Psalm 110:3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning… The people shall be willing in the day of thy power. Power to submit, power to accept, power to respond, power to offer allegiance, come to the people when they recognize Messiah's power. Illustrated on the Day of Pentecost, when Messiah's power was so convincingly displayed. "They then that received Peter's words were baptized; and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls." In common history and common life, the principle is seen working. As soon as a man is successful, as soon as his power is manifest, the crowd will flock to him. This is put into the motto, "Nothing succeeds like success." An illustration may be found in the time of the Judges. When the people were convinced of the power of Deborah and Barak, "they willingly offered themselves for the avenging of Israel" (Judges 5:2). I. RECOGNIZING POWER. There is much power that is unrecognized; and there are many persons unable to recognize power. 1. Power may be undeveloped, and so not efficiently showing itself. The most we can see is the promise of what is yet to he. We do not feel the impulse of power that is only in its unfolding. 2. Power may take forms that surprise. As it does when we expect material power, and that presented to our view is spiritual power. This was the case with Messiah's power. 3. Power may cross our power, and then our pride may prevent recognition, as in the case of the Pharisees of our Lord's time. Certain moral conditions must be attained before moral power can be rightly valued. There is a spiritual vision which alone enables us to discern moral power. II. THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF HAVING RECOGNIZED POWER. "The people offer themselves willingly." This point may be illustrated by the effects of our Lord's word on certain sufferers. A man was before him who had a withered hand. Jesus said, "Stretch forth thy hand." The man recognized his power; that gave him power, and he did stretch it forth, and it was made whole. So in Bethesda Jesus saw a helpless cripple, and said, "Take up thy bed, and walk." The man felt our Lord's power; it exerted a mighty influence on him; he took up his bed and walked. In the higher regions of the spiritual life this truth finds further illustration. It is a matter of experience that it was the discernment of Christ's power to save which brought us conscious power over sin, which persuaded us to yield ourselves to him. It is every fresh apprehension of his power to sanctify that brings us power to wrestle with evil. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. |
    |