_The majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom. The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof._ To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil. A Song of Loves. _Title._ שׁשׁנים על _al Shoshannim. Upon Shoshannim_] Houbigant and others render it, _upon the lilies;_ which seem... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE IS POURED INTO THY LIPS— Hebrew, _Grace is poured upon thy lips._ The former part of the verse describes the beauty of the king's person; this, his eloquence and gracefulness of address. In this sense Solomon uses these words, Proverbs 22:11. _The king is a friend to the grace of lips; i.e._ t... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD THY SWORD, &C.— This is meant of Christ's coming victoriously to set up his spiritual kingdom in our hearts, and to rule and reign in them by the power of his grace; in allusion to earthly potentates, who are invested with the ensigns of majesty, and girded with their proper armour when they go... [ Continue Reading ]
RIDE PROSPEROUSLY— i.e. "Go forth, like a great conqueror, (see Revelation 19:11.) not to enslave men's persons, or to spoil their goods; but to settle the true faith among them, and to make them humble and meek, just and merciful." _Thy right hand,_ &c. means, "Thy mighty power shall instruct thee... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE ARROWS ARE SHARP, &C.— _Thine arrows are sharp; people shall fall under thee, in the midst of the king's enemies._ Or, _Thy sharp arrows shall level the people under thee; they shall fall into the heart of the king's enemies._ Houbigant. The allusion to an earthly conqueror is still continued.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY THRONE, O GOD, &C.— In Hebrews 1:8 this verse is immediately applied to Christ. The word here rendered _God,_ is אלהים _elohim,_ in the plural; concerning which, see the note on the 1st verse of the 1st chapter of Genesis. In agreement with this verse, St. Paul says of him, that _He is over all,... [ Continue Reading ]
THY GOD HATH ANOINTED THEE— Christ is emphatically, _The Anointed;_ Luke 4:18.; Acts 10:38. Kings, priests, and prophets, were anointed when they entered upon their several offices. Christ was anointed of the Father, solemnly appointed to be the prophet, priest, and king of his people; but it is the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THY GARMENTS SMELL OF MYRRH, &C.— The aloes commonly known in England, to be used by the practitioners in physic, is found to be far from a perfume. It may be proper, therefore, to observe, that there is a wood called _the wood of aloes,_ of Syria, which is a prickly shrub, and which the perfume... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS' DAUGHTERS, &C.— _Kings' daughters were in thy magnificence._ Or, _Were among thy high-valued treasures._ Mudge. The prophet here represents the bride, whose marriage he celebrates, as attended by princesses. There is no need to speak of the literal propriety, if referring to Solomon. But in t... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN, O DAUGHTER, &C.— The prophet here addresses himself to the bride, that is, the church, Psalms 45:13. _Thine own people, and thy father's house,_ means, "the religion of the country in which thou wast educated, whether Gentile or Jewish." See Luke 19:26.; Ephesians 5:31. "Thus shalt thou be... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING'S DAUGHTER, &C.— The _king's daughter,_ the church, is said to be _all glorious within;_ that is, adorned with the most excellent graces and virtues. _Her clothing is of wrought gold; i.e._ those graces and virtues shall display themselves outwardly, and recommend themselves by the lustre o... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTEAD OF THY FATHERS, &C.— i.e. "Instead of the patriarchs, of their descent from whom the Jews were apt to boast, shall be pastors and ecclesiastical rulers throughout the world, and, at length, the temporal princes and governors thereof shall own thee for their mother." Houbigant renders the las... [ Continue Reading ]