OF THE MESSIAH'S EXALTATION. To the chief musician, a psalm or song of David, the event which was the immediate cause for writing this powerful hymn, according to most commentators. being the placing of the Ark of the Covenant in the tent of David on Mount Zion, 2 Samuel 6, the general thought of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, the ancient exclamation which signaled the departure of the Ark of the Covenant from a camp in the wilderness, Numbers 10:35, the prayer receiving its real significance in the application of its contents to the mighty leadership of Jehovah in the New Test... [ Continue Reading ]
As smoke is driven away, vanishing into nothing, SO DRIVE THEM AWAY; AS WAX MELTETH BEFORE THE FIRE, SO LET THE WICKED PERISH AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, the very strongest pictures of human weakness and puny evanescence being used to show their helplessness before the face of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
But let the righteous be glad, since they, clothed with the righteousness of God, have every reason to rejoice before Him always; LET THEM REJOICE BEFORE GOD, since they can freely stand before His face by virtue of the redemption of Christ; YEA, LET THEM EXCEEDINGLY REJOICE. Note the heaping of syn... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing unto God, sing praises to His name, extolling His divine essence and attributes, as revealed in His Word; EXTOL HIM THAT RIDETH UPON THE HEAVENS, rather, cast up a road for Him who driveth along through the steppes, the picture being taken from the custom of Oriental monarchs to have all obstru... [ Continue Reading ]
A Father of the fatherless, taking care of orphans as their true Father, AND A JUDGE OF THE WIDOWS, the mighty Advocate of those who have lost their natural protector on earth, IS GOD IN HIS HOLY HABITATION, both His holy justice and His almighty power coming into consideration in their defense.... [ Continue Reading ]
God setteth the solitary in families, the forsaken will have a home given to them, Isaiah 58:7; HE BRINGETH OUT THOSE WHICH ARE BOUND WITH CHAINS, liberating those who are bound, both expressions finding their fulfillment in the miraculous effect of the Gospel proclamation on the hearts of men, Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, in the pillar of fire, when He led them through the wilderness, WHEN THOU DIDST MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS; SELAH:... [ Continue Reading ]
the earth shook, in a mighty earthquake, THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, their heavy storm-clouds coming down to rest upon the mountain; EVEN SINAI ITSELF WAS MOVED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, Exodus 19:16. The name "God of Israel" is most fitting in this connection,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, said of the rich bestowal of spiritual gifts as experienced by Israel, the covenant nation, WHEREBY THOU DIDST CONFIRM THINE INHERITANCE WHEN IT WAS WEARY, reviving them when they were parched with thirst, even as the mercy of God in the Gospel sustains the... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein, in the inheritance, in the Land of Promise, like a herd of sheep under the gentle leadership of a good shepherd; THOU, O GOD, HAST PREPARED OF THY GOODNESS FOR THE POOR, as a Host liberal with His spiritual gifts and blessings toward the needy of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord gave the word, that of authority, with which He intended to come to the aid of His people, the Word of Salvation. GREAT WAS THE COMPANY OF THOSE THAT PUBLISHED IT, the reference being to the choruses of women who usually celebrated the victories of Israel, Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34. Even s... [ Continue Reading ]
Kings of armies, hosts being mentioned in ironical contrast to Jehovah Sabaoth, DID FLEE APACE, in utter rout; AND SHE THAT TARRIED AT HOME, the woman in the tent, the mistress of the house, in this case the congregation, the Church of Christ, DIVIDED THE SPOIL, dealing out richly to all her childre... [ Continue Reading ]
Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold, literally, "If you are encamped between cattle pens, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with iridescent sheen of gold"; that is, the period of... [ Continue Reading ]
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, dispersing the attacking hosts of princes, IT WAS WHITE AS SNOW IN SALMON, the agreeable whiteness of the snow on the dark mountain picturing the relief which comes to the spiritual Israel with the victory over the enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
The hill of God, the abode of His Church, IS AS THE HILL OF BASHAN; an high hill, a mount full of peaks, as the hill of Bashan.... [ Continue Reading ]
