The works of the Lord stand firm for ever and ever; nothing can compare with them. But if so, why does He allow...
The works of the Lord stand firm for ever and ever; nothing can compare with them. But if so, why does He allow His people to take possession of the inheritance of the nations? Of course, this primarily means the Promised Land, won back from the pagans, but is that all? Might the lands of Palestine also be an image of another, spiritual inheritance?
With such an interpretation, it is easy to succumb to the temptation of regarding the many manifestations of pagan customs as an inheritance to be assimilated. We know that many Israelites reasoned in precisely this way, and the Bible repeatedly shows where this led.
Yet the land was promised to Abraham’s descendants not only long before Joshua’s wars, but even before the pagan peoples whom Joshua drove out had established themselves there. The land they possessed was not their own. And if the question is whether we need to assimilate genuinely valuable achievements of culture and technology that took shape in a pagan environment, it is worth considering: did paganism really produce them? Were they not drawn from another source, like lands that were not intended for the pagans?
110 That this psalm belongs to the Messiah, is abundantly evident both from the express testimony of the New Testament, Act 2:34 Psa 89, Co1 15:25, Psa 89, Heb 1:13, Psa 89, Heb 10:13, and from the consent of the ancient Hebrew doctors. Of him, it is directly and immediately to be understood; the spirit of God wisely so ordering this matter, that it might be a convincing testimony against the unbelieving Jews, concerning the true Messiah, and concerning the nature and quality of his kingdom. His prophetic office, Psa 110:2. His priestly office, Psa 110:4, His kingly office, Psa 110:1, Psa 110:3, Psa 110:5-6. His states of humiliation and exaltation, Psa 110:7. A psalm of David.
110:1 The Lord - God the father. Said - Decreed it from eternity, and in due time published this decree, and actually executed it; which he did when he raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion. Unto - Unto his son the Messiah, whom David designedly calls his Lord, to admonish the whole church, that although he was his son according to his human nature, yet he had an higher nature, and was also his Lord, as being God blessed for ever, and consequently Lord of all things. The Hebrew word Adon is one of God's titles, signifying his power and authority over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messiah, to whom God hath delegated all his power Mat 28:18.Sit - Now take thy rest and the possession of that sovereign kingdom and glory, which by right belongeth to thee; do thou rule with me with equal power and majesty, as thou art God; and with an authority and honour far above all creatures, as thou art man. Make - By my almighty power communicated to thee as God by eternal generation, and vouchsafed to thee as mediator. Enemies - All ungodly men, sin and death, and the devil.Footstool - Thy slaves and vassals.
110:2 The rod - Thy strong or powerful rod, and the rod is put for his scepter, or kingly power: but as the kingdom of Christ is not carnal, but spiritual, so this scepter is nothing else but his word.Zion - From Jerusalem.
110:3 People - Thy subjects, shall offer thee as their king and Lord, not oxen or sheep, but themselves, their souls and bodies, as living sacrifices, and as freewill - offerings, giving up themselves to the Lord, Co2 8:5, to live to him, and to die for him.The day - When thou shalt take into thy hands the rod of thy strength, and set up thy kingdom in the world. In the beauties - Adorned with the beautiful and glorious robes of righteousness and true holiness.The dew - That is, thy offspring (the members of the Christian church) shall be more numerous than the drops of the morning dew.
110:4 Sworn - That this priesthood might be made sure and irrevocable.
110:5 The Lord - God the son; the Lord, who is at thy right - hand.Strike - Shall destroy all those kings who are obstinate enemies to him.
110:6 Judge - Condemn and punish them. The places - Or, the place of battle. Dead bodies - Of his enemies. Heads - All those princes who oppose him. But this and the like passages are not to be understood grossly, but spiritually, according to the nature of Christ's kingdom.
110:7 Drink - He shall have a large portion of afflictions, while he is in the way or course of his life, before he comes to that honour of sitting at his father's right - hand. Waters in scripture frequently signify sufferings. To drink of them, signifies to feel or bear them.Therefore - He shall be exalted to great glory and felicity.