Psalms 118:16

The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

Mighty to save

I. The triumphs of the Lord Jesus. He did not come as a man of war, for He is the prince of peace; He came not here with shield and buckler, but He came with a body fitted to suffer, and with a heart strong to endure. The Christ of God came in lowliness and in shame; but for all that He fought great battles in the midst of His weakness, and won for Himself wondrous spiritual victories.

II. The triumphs of the Church of Christ. The Church began with feeble numbers, with small wealth, and with comparatively little talent, but she was clothed with the Holy Ghost, and was therefore mighty.

III. The triumphs of grace in individuals. Do you remember when you sought to escape from the multitude of your sins? Do you recollect when they compassed you about like bees? You could not count your sins--you had forgotten them; they seemed dead and buried, but they all came to life again, and they swarmed about you. They buzzed about you at your table; they stung you in your sleep; in your dreams they harassed you; at your work you had no peace because of them. And dost thou mind the place, the spot of ground, where thou didst meet with Jesus? Oh let your soul go back to your spiritual birthday; ring the bells of your heart again; hang out the streamers of your soul for that happy day when Jesus washed your sins away. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The power of God displayed in the redemption of man

I. A sublime attribute of god. “The right hand of the Lord” represents His power in its loftiest manifestation, its sovereignty, its resistlessness, its omnipotence.

II. Signal achievements which, by the operation of that Divine attribute, are performed.

1. The personal history and work of the Messiah.

2. The application of the work of the Messiah to individual men.

3. The progress of the economy founded upon the work of the Messiah, and its wide diffusion throughout the earth.

III. The emotions which the contemplation of these achievements produces in pious minds. Our rejoicing is to be connected with, and ensured by, practical manifestations. They are these: implicit trust on the Saviour’s mediation; abounding gratitude for the Saviour’s goodness; devoted obedience to the Saviour’s commandments; zealous activity for the Saviour’s glory. And as those, who are set apart by Him to be the instruments in the advancement of His empire, by our self-denial, our activity, and our prayers, we are to attempt the ingathering of His people, and the advancement of those grand and wonderful designs we have presented, which are to be fulfilled in the recovery of the world. (J. Parsons.)