CONTENTS
Our old Bibles make a very brief account in summing up the contents of this Psalm, but they say a vast deal in few words; they call it The benefit of the communion of saints! And indeed the church being one in Christ, and with Christ, nothing can be more evident, than that this is the whole scope of it.
A Song of Degrees of David.
Reader! first behold Jesus in this Psalm. He is the glorious Head, from whose life-giving, soul-awakening, soul-cleansing, soul-transforming, and soul-strengthening, influences, all communion is derived, so as to keep alive his members in him, and opening fellowship and communion with each other from him. The sacred writer makes use of a beautiful illustration, in explaining this blissful truth: the holy oil on the head of Aaron ran down to the lowest skirts; and Jesus, our almighty Aaron, was anointed with the oil of gladness above, and for, his fellows; The Spirit was given without measure unto him. Unto us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ, John 3:34; Ephesians 4:7. This anointing is also fruitful, like the dew on the hill of Hermon: for Hermon, though a fruitful hill, must be replenished by the dew, as well as the souls of the redeemed by grace, or both will be dry, and unproductive. No communion shall we have with one another, no replenishing in ourselves, unless Jesus imparts to all. Sweet thought! Jesus is to his people as a dew from the Lord, as showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for man; neither waiteth for the sons of men, Micah 5:8. Gracious Lord! refresh thy church, thy brethren, thy fellows (as thou condescendest to call them) and keep our souls alive in thee, and from thee; so that we may have sweet communion and fellowship with each other, to the glory of our great Head, in our Zion, from whence thou hast promised the blessing and life, in the king of Zion, forevermore.