Psalms 68:18

This is the verse of verses, which serves as a key to unlock the sacred treasury of this whole Psalm. And the Holy Ghost himself is his own commentator. By his servant, the apostle Paul, he hath taught the church how to apply it to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 4:8, etc. Hence, by comparing these scriptures, and looking up for his divine teaching, who is the almighty Author of both, we are admitted into a blessed apprehension of the things here recorded, concerning Christ. Reader! do observe, in what words the thing is spoken of, thou hast ascended. Whereas this was written by the spirit of prophecy, at least a thousand years before Christ was born. But to His almighty eye, before whom things past, present, or future, form but one object, the event is so sure, that what he hath counseled must stand, and be as certain as if finished. The ascension of the Lord Jesus is the subject here contemplated; but the whole of Christ's triumphs over death, hell, and the grave, together with his exalted state at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, is included in this hymn of praise. Psalms 47:5. Precious thought to the believer! Jesus, thy Jesus, thy surety, the Captain of thy salvation, hath led captive the devil and all his host, that led thee captive, and hath destroyed forever the dominion of sin and the grave. Hallelujah! I desire the Reader, in comparing this verse with the parallel one, in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, to observe the variation of expression. It is beautifully diversified, as if God the Holy Ghost would have the church take notice of each particularly. David's expression is, Thou hast received gifts for men: the apostle's phrase is, and gave gifts unto men: Both of which, strictly and properly speaking, Christ did. For he received from the Father, as Mediator, all he gave to his people; for it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell; that of his fulness all we might receive, and grace for grace. These things were in the covenant agreed on between the glorious Persons, that Christ should give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him. And the apostle throws further light upon the subject in explaining what those gifts are, and how they were bestowed, when he saith that he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. And, Reader! do not overlook what to you and me; personally considered, becomes the sweetest part of the verse: Jesus received these ascension-gifts for the rebellious; yea, said the Holy Ghost; as if the blessed Spirit would put a special emphasis upon this part of Christ's gifts: yea they were, and are, for the rebellious. Then, Reader! why not for you, why not for me? Lord Jesus! grant them to both, if it be thine heavenly will; that thou mayest dwell in our hearts by faith, and be formed there the hope of glory! One observation more on this glorious verse: In the margin of some of our old Bibles; the translators have retained, what the original Hebrew will fully allow, that those gifts received were not only for men, but he received them IN the man Christ Jesus; that is, in his human nature, which he had taken into the Godhead. And we know, that in him dwelled all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Oh! precious, precious thought: How hath Jesus honored our nature! And how hath Christ endeared himself to us, in corning so near to us, that we might be brought near to him! John 17:23; John 17:23.