CHETH.
This eighth part of this lovely Psalm opens most beautifully, in which we clearly behold Jesus as the speaker. The royal Prophet, under the Spirit's influence (as Peter was commissioned to explain) in the person of Christ, declared Jehovah to be his portion in another Psalm. And here the same is repeated. See Psalms 16:5, compared with Acts 2:22-31. Reader! it is blessed to see Jesus thus claiming the Father as his portion, for in this we find our claim in Jesus as our portion. And having the key at the door, in this part of the Psalm, to open to Christ, we may safely go through the whole of it, with an eye to him. And so far will this ever be from lessening our interest in what is said, that it strengthens our claims tenfold. Nay, without reference to the ever-blessed Jesus, no son or daughter of Adam can presume to say what is here said: For who hath made his heart clean? Who is it that hath made haste and delayed not to keep the Lord's commandments? Who is it that hath never forgotten God's law? Proverbs 20:9. But when we behold Christ in his all perfect obedience; and by faith behold Christ the common head and representative of all his church, as one with his people, who are beheld and accepted in him; we enter into the full enjoyment of these sweet and precious scriptures, and take interest in all that concerns him. And how blessed then becomes the promise of the Father: I have said (saith Jehovah) mercy shall be built up forever. How? I have made a covenant with my chosen: I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever. Psalms 89:3-4. Oh! the mercy of God in Christ!