scripRef>), to make
atonement for our sins and to recommend our services to God's
acceptance. He is God's minister to us, and our advocate with God,
and so is a Mediator between us and God. (2.) He is <i>a priest for
ever.</i> He was designed for a priest, in God's eternal counsels;
he was a priest to the Old-Testament saints, and will be a priest
for all believers to the end of time, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.8" parsed="|Heb|13|8|0|0" passage="Heb 13:8">Heb. xiii. 8</scripRef>. He is said to be <i>a priest
for ever,</i> not only because we are never to expect any other
dispensation of grace than this by the priesthood of Christ, but
because the blessed fruits and consequences of it will remain to
eternity. (3.) He is made a priest with an oath, which the apostle
urges to prove the pre-eminence of his priesthood above that of
Aaron, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.20-Heb.7.21" parsed="|Heb|7|20|7|21" passage="Heb 7:20,21">Heb. vii. 20, 21</scripRef>.
<i>The Lord has sworn,</i> to show that in the commission there was
no implied reserve of a power of revocation; for <i>he will not
repent,</i> as he did concerning Eli's priesthood, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.2.30" parsed="|1Sam|2|30|0|0" passage="1Sa 2:30">1 Sam. ii. 30</scripRef>. This was intended for
the honour of Christ and the comfort of Christians. The priesthood
of Christ is confirmed by the highest ratifications possible, that
it might be an unshaken foundation for our faith and hope to build
upon. (4.) He is a priest, not of the order of Aaron, but of that
of Melchizedek, which, as it was prior, so it was upon many
accounts superior, to that of Aaron, and a more lively
representation of Christ's priesthood. Melchizedek was <i>a priest
upon his throne,</i> so is Christ (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Zech.6.13" parsed="|Zech|6|13|0|0" passage="Zec 6:13">Zech. vi. 13</scripRef>), king of righteousness and king
of peace. Melchizedek had no successor, nor has Christ; his is an
unchangeable priesthood. The apostle comments largely upon these
words (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.1-Heb.7.28" parsed="|Heb|7|1|7|28" passage="Heb 7:1-28">Heb. vii.</scripRef>) and
builds on them his discourse of Christ's priestly office, which he
shows was no new notion, but built upon this most sure word of
prophecy. For, as the New Testament explains the Old, so the Old
Testament confirms the New, and Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega
of both.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxi-p17.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.5-Ps.110.7" parsed="|Ps|110|5|110|7" passage="Ps 110:5-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.110.5-Ps.110.7">
<h4 id="Ps.cxi-p17.9">The Messiah's Dominion.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxi-p18">5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike
through kings in the day of his wrath.   6 He shall judge
among the heathen, he shall fill <i>the places</i> with the dead
bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.   7 He
shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the
head.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p19">Here we have our great Redeemer,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p20">I. Conquering his enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.5-Ps.110.6" parsed="|Ps|110|5|110|6" passage="Ps 110:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>) in order to the
making of them <i>his footstool,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1" parsed="|Ps|110|1|0|0" passage="Ps 110:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Our Lord Jesus will certainly
bring to nought all the opposition made to his kingdom, and bring
to ruin all those who make that opposition and persist in it. He
will be too hard for those, whoever they may be, that fight against
him, against his subjects and the interest of his kingdom among
men, either by persecutions or by perverse disputings. Observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p21">1. The conqueror: <i>The Lord—Adonai,</i>
the Lord Jesus, he to whom all judgment is committed, he shall make
his own part good against his enemies. <i>The Lord at thy right
hand, O church!</i> so some; that is, the Lord that is nigh unto
his people, and a very present help to them, that is at their right
hand, to strengthen and succour them, shall appear for them against
his and their enemies. See <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.109.31" parsed="|Ps|109|31|0|0" passage="Ps 109:31">Ps. cix.
