Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king's foes; the nations fall beneath your feet. Sermons I. HERE IS A KING FORESEEN, UNIQUE IN HONOUR AND RENOWN. That the sacred writers were familiar with the thought of a King who should come into the world, surpassing all others, we have seen above; this is shown in the passages to which reference has already been made. But even if such passages were fewer and less clear than they are, the amazing combination of expressions in the psalm before us is such, that to none other than the Son of God can they possibly be applied with any semblance of reason. But as we think of him, every term fails in place. Let us take each expression in order. There are no fewer than twelve of them. 1. There is beauty. (Ver. 2.) A beauty beyond that of the sons of men. This points to one who is above the race. And verily the beauty of the Lord Jesus is one of his unnumbered charms. He is the "chief among ten thousand, the altogether lovely." 2. Grace is poured into his lips (ver. 2). How true was this of Jesus (Luke 4:22; John 1:14)! Grace was also ever pouring out from his lips. 3. The fullest blessings descend continually upon him (ver. 2; cf. John 3:34). 4. There are the glory and majesty of royal state (ver. 3). For "with" read "even" ('Variorum Bible'). The sword to be girded on his thigh as for war (see Delitzsch) is his glory and his majestic state. With these he will go forth, conquering and to conquer. 5. His cause is that of truth, meekness, and righteousness. (Ver. 4.) No other king ever combined these in perfection, nor even at all. "Meekness is about the very last thought associated with earthly kings (but see Matthew 11:29). 6. His progress would be marked by terror as well as by meekness (ver. 4; Psalm 65:5; Romans 11:22; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Revelation 1:7). 7. His arrows would be sharp in the hearts of his enemies (ver. 5), and the peoples (plural, Revised Version)would fall beneath him. He should have universal sway, and not over Israel only. 8. He should be God, and yet be anointed by God. (Vers. 6, 7.) How enigmatical before fulfilment! How fully realized in our Immanuel, in him who is at once God and man, David's Son, yet David's Lord! 9. His throne should be eternal. (Ver. 6.) Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (cf. Hebrews 1:8, 9). 10. His sceptre should be a sceptre of righteousness. (Vers. 6, 7.) This is preeminently true; so much so that even those who acknowledge him as Lord, and who have yet been destitute of righteousness, will be rejected (Matthew 7:22, 23). 11. He would receive a higher anointing than that of others (ver. 7; Acts 4:27; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18). 12. Associated with his coming would be fragrance, music, and joy (ver. 8, Revised Version). Surely the gladness and song that gather round this King surpass all other gladness and all other songs that earth has ever known. No widow's wail, no orphan's sigh, attend on the conquests of this King. He conquers but to save. And the joy! oh, how great! Joy among the saved (1 Peter 1:8). Joy among the saints (1 John 1:4). Joy among the angels (Luke 20:10). Joy in the heart of the Father and the Son (Luke 15:32). Joy for ever and ever (Isaiah 35:10). What a magnificent forecast, hundreds of years beforehand! Who dares to deny the supernatural with such a fact before him? II. HERE IS THE KING'S BRIDE. (Ver. 9.) What can the psalmist mean by the bride of such a King, but the Church of his love (see Ephesians 5:23-32)? The following features, if worked out, would greatly exceed the space at our command. 1. She forsakes her Father's house, to be joined to this King, and leaves all her old associates behind her (ver. 10). 2. She is wedded to him (ver. 11, "He is thy Lord"). 3. She is devoted to him (ver. 11). 4. She is decorated with finest gold (ver. 9), and is at the place of honour by his side. 5. Her attendants should come from the nations, with their offerings of devotion (ver. 12). III. HERE IS THE KING'S OFFSPRING. (Ver. 16.) The sacrifice which the bride had made for the sake of the King shall be more than recompensed by her having children, who should gather round her, and who should become "princes in the earth" (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). IV. HERE IS FORETOLD THE KING'S UNIVERSAL AND ENDLESS PRAISE. (Ver. 17.) Though the verse seems to be addressed immediately to the bride, evidently the carrying forward of the name to generation after generation is an honour chiefly of the King, and results from the bridal union. And the praise which shall accrue will be from the peoples (Revised Version), from all the nations; and this praise will be for ever and ever (Psalm 72:17). "Christ's espousing unto himself a Church, and gathering more and more from age to age by his Word and Spirit unto it, his converting of souls, and bringing them into the fellowship of his family, and giving unto them princely minds and affections wherever they live, are large matters of growing and everlasting glory" (Dickson). Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." - C.
