Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 45:5
Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee.
5. As the text stands it must be rendered;
Thine arrows are sharp;
Peoples fall under thee:
(They are) in the heart of the king’s enemies.
The poet depicts the battle with rapid vigorous strokes of his pen. The king’s arrows are sharpened (Isa 5:28), ready for fatal effect; his enemies fall at their discharge; he rides on over their prostrate corpses; each shaft has found its mark in the heart of a foe. But the construction is abrupt, and possibly there is some error in the text.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart … – literally, Thine arrows are sharp – the people under thee shall fall – in the heart of the enemies of the king. The process of thought in the verse seems to be this: First. The arrows are seen as sharp or penetrating. Second. The people are seen falling as those arrows are shot forth. Third. It is seen that those who fall are the enemies of the king, and that the arrows have pierced the heart. The word sharp is applied to the arrows as denoting that they were adapted to pierce. Sometimes arrows are blunted, or with a thick head, rather adapted to smite with force than to wound by penetrating. The bow and the arrow were common instruments in ancient wars, and were mainly used by those who went forth to battle in a chariot. Compare 1Ki 22:34; 2Ki 9:21-24. As pertaining to the Messiah, the reference here is, of course, to the truth, and to the power of that truth in penetrating the hearts of people. Compare the notes at Heb 4:12.
In the heart of the kings enemies – That is, the truths stated by the Messiah, the conquering king, would penetrate deep into the soul, and slay the sinner, the enemy of the king, that is, of the Messiah. The idea is, that truth would produce an effect in regard to the hopes of the sinner – his self-confidence – his life as a sinner – like that which the arrow does when it penetrates the heart. Compare Rom 7:9 : For I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. See also the notes at Rom 7:10-11.
Whereby the people fall under thee – As the effect of the arrows; as the effect of truth. The representation is that of victory. As here represented, it is the victory of truth; a conquest by subjecting people to the authority and reign of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 45:5
Thine arms are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies: whereby the people fall under Thee.
Enemies turned into friends
I. The arrow of conviction. It is sharp in the heart, and is sure to kill the man. Where there is real conviction of sin the man is sure to become dead to what he was. If he were a profligate he now becomes a praying man; if a Pharisee, a self-loathing, self-despairing man; he will be humbled in the dust before God. This may explain the words, Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, as he is exalted when picked up from the dunghill of profligacy. And the Pharisee may rejoice that he is brought low. The two, meeting, may rejoice together for what God has done for them. There is a great variety of things the Lord turns into arrows. Dissatisfaction with self; the man gets into a pensive, moody state of mind, confesses himself unhappy, and begins to think the Christian the happiest man after all. The Lord may use this. Or the loss of a child may lead the mother to think about her own future state. What if it had been she who was taken. Or the loss of a friend, or husband, or wife, teaches the solemnity of death and the uncertainty of all human hopes. I have known mens own bad conduct sometimes turned into an arrow of conviction; I have known instances; two young men engaged to go out one Sunday and swear all the oaths they could think of. These oaths were turned, the awfulness of it, into an arrow of conviction to the one; he was stopped, paralyzed, and could no longer go on. Then again men may see that, though much despised and spoken against, Christians are best off after all, There is no sudden conviction here, no terror; the arrow may enter the heart almost imperceptibly, so gently, that they can hardly tell the time when they were converted. It does not matter if you are really Christs now. Or affliction, loss of property–this oftentimes–has been used of God. And, very often, usually by the Word itself. So, then, whatever the means were, if we are but brought,, if the arrow of conviction has but entered the heart, whether suddenly from the bow of Gods truth, whether from your own thoughts, whether from loss of friends, or property, or affliction, or whatever may be the means, if the conviction be but there, then thou art saved, for my text says, Whereby the people fall under Thee. This is sure to be the effect, only there must be this personal wounding more or less, this personal conviction, so as to bring you down to pray for yourself. For note–
II. The sure effect.
The people fall under Thee. Under the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the very Son of God. (James Wells.)
The arrows of Zions King, sharp in the hearts of His enemies, and the people falling in subjection under Him
I. Inquire who may be said to be Christs enemies. In general we may observe that He has as many enemies as there are devils in hell and irregenerate men upon earth. Should it then be inquired, What way do men evidence their enmity at Christ? We answer–
1. By setting up their own wisdom and carnal reasoning in opposition to the revelation He has made of His Fathers will to us in the Gospel.
