The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-02-23

Thou shalt call his name Jesus, and the
Lord God shall give unto him the throne OF
his father David; and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever" The promised
Messiah is limited to the line of descent from
David, and is henceforth held up as King.
This covenant gives tone to the Messianic
Psalms, all of which are based upon it. The
Psalms written previous to this time, have no
allusiOn to Christ as King. But henceforth
we find this the burden of many of them
1t gives shape to the visions of the prophets
that come after, especially the Prophet
Isaiah. The phraseolOgy in which the gos'
pei was first proclaimed, "The kingdom OF
heaven is at hand, had its origin in this
covenant. And its grandest contamination
yet in the future, is portrayed in fuller and
more glorious terms in the revelation of the
Spiritual Kingdom to the Apostle on Pat
mos. Examine the Psalms given in the
"Readings for the Week" also Psalms
lxzii and xxx, and the latter chapters of
Isaiah.
David is in these chapters and prophecies
type of Christ Some of the expositors,
in explaining the previous lessons have rep
resented David as type of Christ; but there
is no authority in scripture for this, previous
to this covenant.
The event we are studying when thus con-
sidered is one of the most important trans
actions in the history of redemption. Yet
like each of the other covenants, it takes up
and perpetuates the blessings promised in
those that go before it. Compare verses
IA, "A, Psalm Xxi: II, xxi: 27, with Gen.
xvii 6, 7.
David's Prayer.-Verses 1S-22.-The
Magnitude Ofthe Covenant Blessings .-Verse
1S.-" Then went king David in, e., into
the tabernacle. "And sat before the Lord.
The posture taken in prayer was no doubt
that common still in the East, of kneeling
and sitting upon the heels, half kneeling,
half sitting. "Who am l, &C." The exal-
tation already given him, David in his hu-
mility acknowledged was far greater than he
merited; this, however, was 's small thing"
Verse 19) compared with the great promises
in the covenant, which God by his prophet
had made with him, and which placed him
typically at the head of the spiritual king
dom, and made him the father of the pro-
missed "King of Righteousness. Psalm
OK els this the manner of man 7" In l
Chron. xvii II, the statement is made in
this form, "and hast regarded me according
to the estate of a man of high degree. The
meaning seems to be that the greatness and
glory promised in this covenant was above a
CLAW" margin or ordinance for man, or
at least they involved "the estate of man
of high degree" that is the dignity and
greatness of the Goldman. The eighth
Psalm, IS interpreted in Hebrews, contains
this idea in very similar language.
Verse 90" And what can David say
more unto thee ?" compared with l
ChrOn. xvii Is, seems to imply that David
could ask no greater things than those pro-
missed; and he would leave himself in the
care of God who knew his servant.
Verse 21.-Compare Chron. xvii: 10.
The great things cOVenanted were gratui-
tously promised, not for any merit of his
and yet they were revealed for his advance
ment.
Verses 22-24.-GOd magnifed for has fa-
cor to Israel. Verse %. In view of these
promises David magnifas the Lord. Verse
%. The sense is better expressed in |
Chron. xvii: q, than in our translation here.
Verse a. The promises of the Abrahamic
Covenant were perpetual in this new cove
nant.
Verses $3.50 David desires the cove-
aant to be established. If any ratification of
a covenant were called for, where the favor
is all on one side, then this expressed de-
sire to have it established according to Gods
word, would be ratification on the part OF
David. The gratitude expressed in these
latter verses of David'S prayer, seems to
spring from some conception of the glory of
the Messiah's kingdom. Whether DaVids
views were clear or not, as to the purport of
these promised blessings, the Spirit of God,
from this time on, speaking through him, re-
Vealed much of its glory.
Remarks: 1. We have greater share in
the blessings of this covenant of the king
dom than David. Let not our expressions
of gratitude fall below his.
2. The church is kingdom, in which
Christ reigns supreme; but it is spiritual
kingdom. "My kingdom is not of this
world.
8. "Ths kingdom of heaven is at hand. "
It's "gates shall be open continually they
shall not be shut day nor night" lisa. TX:
p Men are pressing into it. Will you not
enter?
4. If Christ does not reign in you, he will
reign over You; it may be ruling with rod
of IRON Read the second Psalm to see
what will become of the enemies of the king
dom.
5. "Ki8s the son lest he angry and ye
perish from the way, when his wrath is kin
died but little.
6. Though king riding in majesty and