Why leap ye, ye high hills? the other many-peaked mountains looking with envy upon this abode of the Lord and His Church. THIS IS THE HILL WHICH GOD DESIRETH TO DWELL IN; YEA, THE LORD WILL DWELL IN IT FOREVER, and all the powers of darkness will not be able to overthrow the spiritual Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, many myriads, EVEN THOUSANDS OF ANGELS, the innumerable hosts of the angels of God; THE LORD IS AMONG THEM, AS IN SINAI, IN THE HOLY PLACE, Deuteronomy 33:2. Thus the victorious might of Jehovah is set forth over against all the puny power of the kings of hos... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast ascended on high, to the height, referred by Paul to the ascension of Christ, Ephesians 4:8; for the Champion of His Church, having overcome all His enemies, now gives visible evidence of His victory by ascending in triumph to heaven; THOU HAST LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, Satan and his hosts, w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EXALTATION AND REIGN OF MESSIAH... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, or, "Are we burdened, He, God, is our Help, He burdens Himself for us," thus helping us to bear the load which often seems too heavy for us. SELAH.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is our God, again the language of trusting faith, IS THE GOD OF SALVATION, of the many acts of deliverance which we experience in our lives; AND UNTO GOD THE LORD BELONG THE ISSUES FROM DEATH, He has outlets, ways of escape, from death, He alone is able to rescue us from eternal death and to... [ Continue Reading ]
But God shall wound the head of His enemies, break it to pieces, utterly destroy them, AND THE HAIRY SCALP OF SUCH AN ONE AS GOETH ON STILL IN HIS TRESPASSES, whose defiant wildness refuses to bow to the authority of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, the wild fastnesses of the mountainous region east of Jordan, I WILL BRING MY PEOPLE, rather, "the enemies," AGAIN FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA; for whether they were hiding in the mountain forests or in the abysses of the Salt Sea, the Lord would search... [ Continue Reading ]
that thy foot, that of the Church personified as one individual, MAY BE DIPPED IN THE BLOOD OF THINE ENEMIES, which would flow copiously as the Lord struck them down in punishment, AND THE TONGUE OF THY DOGS IN THE SAME, the picture being taken from Oriental conditions, where the dogs licked up the... [ Continue Reading ]
They, the members of the Church of God, HAVE SEEN THY GOINGS, O GOD, His triumphal march; EVEN THE GOINGS OF MY GOD, MY KING, IN THE SANCTUARY, as His procession moves on in holiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
The singers went before, leading the triumphal procession, THE PLAYERS ON INSTRUMENTS FOLLOWED AFTER; AMONG THEM WERE THE DAMSELS, the virgins, PLAYING WITH TIMBRELS, moving along on either side, their hymns proclaiming the victory of the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Bless ye God in the congregations, wherever the believers meet for worship, EVEN THE LORD, FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF ISRAEL, all the spiritual descendants of Abraham.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the conqueror of the enemies mentioned before, THE PRINCES OF JUDAH AND THEIR COUNCIL, the band of the leaders in Israel, THE PRINCES OF ZEBULON, AND THE PRINCES OF NAPHTALI, apparently a motley crowd, a great mass, but all united in the praise of the exalt... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy God hath commanded Thy strength, giving to the Messiah, the exalted Christ, unlimited authority in His kingdom. STRENGTHEN, O GOD, THAT WHICH THOU HAST WROUGHT FOR US, so that His Church may have the benefit of His achievements.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of Thy Temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto Thee, pledging the Messiah their obedience and allegiance, the prophet here looking forward to the spread of the Messianic kingdom among the Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the beast of the reed, the alligator, used as a symbol of Egypt and all heathendom, THE MULTITUDE OF THE BULLS, WITH THE CALVES OF THE PEOPLE, the entire hosts of enemy forces everywhere, TILL EVERYONE SUBMIT HIMSELF WITH PIECES OF SILVER, bringing tribute to the Mess... [ Continue Reading ]
Princes shall come out of Egypt, magnates submitting themselves to the rule of the Messiah. ETHIOPIA SHALL SOON STRETCH OUT HER HANDS UNTO GOD, offering tribute to the King of grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord, the All-powerful, SELAH, all nations giving Him the honor due His mighty name;... [ Continue Reading ]
to Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old, the primeval or ancient heaven being thought of as the seat of God's majesty. LO, HE DOTH SEND OUT HIS VOICE, AND THAT A MIGHTY VOICE, sounding in a revelation of His almighty power.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ascribe ye strength unto God, acknowledging the exalted Messiah as the almighty Ruler; HIS EXCELLENCY IS OVER ISRAEL, the glory of His mercy upon His Church, AND HIS STRENGTH IS IN THE CLOUDS, far above and beyond any possible interference on the part of puny men.... [ Continue Reading ]
O God, Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places, to be regarded with fear and reverence; THE GOD OF ISRAEL IS HE THAT GIVETH STRENGTH AND POWER UNTO HIS PEOPLE, to the assembly of believers in Him, to His Church on earth. BLESSED BE GOD, all glory due to Him alone for the marvelous revelation of the... [ Continue Reading ]