2. By refusing to submit to His righteousness revealed in the Gospel (Rom 10:3).
3. By declining His yoke, and refusing to take on His burden.
4. By neglecting and despising His ordinances.
5. By persecuting His servants and people, both by tongue and hand.
6. By unbelief.
7. By raising, propagating and defending error.
8. By apostatizing from Christ after professing subjection to Him and kindness for Him.
9. By affecting to be neither His friends nor His foes; they do not choose to oppose religion, and as little can they think to be seen taking part with it. There are many other ways whereby the natural enmity of the heart exerts itself against Christ, which we cannot insist upon; such as resting on a form of godliness without seeking acquaintance with the power of it; living in the neglect of known duty when the Lord gives them an opportunity to perform it. Taking up with the hope of the hypocrite, and retaining a heart enmity to Christ under the cloak of pretended friendship. This is, indeed, a way of exerting the enmity of the heart against Christ, that eludes the eye of man; but He sees it, who will in a little make all the Churches know that He searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men.
II. Speak of that work of Christ which consists in his making his enemies become his friends by means of the gospel.
1. When our Lord Jesus is about to bring a person into u state of friendship with Himself, He convinces the man of the sinfulness of his condition, persuading him both of the reality of his enmity against Him, and the danger to which he is exposed on account of it.
2. Our Lord having thus convinced the sinner of his sin, He also shows him the danger to which it exposes him, letting him see that they who do the things with which He stands chargeable are worthy of death.
3. As our Lord Jesus convinces the man of his danger on account of his sin, He also causes him to see the vanity and fruitlessness of every attempt he is ready to make in order to recommend himself to the Divine favour by his own works of righteousness.
4. The Spirit of God enlightens the mind of the convinced and awakened sinner in the knowledge of Christ; He destroys the veil of ignorance: wherewith the mans understanding was covered, and shines into his heart, giving him the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as it is displayed in the person of our glorious Immanuel.
5. Christ having made Himself known to the sinner, the Spirit apprehends the man for Christ, works faith in his heart, with all the other saving graces which are inseparably connected with it; and having implanted faith in the soul by means of the promise, He draws it forth into exercise SO as that the soul is brought actually to embrace the Saviour and close with Him.
III. Offer some thoughts upon the effect of that work which consists in Christs making his enemies become his friends.
1. A real sense of the persons error and mistake in taking up the weapons of rebellion against God.
2. Falling in subjection under Christ includes in it faiths views of forgiveness, notwithstanding all the provocations the man sees himself chargeable with.
3. A sinners falling under Christ by kindly subjecting the heart and soul to Him, has in it a holy blushing and confusion of face on account of sin the man has done.
4. This falling under Christ includes in it a cordial renouncing and giving up with every other lord and lover lisa. 26:13).
5. It includes a hearty embracing of, and closing with, Christ as our Saviour, Head and Husband.
6. It has in it a solemn giving up of the Whole man unto Christ, to be saved by Him, and also to serve Him.
IV. The application.
1. Of information.
(1) We may see from this subject the woeful condition which all men are in by nature; they are enemies to God in their minds, and daily discovering they are so in their life and conversation (Col 1:21).
(2) We may see that men are not only enemies to God, but obstinately so; they are disposed to continue in that unhappy condition until Divine power is exerted in their behalf.
(3) We may see the kindness and love of God toward sinners of mankind in devising means to have them brought back into a state of favour and friendship with Himself.
(4) We may see the power and efficacy of the Word of Christ when accompanied by the Spirit.
(5) We may see that there is no standing it out against the Captain of salvation; His arrows are sharp and piercing. All must either bow to Him, and yield Him the subjection of faith, or be broken by the iron rod of His irresistible power.
(6) We may from this subject infer the safety and preservation of the Church and every particular believer. Zions King is a man of war; He fights for Mount Zion and the hill thereof. He is never at a loss to strike a blow with success upon His adversaries; for strong is His hand, and high is His right hand.