31</scripRef>. <i>He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.16.8" parsed="|Ps|16|8|0|0" passage="Ps 16:8">Ps. xvi. 8</scripRef>. Some observe
that when Christ is said to do his work at the right hand of his
church it intimates that, if we would have Christ to appear for us,
we must <i>bestir ourselves,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.24" parsed="|2Sam|5|24|0|0" passage="2Sa 5:24">2
Sam. v. 24</scripRef>. Or, rather, <i>At thy right hand, O God!</i>
referring to <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1" parsed="|Ps|110|1|0|0" passage="Ps 110:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>,
in the dignity and dominion to which he is advanced. Note, Christ's
sitting at the right hand of God speaks as much terror to his
enemies as happiness to his people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p22">2. The time fixed for this victory: <i>In
the day of his wrath,</i> that is, the time appointed for it, when
the measure of their iniquities is full and they are ripe for ruin.
When the day of his patience has expired, when the day of his wrath
comes. Note, (1.) Christ has wrath of his own, as well as grace. It
concerns us to <i>kiss the Son,</i> for he can be <i>angry</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.12" parsed="|Ps|2|12|0|0" passage="Ps 2:12">Ps. ii. 12</scripRef>) and we read of
the <i>wrath of the Lamb,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.6.16" parsed="|Rev|6|16|0|0" passage="Re 6:16">Rev. vi.
16</scripRef>. (2.) There is a day of wrath set, a year of
<i>recompences for the controversy of Zion, the year of the
redeemed.</i> The time is set for the destruction of particular
enemies, and when that time shall come it shall be done, how
unlikely soever it may seem; but the great day of his wrath will be
at the end of time, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.6.17" parsed="|Rev|6|17|0|0" passage="Re 6:17">Rev. vi.
17</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p23">3. The extent of this victory. (1.) It
shall reach very high: He <i>shall strike through kings.</i> The
greatest of men, that set themselves against Christ, shall be made
to fall before him. Though they be <i>kings of the earth,</i> and
rulers, accustomed to carry their point, they cannot carry it
against Christ, they do but make themselves ridiculous by the
attempt, <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.2-Ps.2.5" parsed="|Ps|2|2|2|5" passage="Ps 2:2-5">Ps. ii. 2-5</scripRef>. Be
their power among men ever so despotic, Christ will call them to an
account; be their strength ever so great, their policies ever so
deep, Christ will be too hard for them, and wherein they deal
proudly he will be above them. Satan is the prince of this world,
Death the king of terrors, and we read of kings that make war with
the Lamb; but they shall all be brought down and broken. (2.) It
shall reach very far. The trophies of Christ's victories will be
set up <i>among the heathen,</i> and in many countries, wherever
any of his enemies are, not his eye only, but his <i>hand, shall
find them out</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.21.8" parsed="|Ps|21|8|0|0" passage="Ps 21:8">Ps. xxi.
8</scripRef>) and his wrath shall follow them. He will <i>plead
with all nations,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Joel.3.2" parsed="|Joel|3|2|0|0" passage="Joe 3:2">Joel iii.
2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p24">4. The equity of this victory: <i>He shall
judge among them.</i> It is not a military execution, which is done
in fury, but a judicial one. Before he condemns and slays, he will
judge; he will make it appear that they have brought this ruin upon
themselves, and have themselves rolled the stone which returns upon
them, that he may be <i>justified when he speaks</i> and the
<i>heavens may declare his righteousness.</i> See <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.1-Rev.19.2" parsed="|Rev|19|1|19|2" passage="Re 19:1,2">Rev. xix. 1, 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p25">5. The effect of this victory; it shall be
the complete and utter ruin of all his enemies. He shall strike
them through, for he strikes home and gives an incurable wound: He
shall <i>wound the heads,</i> which seems to refer to the first
promise of the Messiah (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.15" parsed="|Gen|3|15|0|0" passage="Ge 3:15">Gen. iii.
