Of the Messiah and His Kingdom
Maschil, a didactic poem, of Ethan, the Ezrahite, a descendant of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, 1 Chron. 2, 6; 1 Kings 4, 31. He belonged to a great family, or guild, of singers, some of whom, at least, seem to have been trained in the schools of prophets. The psalm clearly substantiates the Messianic character of 2 Sam. 7, 12-29.
THE PROMISE MADE TO DAVID. — V. 1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, the poet immediately launching forth into his subject, the theme of his song, the merciful kindnesses of Yahweh; with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations, since it is this attribute, this manifestation of the divine essence, which causes Him to abide by the promises once made to those who believe in Him. The theme is now set forth somewhat more at length.
V. 2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever, firmly founded and erected in a structure which would never be overthrown; Thy faithfulness shalt Thou establish in the very heavens, never to be moved, these two manifestations of the Lord, merciful kindness and faithfulness, grace and truth, being the foundation upon which our salvation rests secure, John 1, 14.
The psalmist now quotes the words of the Lord from 2 Sam.1, or Yahweh Himself answers in an antiphonal strophe. V. 3. I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David, My servant, the Lord Himself assuring Him with a solemn oath,
v. 4. Thy Seed will I establish forever,namely, in his dynasty, in the rulers out of his line, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. If this had been spoken of an earthly, temporal rule only, then this prophecy would have fallen to the ground, for in no kingdom of this world is there at the present time any ruler of the house of David. But Christ, who is truly a King, although His kingdom is not of this world, is the Seed of David whose rule will last throughout eternity. It is with reference to this promise that the praise of the psalmist sounds forth again.
V. 5. And the heavens shall praise Thy wonders, O Lord, the miracles of love which he performed for the salvation of mankind; Thy faithfulness also, by which He would fulfill, and has fulfilled, His promises, in the congregation of the saints, all the angels rejoicing over the fact that God, in His infinite mercy and kindness, had found a way of delivering fallen mankind from the curse of damnation. Compare the song of the angels, Luke 2, 14.
V. 6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord, in the immeasurable greatness of this miracle of His grace in providing a Savior for mankind? Who among the sons of the mighty, the greatest of His creatures, the mightiest rulers of the earth, can be likened unto the Lord? They cannot stand as His equals, there cannot even be a remote comparison.
V. 7. God is greatly to be feared, very awesome, in the assembly of the saints, in the midst of His congregation, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him, the very angels trembling with awe in His presence. All believers regard Him, not with the fear of slaves, but with the trusting reverence due Him for the continual revelation of His greatness.
V. 8. O Lord God of hosts, the mighty Ruler of the armies of heaven, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee, He alone possessing and wielding omnipotent power, or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee? For it is by virtue of this manifestation of His essence that the believers rely upon His Word with absolute confidence; it surrounds Him on all sides, it is like the rays of the sun shedding their brilliance in all directions. The majesty of God’s omnipotence is now described.
V. 9. Thou rulest the raging of the sea, when it tries to rise against His laws in insolent defiance; when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them, causing them to sink back in powerless rage. Before this almighty power, moreover, the proud arrogance of men is equally helpless.
V. 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, crushed and wounded mighty Egypt at the time of Israel’s deliverance from its slavery, as one that is slain; Thou hast scattered Thine enemies with Thy strong arm. All the enemies of the Lord and of His Church are mortally wounded and overthrown by the strength of His almighty arm.