2. Of examination. Have you really seen the contrariety of your nature and practice to the image, will, and holy law of God? Has the Holy Spirit convinced you of sin, because ye believed not on the only begotten Son of God? Have you really received Christ Jesus the Lord in all His offices?
3. Of exhortation.
(1) We exhort such of you as are brought over to Christ, by the all-conquering power of His Spirit and grace, to bless the Lord, that ever He was pleased to make a saving revelation of His powerful arm to you, determining you to give up with the service of sin and Satan, and take on the yoke of Christ.
(2) We exhort you, who have had, it may be, some experience of what is affirmed concerning the arrows of Christ in the text, but have not as yet been brought to fall under Him, in a kindly manner, taking Him as the Captain of your salvation; we intreat you to beware of stifling your convictions and quenching the motions of the Holy Spirit.
(3) We exhort all who may be labouring under convictions to be on their guard against giving way to despondency or despair, though for the present you may not see anything but blackness, darkness and tempest, attended with the trumpet sounding loudly from Mount Sinai; yet you know not how soon the day may break and the shadows flee away.
(4) It may, perhaps, be the case with some that they cannot say but they have had some convictions; yet they have not had experience of so many strong and lasting convictions as they have heard and read of in the case of others, and so labour under doubts and fears whether or not they are yet brought over to Christ. If Christ be precious to you, if your souls cleave to the covenant of promise in faith and love; and if sin be the object of your real hatred, you have reason to conclude you are passed from death to life and shall never come into condemnation.
(5) We exhort you who are yet in the camp of Satan, and so acting the part of enemies to Zions King to consider the sinfulness of your conduct. You are engaged in a most unrighteous, dangerous and soul-ruining war. (T. Bennet.)
The Saviours conquests in the hearts of His enemies
I. Who are the enemies with whom the Saviour carries on a strife of mercy in seeking to subdue them unto Himself? They are mankind at large, all men by nature. And every believer was once His enemy and the bond-servant of sin. To this point our view can never be too stedfastly or too intensely directed. For until we see the guilt, the shame, the destitution, the ingratitude, the misery, and (if God interfere not to save), the hopelessness of every natural mans rebellion against his Maker, and the suicidal hand with which, in this dreadful treason, he is striking at every interest of his own soul as the soldier of Satan, and the slave of sin, he can have no saving view of a Redeemer; he cannot know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge; he cannot be filled with all the fulness of God.
II. Against these enemies what are the weapons employed, and with what success? They are the arrows of God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies, whereby the people fall under Him. They are so called from the suddenness, the secrecy and the swiftness of their motion. And every one of the arrows of Christ, piercing and penetrating as they all are, is taken from the same exhaustless quiver, brought by the victorious Lamb from heaven, wherewith to subdue His enemies. And whereof are they made? Feather, shaft and point, they are wholly and entirely love, pure, unimaginable, undeserved, unconditional, everlasting love. These arrows probe the wound that hath been slightly healed by the deceitfulness of sin, and probe it to the quick. They force the humbled transgressor toffee from himself and take refuge in the righteousness of Christ. Oh, it is a wonderful process, and as sure as it is wonderful, whereby that arrow of the Word, when it reaches a sinner, alters the whole mass of the minds affections, that he can no more stay himself up in the chariot of his guilty battle against God, but is carried forth that he may be dead indeed unto sin. If I should strike a rock of marble or adamant with an arrow, and see it cleft, and gushing out with water, I must needs imagine some wonderful and secret virtue to have wrought an effect so strange. Now, our hearts are of themselves harder than the nether millstone. When, therefore, the arrows of the love of Christ strike them so mightily, yet so tenderly, and transforms the soul into His nature, who can question whence it comes and where the glory ought to be? But, while there are these arrows of love, there are also arrows of wrath in a quiver of judgment for obdurate sinners. What these are may we never know. (J. P. Buddieom, M. A.)