15</scripRef>), that he should <i>bruise the serpent's head.</i> He
shall <i>wound the head of his enemies,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.21" parsed="|Ps|68|21|0|0" passage="Ps 68:21">Ps. lxviii. 21</scripRef>. Some read it, <i>He shall
wound</i> him that is <i>the head over many countries,</i> either
Satan or Antichrist, whom <i>the Lord shall consume with the breath
of his mouth.</i> He shall make such destruction of his enemies
that he shall <i>fill the places with the dead bodies.</i> The
slain of the Lord shall be many. See <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.3 Bible:Ezek.39.12 Bible:Ezek.39.14 Bible:Rev.14.20 Bible:Rev.19.17-Rev.19.18" parsed="|Isa|34|3|0|0;|Ezek|39|12|0|0;|Ezek|39|14|0|0;|Rev|14|20|0|0;|Rev|19|17|19|18" passage="Isa 34:3,Eze 39:12,14,Re 14:20,19:17,18">Isa. xxxiv. 3, &amp;c.;
Ezek. xxxix. 12, 14; Rev. xiv. 20; xix. 17, 18</scripRef>. The
filling of <i>the valleys</i> (for so some read it) <i>with dead
bodies,</i> perhaps denotes the <i>filling of hell</i> (which is
sometimes compared to the valley of <i>Hinnom,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.33 Bible:Jer.7.32" parsed="|Isa|30|33|0|0;|Jer|7|32|0|0" passage="Isa 30:33,Jer 7:32">Isa. xxx. 33; Jer. vii. 32</scripRef>)
with <i>damned souls,</i> for that will be the portion of those
that persist in their enmity to Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxi-p26">II. We have here the Redeemer saving his
friends and comforting them (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.7" parsed="|Ps|110|7|0|0" passage="Ps 110:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>); for their benefit, 1. He shall be humbled: <i>He
shall drink of the brook in the way,</i> that bitter cup which the
Father put into his hand. He shall be so abased and impoverished,
and withal so intent upon his work, that he shall drink
puddle-water out of the lakes in the highway; so some. The wrath of
God, running in the channel of the curse of the law, was <i>the
brook in the way,</i> in the way of his undertaking, which must go
through, or which ran in the way of our salvation and obstructed
it, which lay between us and heaven. Christ drank of this brook
when he was made a curse for us, and therefore, when he entered
upon his suffering, he <i>went over the brook Kidron,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:John.18.1" parsed="|John|18|1|0|0" passage="Joh 18:1">John xviii. 1</scripRef>. He drank deeply of
this <i>black brook</i> (so Kidron signifies), this bloody brook,
so drank of the <i>brook in the way</i> as to take it out of the
way of our redemption and salvation. 2. He shall be exalted:
<i>Therefore shall he lift up the head.</i> When he died he
<i>bowed the head</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:John.19.30" parsed="|John|19|30|0|0" passage="Joh 19:30">John xix.
30</scripRef>), but he soon lifted up the head by his own power in
his resurrection. He lifted up the head as a conqueror, yea, more
than a conqueror. This denotes not only his exaltation, but his
exultation; not only his elevation, but his triumph in it.
<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.4" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.15" parsed="|Col|2|15|0|0" passage="Col 2:15">Col. ii. 15</scripRef>, <i>Having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them.</i>
David spoke as a type of him in this (<scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.6" parsed="|Ps|27|6|0|0" passage="Ps 27:6">Ps. xxvii. 6</scripRef>), <i>Now shall my head be lifted
up above my enemies.</i> His exaltation was the reward of his
humiliation; because he <i>humbled himself, therefore God also
highly exalted him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxi-p26.6" osisRef="Bible:Phil.2.9" parsed="|Phil|2|9|0|0" passage="Php 2:9">Phil. ii.
9</scripRef>. Because he drank of the brook in the way therefore he
lifted up his own head, and so lifted up the heads of all his
faithful followers, who, <i>if they suffer with him, shall also
reign with him.</i></p>
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