Thine arms are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies: whereby the people fall under Thee. I. THE ARROW OF CONVICTION. It is "sharp in the heart," and is sure to kill the man. Where there is real conviction of sin the man is sure to become dead to what he was. If he were a profligate he now becomes a praying man; if a Pharisee, a self-loathing, self-despairing man; he will be humbled in the dust before God. This may explain the words, "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted," as he is exalted when picked up from the dunghill of profligacy. And the Pharisee may rejoice that he is brought low. The two, meeting, may rejoice together for what God has done for them. There is a great variety of things the Lord turns into arrows. Dissatisfaction with self; the man gets into a pensive, moody state of mind, confesses himself unhappy, and begins to think the Christian the happiest man after all. The Lord may use this. Or the loss of a child may lead the mother to think about her own future state. What if it had been she who was taken. Or the loss of a friend, or husband, or wife, teaches the solemnity of death and the uncertainty of all human hopes. I have known men's own bad conduct sometimes turned into an arrow of conviction; I have known instances; two young men engaged to go out one Sunday and swear all the oaths they could think of. These oaths were turned, the awfulness of it, into an arrow of conviction to the one; he was stopped, paralyzed, and could no longer go on. Then again men may see that, though much despised and spoken against, Christians are best off after all, There is no sudden conviction here, no terror; the arrow may enter the heart almost imperceptibly, so gently, that they can hardly tell the time when they were converted. It does not matter if you are really Christ's now. Or affliction, loss of property — this oftentimes — has been used of God. And, very often, usually by the Word itself. So, then, whatever the means were, if we are but brought,, if the arrow of conviction has but entered the heart, whether suddenly from the bow of God's truth, whether from your own thoughts, whether from loss of friends, or property, or affliction, or whatever may be the means, if the conviction be but there, then thou art saved, for my text says, "Whereby the people fall' under Thee." This is sure to be the effect, only there must be this personal wounding more or less, this personal conviction, so as to bring you down to pray for yourself. For note —II. THE SURE EFFECT. — "The people fall under Thee." Under the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the very Son of God. (James Wells.) 1. By setting up their own wisdom and carnal reasoning in opposition to the revelation He has made of His Father's will to us in the Gospel. 2. By refusing to submit to His righteousness revealed in the Gospel (Romans 10:3). 3. By declining His yoke, and refusing to take on His burden. 4. By neglecting and despising His ordinances. 5. By persecuting His servants and people, both by tongue and hand. 6. By unbelief. 7. By raising, propagating and defending error. 8. By apostatizing from Christ after professing subjection to Him and kindness for Him. 9. By affecting to be neither His friends nor His foes; they do not choose to oppose religion, and as little can they think to be seen taking part with it. There are many other ways whereby the natural enmity of the heart exerts itself against Christ, which we cannot insist upon; such as resting on a form of godliness without seeking acquaintance with the power of it; living in the neglect of known duty when the Lord gives them an opportunity to perform it. Taking up with the hope of the hypocrite, and retaining a heart enmity to Christ under the cloak of pretended friendship. This is, indeed, a way of exerting the enmity of the heart against Christ, that eludes the eye of man; but He sees it, who will in a little make all the Churches know that "He searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men." II. SPEAK OF THAT WORK OF CHRIST WHICH CONSISTS IN HIS MAKING HIS ENEMIES BECOME HIS FRIENDS BY MEANS OF THE GOSPEL. 1. When our Lord Jesus is about to bring a person into u state of friendship with Himself, He convinces the man of the sinfulness of his condition, persuading him both of the reality of his enmity against Him, and the danger to which he is exposed on account of it. 2. Our Lord having thus convinced the sinner of his sin, He also shows him the danger to which it exposes him, letting him see that they who do the things with which He stands chargeable are worthy of death. 3. As our Lord Jesus convinces the man of his danger on account of his sin, He also causes him to see the vanity and fruitlessness of every attempt he is ready to make in order to recommend himself to the Divine favour by his own works of righteousness. 4. The Spirit of God enlightens the mind of the convinced and awakened sinner in the knowledge of Christ; He destroys the veil of ignorance: wherewith the man's understanding was covered, and shines into his heart, giving him the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as it is displayed in the person of our glorious Immanuel. 