Gleanings in the Psalms

We have now reached the majestic Covenant Psalm. It is the utterance of a believer, in presence of great national disaster, pleading with his God, urging the grand argument of covenant engagements, and expecting deliverance and help, because of the faithfulness of Jehovah.

Division: -

The sacred poet commences by affirming his belief in the faithfulness of the Lord to His covenant to the house of David and makes his first pause at verse 4. He then praises and magnifies the name of the Lord for His power, justice, and mercy, verses 5 to 14. This leads him to sing of the happiness of the people who have such a God to be their glory and defence, verses 15 to 18. He rehearses the terms of the covenant at full length with evident delight, verses 10 to 37. And then mournfully pours out his complaint and petition, verses 38 to 51, closing the whole with a hearty benediction and a double Amen. May the Holy Spirit bless to us the reading of this most blessed psalm of instruction.

The present psalm makes a pair with the preceding one. It is a spiritual “Allegro” to that “Penseroso” … That psalm was a dirge of Passion-Tide; this psalm is a carol of Christmas.

There are many passages in this psalm which do clearly evidence that it is to be interpreted of Christ. Yea, there are many things in this psalm that can never be clearly, pertinently, and appropriately applied to any but Jesus Christ for a taste, see: -

Verse 19 - “I have laid help on one that is mighty.” Mighty to pardon, to reconcile, to justify, to save, to bring to glory; suitable to that of the apostle – “He is able to save to the uttermost” – that is, to all ends and purposes, - perfectly, completely, fully, continually, perpetually. Christ is a thorough Saviour, a mighty Saviour: Isaiah 63:1, “Mighty to save.” There needs none to come after Him to finish the work which He hath begun.

Verse 19 – “I have exalted one chosen out of the people.” Which is the very title given to our Lord Jesus: Isaiah 42:1, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect” – or, chosen One – “in whom my soul delighteth.” And so, in verse 20 – “I have found David my servant …” And Christ is very frequently called by that name as being most dearly beloved of God, and most highly esteemed and valued by God ….

Verse 20 – “With my holy oil have I anointed him.” Suitable to that of Christ in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.” And therefore, we need not doubt of the excellency, authority, certainty, and sufficiency of the gospel.

Verse 27 – “also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” Christ is the firstborn of every creature, and in all things hath the pre-eminence.

Verse 29 – “His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.” This is chiefly spoken of Christ and His kingdom. The “temporal” heavens are corruptible, but the kingdom of heaven is eternal; and so, shall be Christ’s seed, throne, and kingdom.

Verse 36. – “His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.” Christ shall “see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” His throne shall be “as the sun before me” – or “shall shine as the sun.” Other kingdoms and thrones have their times and their turns, their rise, and their ruin, but this is not the case with the kingdom and throne of Christ. Christ’s kingdom is “an everlasting dominion” which shall not pass away and is “that which shall not be destroyed.

I might give further instances out of this psalm, but enough is as good as a feast. Now saith God, “I have made a covenant with Him.” So then, there is a covenant that God the Father has made with Christ the Mediator. This covenant, which the Father commits to the Son, shall stand fast – there shall be no cancelling it, or disannulling of it. Therefore, God the Father has not only made a covenant of Grace for the saints, but a covenant of redemption with Christ His Son. “My covenant shall stand fast,” says the Father, but it shall “stand fast with him;” that is, with Christ, as we have fully and clearly demonstrated.

(To be continued)