3. Thy people . . . willing--literally, "Thy people (are) free will
offerings"; for such is the proper rendering of the word "willing,"
which is a plural noun, and not an adjective
(compare
Ex 25:2;
Ps 54:6),
also a similar form
(Jud 5:2-9).
in the day of thy power--Thy people freely offer themselves
(Ro 12:1)
in Thy service, enlisting under Thy banner.
in the beauties of holiness--either as in
Ps 29:2,
the loveliness of a spiritual worship, of which the temple service, in
all its material splendors, was but a type; or more probably, the
appearance of the worshippers, who, in this spiritual kingdom, are a
nation of kings and priests
(1Pe 2:9;
Re 1:5),
attending this Priest and King, clothed in those eminent graces which
the beautiful vestments of the Aaronic priests
(Le 16:4)
typified. The last very obscure clause--
from the womb . . . youth--may, according to this view, be thus
explained: The word "youth" denotes a period of life distinguished for
strength and activity (compare
Ec 11:9)
--the "dew" is a constant emblem of whatever is refreshing and
strengthening
(Pr 19:12;
Ho 14:5).
The Messiah, then, as leading His people, is represented as continually
in the vigor of youth, refreshed and strengthened by the early dew of
God's grace and Spirit. Thus the phrase corresponds as a member of a
parallelism with "the day of thy power" in the first clause. "In the
beauties of holiness" belongs to this latter clause, corresponding to
"Thy people" in the first, and the colon after "morning" is omitted.
Others prefer: Thy youth, or youthful vigor, or body, shall be
constantly refreshed by successive accessions of people as dew from the
early morning; and this accords with the New Testament idea that the
Church is Christ's body (compare
Mic 5:7).
JFB.
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