5. Christ having made Himself known to the sinner, the Spirit apprehends the man for Christ, works faith in his heart, with all the other saving graces which are inseparably connected with it; and having implanted faith in the soul by means of the promise, He draws it forth into exercise SO as that the soul is brought actually to embrace the Saviour and close with Him. III. OFFER SOME THOUGHTS UPON THE EFFECT OF THAT WORK WHICH CONSISTS IN CHRIST'S MAKING HIS ENEMIES BECOME HIS FRIENDS. 1. A real sense of the person's error and mistake in taking up the weapons of rebellion against God. 2. Falling in subjection under Christ includes in it faith's views of forgiveness, notwithstanding all the provocations the man sees himself chargeable with. 3. A sinner's falling under Christ by kindly subjecting the heart and soul to Him, has in it a holy blushing and confusion of face on account of sin the man has done. 4. This falling under Christ includes in it a cordial renouncing and giving up with every other lord and lover lisa. 26:13). 5. It includes a hearty embracing of, and closing with, Christ as our Saviour, Head and Husband. 6. It has in it a solemn giving up of the Whole man unto Christ, to be saved by Him, and also to serve Him. IV. THE APPLICATION. 1. Of information.(1) We may see from this subject the woeful condition which all men are in by nature; they are enemies to God in their minds, and daily discovering they are so in their life and conversation (Colossians 1:21).(2) We may see that men are not only enemies to God, but obstinately so; they are disposed to continue in that unhappy condition until Divine power is exerted in their behalf.(3) We may see the kindness and love of God toward sinners of mankind in devising means to have them brought back into a state of favour and friendship with Himself.(4) We may see the power and efficacy of the Word of Christ when accompanied by the Spirit.(5) We may see that there is no standing it out against the Captain of salvation; His arrows are sharp and piercing. All must either bow to Him, and yield Him the subjection of faith, or be broken by the iron rod of His irresistible power.(6) We may from this subject infer the safety and preservation of the Church and every particular believer. Zion's' King is a man of war; He fights for Mount Zion and the hill thereof. He is never at a loss to strike a blow with success upon His adversaries; for strong is His hand, and high is His right hand. 2. Of examination. Have you really seen the contrariety of your nature and practice to the image, will, and holy law of God? Has the Holy Spirit convinced you of sin, because ye believed not on the only begotten Son of God? Have you really received Christ Jesus the Lord in all His offices? 3. Of exhortation.(1) We exhort such of you as are brought over to Christ, by the all-conquering power of His Spirit and grace, to bless the Lord, that ever He was pleased to make a saving revelation of His powerful arm to you, determining you to give up with the service of sin and Satan, and take on the yoke of Christ.(2) We exhort you, who have had, it may be, some experience of what is affirmed concerning the arrows of Christ in the text, but have not as yet been brought to fall under Him, in a kindly manner, taking Him as the Captain of your salvation; we intreat you to beware of stifling your convictions and quenching the motions of the Holy Spirit.(3) We exhort all who may be labouring under convictions to be on their guard against giving way to despondency or despair, though for the present you may not see anything but blackness, darkness and tempest, attended with the trumpet sounding loudly from Mount Sinai; yet you know not how soon the day may break and the shadows flee away.(4) It may, perhaps, be the case with some that they cannot say but they have had some convictions; yet they have not had experience of so many strong and lasting convictions as they have heard and read of in the case of others, and so labour under doubts and fears whether or not they are yet brought over to Christ. If Christ be precious to you, if your souls cleave to the covenant of promise in faith and love; and if sin be the object of your real hatred, you have reason to conclude you are passed from death to life and shall never come into condemnation.