I. DESERVED COMMENDATION (1). The Blessedness-Unity in Love. II. DELIGHTFUL COMPARISON (2). The Anointing Oil. Descends-Resulting in Fragrance. III. DELIGHTFUL COMPARISON (3a). The Abundant Dew. Descends-Resulting in Fruitfulness. IV. _DMNE COMMAND (3b). The Blessing-Eternity of Life. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Song of the Degrees ( or, Ascents); David's. PRIMARY AssoCIATION.-Probably celebrates the reunion of the whole nation after the civil discords of David's early reign. Hezekiah adopts this, no doubt, as one of his "songs" because it suitably expresses his own sentiments, particularly when celebrating the Passover for "all Israel," 2 Chron. xxx. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Looks on to millennial days when Israel's ten tribes will again be reunited with Judah in ·the land, Ezek. xxxvii. 16-28. The tribes will constantly assemble at Jerusalem for the worship of Jehovah and dwell in a blessed spiritual unity, Isa. xxxii. 15. In the midst of the scene Messiah as Great Priest is
viewed. As King He builds and establishes the House of God ( cxxxii.), as Priest He alone furnishes it. The new covenant will be the abiding security of the redeemed people. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Spiritual unity characterises the Church of God. This unity is to be maintained, Eph. iv. 3, but, alas, Christians have sadly failed. Ponder the grace of brotherliness-its beauty · and its blessedness. VERSE NOTES 2. The oil refers to the sacred perfumed oil used for Òointing the high priest (Exod. xxx. 23 ff.). It was poured upon Aaron's head (Lev. viii. 12; xxi. 10) when consecrated to office. The ordinary priests were only sprinkled with it (Exod. xxix. 21). Oil is type of the Holy Spirit in Hi's sanctifying power, the fruit being ''love, joy, peace," etc. (Gal. v. 22); "skirt," br. as margin. Note that the true point of comparison is not the fragrance of the oil, though this beautiful thought is not to be ruled out, but its abundance. It did not remain upon the head but fl.owed down ward, thus sanctifying the whole body. All the members shared the blessing. The application to Christ and His people is clear. 3. The dew is also type of the Holy Spirit in His reviving power. Heavy dews in the East are vital to the well-being of all nature. Here "dew" seems to refer rather to the copious mist resembling recent rain sometimes seen in Palestine. Again the point of comparison is not the refreshing qualities of the "dew" or its all-pervading properties, but rather that it falls alike upon both the mountains mentioned. Lofty Hermon in the north represents Israel, while the lowlier Zion in the south represents Judah. "There," i.e. Jerusalem; c£ Deut. xii. 5-21. Israel's unity (1) is a corporate one, as the Hebrew word indicates, having Jerusalem as the one place of worship and all ·blessing .commanded "there." Note the threefold "flowing down" 2 (twice), 3; "life for evermore,"-first mention of eternal life in Old Testament; only other place, Dan. xii. 2; both are in connection with the millennium.
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