Christ cried with a loud voice in death, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit!” Then our Lord died; because it was His will. Death could not bind Him, but love to His wife bound Him. Love is stronger than death; nay, love was as strong as Christ. The law was weak now, for Christ satisfied it; and now it has no power over you. Ye are in Christ; and He is a better Master than the law. Change not with any Master again. Follow Him all the way to heaven. Christ’s new love got an exchange in His blessed manhood. How do ye since ye married Christ last? Tell your mind of Christ. Let faith speak, let love speak of slain Christ Jesus; of His kissing you. Ye are now at Christ’s pierced side; get heaven and mercy when Christ has the cross on His back.
This Psalm of the royal installation of our Jesus, and of His proclamation to all men, forms a most appropriate sequel to the warnings and promises which had preceded. The ground alike of the world’s doom and the safety of the church is that Christ has been anointed King forever. Their folly must become manifest, and His grace must be established, for He reigneth.
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. (Phil. 2:21) We cannot suppose that the apostle intended by these words to characterize all his fellow Christians—the whole multitude of believers—many of whom were conspicuous for a spirit and temper the very reverse of that which the apostle here condemns. He speaks in the context of Timothy as one who, “as a son with a father,” served with him in the gospel (Phil. 2:22). And a little after, of Epaphroditus, his “brother and companion in labour,” who, “for the work of Christ, was nigh unto death, not regarding his life to supply their lack of service” towards him (Phil. 2:25, 30). And in the foregoing chapter, he tells us that “many of the brethren, waxing confident” by his bonds, “were much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil. 1:14).
There are very few people who would not agree with the apostle when he says that Christ is precious to believers. All who have been educated in a Christian land, however incorrect their views, and however dead their hearts, have a notion, at least, that but for Christ they could never get to heaven, and few or none would therefore contradict the assertion that he is a Saviour to be valued. But when one comes a little closer and asks professing people why he is precious to them, and in what degree, the answers to this question are indefinite and vague.