(5) We exhort you who are yet in the camp of Satan, and so acting the part of enemies to Zion's King to consider the sinfulness of your conduct. You are engaged in a most unrighteous, dangerous and soul-ruining war. (T. Bennet.) II. AGAINST THESE ENEMIES WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS EMPLOYED, AND WITH WHAT SUCCESS? They are the arrows of God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whereby the people fall under Him. They are so called from the suddenness, the secrecy and the swiftness of their motion. And every one of the arrows of Christ, piercing and penetrating as they all are, is taken from the same exhaustless quiver, brought by the victorious Lamb from heaven, wherewith to subdue His enemies. And whereof are they made? Feather, shaft and point, they are wholly and entirely love, pure, unimaginable, undeserved, unconditional, everlasting love. These arrows probe the wound that hath been slightly healed by the deceitfulness of sin, and probe it to the quick. They force the humbled transgressor toffee from himself and take refuge in the righteousness of Christ. Oh, it is a wonderful process, and as sure as it is wonderful, whereby that arrow of the Word, when it reaches a sinner, alters the whole mass of the mind's affections, that he can no more stay himself up in the chariot of his guilty battle against God, but is carried forth that he may be "dead indeed unto sin." If I should strike a rock of marble or adamant with an arrow, and see it cleft, and gushing out with water, I must needs imagine some wonderful and secret virtue to have wrought an effect so strange. Now, our hearts are of themselves harder than the nether millstone. When, therefore, the arrows of the love of Christ strike them so mightily, yet so tenderly, and transforms the soul into His nature, who can question whence it comes and where the glory ought to be? But, while there are these arrows of love, there are also arrows of wrath in a quiver of judgment for obdurate sinners. What these are may we never know. (J. P. Buddieom, M. A.) (Psalm 45:5): — There was something very fascinating about the archery of olden times. Perhaps you do not know what they could do with the bow and arrow. Why, the chief battles fought by the English Plantagenets were with the longbow. They would take the arrow of polished wood and feather it with the plume of a bird, and then it would fly from the bowstring of plaited silk. The broad fields of Agincourt and Solway Moss and Neville's Cross heard the loud thrum of the archer's bowstring. Now, we have a mightier weapon than that. It is the arrow of the Gospel; it is a sharp arrow; it is a straight arrow; it is feathered from the wing of the dove of God's Spirit; it flies from a bow made out of the wood of the Cross. As far as I can estimate or calculate, it has brought down four hundred million souls. Paul knew how to bring the notch of that arrow on to that bowstring, and its whirr was heard through the Corinthian theatres, and through the courtroom, until the knees of Felix knocked together. It was the arrow that stuck in Luther's heart when he cried out, "Oh, my sins! Oh. my sins!" If it strike a man in the head it kills his scepticism; if it strike him in the heel it will turn his step; if it strike him in the heart, he throws up his hands as did one of old when wounded in the battle, crying, "O Galilean, Thou hast conquered!"(T. De Witt Talmage.) People Korah, Ophir, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Arrows, Beneath, Enemies, Fall, Falling, Haters, Heart, Hearts, King's, Nations, Peoples, Pierce, Sharp, Sink, WherebyOutline 1. The majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom10. The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 45:5Library July 20. "Forget Also Thine Own" (Ps. Xlv. 10). "Forget also thine own" (Ps. xlv. 10). We, too, like the ancient Levites, must be "consecrated every one upon our son and upon our brother," and "forget our kindred and our father's house" in every sense in which they could hinder our full liberty and service for the Lord. We, too, must let our business go if it stands between us and the Lord, and in any case let it henceforth be His business and His alone, pursued for Him, controlled by Him, and its profits wholly dedicated to Him, and used as He … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth The Portrait of the Bride The King in his Beauty The Gladness of the Man of Sorrows Of virtue On virtue --All virtues Given with God in this Degree of the Prayer of the Heart. Of the First Seal. The High Calling I Send Thee Not, Soul that Art Religiously Chaste... On the Opinion of Dionysius. Thy Name is as Oil Poured Forth; Therefore have the virgins Loved Thee. So Then the Father is Lord and the Son is Lord... Letter Lxv. To Principia. Christ is to be Loved Question of the Comparison Between the Active and the Contemplative Life For not Even Herein Ought Such as are Married to Compare Themselves with The... If, Therefore, You had not as yet Vowed unto God Widowed Continence... Introduction to Four Discourses against the Arians. My Beloved is White and Ruddy, the Chiefest among Ten Thousand. Christian Meekness King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is Lovely in his Person He is Lovely in his Relations. Of Rest in the Presence of God --Its Fruits --Inward Silence --God Commands it --Outward Silence. Links Psalm 45:5 NIVPsalm 45:5 NLT Psalm 45:5 ESV Psalm 45:5 NASB Psalm 45:5 KJV Psalm 45:5 Bible Apps Psalm 45:5 Parallel Psalm 45:5 Biblia Paralela Psalm 45:5 Chinese Bible Psalm 45:5 French Bible Psalm 45:5 German Bible Psalm 45:5 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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