Effective soul archery
(Psa 45:5):–There was something very fascinating about the archery of olden times. Perhaps you do not know what they could do with the bow and arrow. Why, the chief battles fought by the English Plantagenets were with the longbow. They would take the arrow of polished wood and feather it with the plume of a bird, and then it would fly from the bowstring of plaited silk. The broad fields of Agincourt and Solway Moss and Nevilles Cross heard the loud thrum of the archers bowstring. Now, we have a mightier weapon than that. It is the arrow of the Gospel; it is a sharp arrow; it is a straight arrow; it is feathered from the wing of the dove of Gods Spirit; it flies from a bow made out of the wood of the Cross. As far as I can estimate or calculate, it has brought down four hundred million souls. Paul knew how to bring the notch of that arrow on to that bowstring, and its whirr was heard through the Corinthian theatres, and through the courtroom, until the knees of Felix knocked together. It was the arrow that stuck in Luthers heart when he cried out, Oh, my sins! Oh my sins! If it strike a man in the head it kills his scepticism; if it strike him in the heel it will turn his step; if it strike him in the heart, he throws up his hands as did one of old when wounded in the battle, crying, O Galilean, Thou hast conquered! (T. De Witt Talmage.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. Thine arrows are sharp] The arrows here may mean the convictions produced in the hearts of men by the preaching of the Gospel. The King is God himself; his enemies are sinners of all sorts. The people, the Jews, thousands of whom were pricked in their hearts under the preaching of Peter and others. All fall before Christ; those who received the word rose again by repentance and faith; those who did not, fell down-all down!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thine arrows; the same thing for substance with the sword, Psa 45:3, both noting the instruments by which he conquers his enemies; which is no other than his word, which is sharp and powerful, and pierceth the hearts of men, Heb 4:12; which also first wounds sinners, and then heals them; and which is for the fall as well as for the rising of many, Luk 2:34, and for judgment as well as for mercy, Joh 9:39; to some a savour of death, and to others a savour of life, 2Co 2:16; and therefore is fitly compared to arrows; which title is sometimes given to words, as Psa 64:3, and frequently to Gods plagues or judgments, Deu 32:23; Psa 18:14; 64:7, such as the word becomes to ungodly men by their own fault. And these metaphorical weapons are oft ascribed to Christ, who hath a bow, Rev 6:2, and weapons of warfare, 2Co 10:4, and whose mouth God is said to make a sword and an arrow, Isa 49:2.
Of the kings enemies, i.e. of thine enemies; the third person being put for the second, as is usual in prophetical writings; which here may seem to have some emphasis, as describing the persons against whom he shot his arrows, and the reason why he did so, because they were the enemies of his kingdom, and would not have him to reign over them, Luk 19:27.
The people fall under thee; either as slain by thine arrows; or as prostrate at thy feet, after the manner of conquered persons, Psa 18:38; 20:8. According to this and many other translations the words are transplaced, which in the Hebrew lie thus, Thine arrows are sharp, whereby the people do fall under thee, in the heart (i. e. in the midst, which is oft called the heart, as Exo 15:8; Deu 4:11. And so it may be here; for the army, as such, hath no heart, properly so called. And so this is fitly alleged, as a proof of the sharpness and force of his arrows, that they not only wound those who march in the front, but even those who are in the midst of the army, where they may seem secure, and out of-their reach) of the kings enemies. But the middle words may be, and are by many, included within a parenthesis, and so they may agree with our translation thus, Thine arrows are sharp (for the people fall under thee, which is an evidence of their sharpness) in the heart (or, against the heart; or, piercing into the heart; which is an easy and usual ellipsis) of the kings enemies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. The result.
