Sermon IX.1
“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.” — Ps. xlv. 3.
In the 2d verse we have a description of the person of Christ, and of the ground of God’s blessing and accepting of him in his work, the psalm having a double design; — first, To show the glory of Christ in his kingly office; secondly, To show the mutual love that is between Christ and his church.
This 3d verse sets forth his entering upon the first part of his work, and is spoken by the way of encouragement unto Christ, in the name of God the Father, to undertake his office, and to go through with it. “Gird thy sword,” saith he, “upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.”
There are three things in the words:— I. The work that is proposed unto Jesus Christ, or rather his preparation for his work: “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh.” II. The manner how he should go through this work: “With thy glory and thy majesty.” And (that which I shall particularly enlarge on) III. The appellation that is here given to Christ; which is, “Most Mighty.” He is most mighty in the execution of his office which he is exalted unto:—
I. We have Christ’s preparation for his work: “Gird thy sword on thy thigh.” Consider two things:— 1. What is the sword of Christ. 2. What is meant by girding this sword upon his thigh.
1. The sword of Christ is the word of God; so it is called, “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Eph. vi. 17. The Spirit being the great immediate agent whereby Christ administers his kingdom, that which is the sword of the Spirit is the sword of Christ: and therefore, where Christ is described in his kingdom, it is said that “he hath a sword proceeding out of his mouth,” Rev. i. 16; which, in another place, is called “The rod of his mouth,” Isa. xi. 4. It is the word of God, the great instrument of Christ in managing of his kingdom, that is called here his sword.
2. Concerning this it is said, “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh.” The girding of the sword upon the thigh, is the putting of it into readiness for use. When David was going up against Nabal, he said unto his men, 1 Sam. xxv. 13, “Gird ye on every man his sword.” Wherefore Christ’s girding his sword upon his thigh, is the disposing of the word into the ordinances of the gospel, where it may be ready for use. It hath respect unto the time when he ascended on high, and sent forth his word for the setting up of his kingdom. Then he put his word in readiness to effect the great designs of his love and grace, when “he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Eph. iv. 11. He furnished men with gifts and abilities to dispense this word unto the ends of his kingdom.
II. The manner of going through his work is, “With thy glory and thy majesty.” The glory and majesty of Christ are his power and authority. And so it is prophesied of, as an encouragement unto the Lord Christ, that he should clothe his word with power and authority for the ends of setting up his kingdom, — the edification of his church and the preservation of it in the world.
These things I speak in a general way; I shall now more particularly address myself, —
III. To the appellation that is here given unto Christ, — “O most Mighty, גִּבּוֹר, from גָּבַר, one that prevails in every thing he takes in hand.
Observe from hence, that the Lord Jesus Christ, as king of the church, is endowed with a mighty power for the accomplishing of all the designs and ends of this rule and kingdom. It is said of him, Ps. lxxxix. 19, God hath “laid help upon one that is mighty.” It is spoken there primarily of David, “I have found David my servant.” But what could poor David do? one taken from the sheepfold. It was not a laying help, therefore, upon David that was mighty, absolutely speaking; but a putting strength into him. But David was a type of Christ; and to him must the passage be referred; — he is the mighty One. Also Isaiah, Isa. lxiii. 1, describing of Christ in his kingdom, saith, “It is ‘I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’ ” And again, in Ps. xxiv. 7, etc., there is a description of his ascension into heaven; the gates and everlasting doors being lifted up, that he, the King of glory, may enter in. The question being asked, “Who is this King of glory?” saith he, “The Lord, strong and mighty.” It is a property everywhere ascribed unto Jesus Christ, that he is mighty.
Here we may inquire, — 1. Whence Christ is thus mighty for the execution of his kingly office? and, 2. To what ends he doth put forth this might and power?