Psalms 110:3

Numberless beauties appear, in this verse, like the constellations of the heavenly borders, to call upon our notice. First, the promise made concerning the people of Christ. Here we find that Christ had a people, a church, a seed, an offspring, before his incarnation: and hence, not only at his birth, but even before his conception, his name was called Jesus, because he should save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21; Psalms 89:3; Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 59:21. Secondly, God the Father promiseth that this people shall be a willing people; a people of willingness, as it might be rendered; volunteers, listing under Christ's banner. When Jesus is set up as an ensign to the nations, the Gentiles shall seek to it, and his rest shall be glorious, Isaiah 11:10. And the prophet introduceth Christ, by the spirit of prophecy as looking amazed at the accession of his people unto him, Isaiah 49:20. Thirdly, God's promise is, that all these blessings shall take place in the day of Christ's power. The sovereignty of grace, and the influence of his Spirit, which accompanieth his word, shall make it effectual; so that it shall not return void, but like the rain and the snow, which cometh down from heaven, shall give gracious influences; Isaiah 55:10. And it is beautiful to remark how variously this day of Christ's power is spoken of in scripture, so as to point out the blessed properties of it: A day of espousals of the soul to Christ, Song of Solomon 3:11 : A day of salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2; hence when Christ made the publican Zaccheus willing in the day of his power, he said, This day is salvation come to this house; Luke 19:9. and a day of the Lord's making and marvellous in our eyes, Psalms 118:24. One sweet thought more is suggested by this verse, when it is said that these great events are to be accomplished in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning; Christ hath the dew of his youth. It was an Old Testament promise to New Testament saints, that they should see the King in his beauty. For though to the carnal eye Christ's visage was marred more than any man's, and he had no comeliness to make him desired; yet to the spiritual, like the disciples, they saw his glory, and believed in him; Isaiah 33:17; John 2:11; John 2:11. David, in his dying hours, under the spirit of prophecy, described Christ as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds, 2 Samuel 23:4; and another prophet represented the remnant of Jacob begotten to Christ in the midst of many people, as the dew is from the Lord, Micah 5:7. Probably to show that sovereign grace will give to Christ an abundance of souls like the dew drops, so numerous as to be perfectly incalculable. And they shall come, as the dew cometh, of heavenly extraction, being born of God, and not of the will of the flesh, John 1:13. And unperceived, unnoticed, unknown, as the silent dew-drops of the morn; for the kingdom of God cometh not with observation, Luke 17:20. And as they are begotten, like the dew, without the aid of man; so also shall they be preserved by the same predisposing cause, without man's deserts. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, Zechariah 4:6.