peopleWhole nationsare subdued.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies,…. Meaning either the Jews, who were the implacable enemies of Christ, and who would not have him to reign over them; in the midst of whom were sent his arrows, of the sword, famine, and pestilence, and which were very sharp, and made sad havoc among them, and caused such a time of tribulation as was not before, or has been since, Mt 24:21; or else the doctrines of the Gospel. The Scriptures are the quiver out of which they are taken; the Gospel is the bow into which they are put, and out of which they are shot; and ministers are the archers that draw the bow at a venture, and shoot them; and which are compared to “arrows” for their swift, sudden, and secret motion, and for their piercing and penetrating power and efficacy: and these are Christ’s, which he is the author of, and which he makes use of to good purpose, by striking the hearts of his people with them, who in their state of unregeneracy are enemies to him; which appears by their wicked works, and as they were when he died for them, and reconciled them to God; by means of which arrows fixed in them, and with which their hearts are pricked and wounded, they submit unto him, signified by the next clause:
[whereby] the people fall under thee: acknowledge themselves sinners; fall down at his feet; humbly implore his grace and mercy; submit to his righteousness; depend on him alone for salvation; adore him, and give him the glory of it, as well as become subject to his laws and ordinances. This is to be understood of those who are God’s covenant people, whom he has given to Christ, and he has redeemed by his blood; and particularly the Gentiles, who were not a people, but now openly are, in distinction from the Jews, the enemies of the King Messiah.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5. Thy arrows are sharp, etc. Here the Psalmist again refers to warlike power, when he says that the arrows of the king shall be sharp, so that they shall pierce the hearts of his enemies; by which he intimates that he has weapons in his hand with which to strike, even at a distance, all his enemies, whoever they may be, who resist his authority. In the same sense also he says that the people shall fall under him; as if it had been said, Whoever shall engage in the attempt to shake the stability of his kingdom shah miserably perish, for the king has in his hand a sufficiency of power to break the stubbornness of all such persons.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) Thine arrows.Our version has transposed the clauses of this verse. The original is more vivid.
Thine arrows are sharpened
The people under Thee fall
Against the heart of the kings enemies.
The poet actually sees the battle raging before him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. The people fall There is no withstanding the power of the war-king. His enemies submit and return to duty, or perish. See Psalms 2, , 110
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 45:5. Thine arrows are sharp, &c. Thine arrows are sharp; people shall fall under thee, in the midst of the king’s enemies. Or, Thy sharp arrows shall level the people under thee; they shall fall into the heart of the king’s enemies. Houbigant. The allusion to an earthly conqueror is still continued. The meaning is, “Thy word shall pierce like sharp arrows into the hearts of all who oppose thee, and make all nations humble themselves and become subject to thee.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 45:5 Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee.
Ver. 5. Thine arrows are sharp, &c. ] Peter’s converts were pricked at heart; and Stephen’s hearers were cut to the heart, Act 2:37 ; Act 7:54 . Christ can fetch in his rebels afar off; he hath arrows as well as a sword, to wound them; that men may either bend or break, yield or become his footstool; one way or other he will surely have the better of them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for “in the midst”.
people = peoples.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Thine: Psa 21:12, Psa 38:2, Num 24:8, Zec 9:13, Zec 9:14
sharp: Psa 2:1-9, Luk 19:42-44, Luk 20:18, Luk 20:19, Act 2:37, Act 2:41, Act 5:33, Act 7:54
people: Psa 22:27, Psa 66:3, Psa 66:4, Act 4:4, Act 5:14, Act 6:7, Rom 15:18, Rom 15:19
Reciprocal: Deu 32:42 – make mine 2Sa 18:14 – thrust them 2Sa 22:15 – arrows Job 6:4 – the arrows Psa 7:13 – ordaineth Psa 110:2 – rule Psa 110:5 – strike Psa 144:6 – shoot out Isa 5:28 – arrows Isa 49:2 – made me Jer 50:25 – opened
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 45:5. Thine arrows are sharp, &c. The allusion to an earthly conqueror is still continued. The arrows mean the same with the sword, both denoting the instruments wherewith he conquers his enemies; which are the truths, precepts, threatenings, promises, &c., of his word. These, when accompanied by the influences of the Holy Spirit, are sharp and powerful, and pierce the hearts of men with conviction of sin, shame, and sorrow, producing frequently terror, dismay, and exquisite distress for a time, till sinners are humbled, subdued, and reconciled. In the heart of the kings enemies Of thine enemies, the third person being put for the second, as is frequently done in prophetical writings; and the word king being here brought in probably to describe the persons against whom the arrows are shot, and the reason thereof, because they were enemies of his kingdom, and would not be subject to him. Whereby the people fall under thee Either slain by thine arrows, or prostrate at thy feet, after the manner of conquered persons. Those that were by nature enemies are thus wounded, in order to their being reduced, reconciled, and made subject to this king; and those that persist in their enmity, in order to their being ruined and destroyed. The arrows of Gods terrors are sharp in their hearts, that they may so fall under him as to be made his footstool, Psa 110:1; that, as they would not submit to his golden sceptre, and have him to reign over them, they may be broken by his iron rod, and slain before him.