Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Following the description of the King’s beauty and gracious speech (v.2), the psalm now turns to His power and readiness for battle (vv.3-5). The same King who is fair and full of grace is also mighty in judgment and victory. This King is the Son, whose throne is for ever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv.6-7), and here He is called to arise and act in strength. This is our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand in awe of Him.
“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty.” The sword is the weapon of a warrior, and to gird it upon the thigh is to prepare for action. This is not a call to gain strength, but to manifest it. He is already “most mighty,” possessing all power, for “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). His sword is not only a figure of earthly warfare, but of His word and judgment: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations” (Revelation 19:15). He goes forth to subdue His enemies and establish His rule, for “the LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Psalm 110:2).
This sword also shows that He conquers not only nations, but the hearts of men. The King Himself searches, pierces, and subdues the inner man, for “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13), and again, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). Thus His warfare is not only outward against rebels, but inward upon the soul, overthrowing pride, exposing unbelief, and bringing men into subjection. As the psalm continues, “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee” (v.5).
“With thy glory and thy majesty.” His warfare is not like that of earthly kings, but is clothed with divine glory and majesty. Glory speaks of the display of His excellence, and majesty of His royal greatness. When He acts, He does so as King. At His first coming, His glory was veiled, yet still seen: “and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). In His exaltation and return, that glory will be openly revealed: “when the Son of man shall come in his glory… then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). His victories are not merely acts of strength, but displays of His righteous rule and kingly authority.
This union of glory and warfare shows that His judgments are not arbitrary, but righteous and true. When He goes forth, it is as the King who loves righteousness and hates wickedness (v.7). As it is written, “And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8). Therefore His victories vindicate His name, for all His ways are just, and His dominion is established in truth.
This verse shows Christ as the mighty King who goes forth to conquer, both in saving His people and in judging His enemies. In the time of the gospel, He conquers by His word and Spirit, bringing sinners into subjection to Himself, for “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). At the last, He will come in judgment to overthrow all opposition, for “he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25).
This verse sets forth the majesty and power of Christ as the conquering King, going forth in strength and glory to accomplish His will. Therefore the heart should stand in awe of Him, the tongue ready to declare His greatness, and the ear attentive to His word of authority. As it is written, “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” (Exodus 15:3), and again, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25).
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Following the description of the King’s beauty and gracious speech (v.2), the psalm now turns to His power and readiness for battle (vv.3-5). The same King who is fair and full of grace is also mighty in judgment and victory. This King is the Son, whose throne is for ever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv.6-7), and here He is called to arise and act in strength. This is our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand in awe of Him.
“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty.” The sword is the weapon of a warrior, and to gird it upon the thigh is to prepare for action. This is not a call to gain strength, but to manifest it. He is already “most mighty,” possessing all power, for “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). His sword is not only a figure of earthly warfare, but of His word and judgment: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations” (Revelation 19:15). He goes forth to subdue His enemies and establish His rule, for “the LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Psalm 110:2).
This sword also shows that He conquers not only nations, but the hearts of men. The King Himself searches, pierces, and subdues the inner man, for “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13), and again, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). Thus His warfare is not only outward against rebels, but inward upon the soul, overthrowing pride, exposing unbelief, and bringing men into subjection. As the psalm continues, “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee” (v.5).
“With thy glory and thy majesty.” His warfare is not like that of earthly kings, but is clothed with divine glory and majesty. Glory speaks of the display of His excellence, and majesty of His royal greatness. When He acts, He does so as King. At His first coming, His glory was veiled, yet still seen: “and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). In His exaltation and return, that glory will be openly revealed: “when the Son of man shall come in his glory… then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). His victories are not merely acts of strength, but displays of His righteous rule and kingly authority.
This union of glory and warfare shows that His judgments are not arbitrary, but righteous and true. When He goes forth, it is as the King who loves righteousness and hates wickedness (v.7). As it is written, “And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8). Therefore His victories vindicate His name, for all His ways are just, and His dominion is established in truth.
This verse shows Christ as the mighty King who goes forth to conquer, both in saving His people and in judging His enemies. In the time of the gospel, He conquers by His word and Spirit, bringing sinners into subjection to Himself, for “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). At the last, He will come in judgment to overthrow all opposition, for “he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25).
This verse sets forth the majesty and power of Christ as the conquering King, going forth in strength and glory to accomplish His will. Therefore the heart should stand in awe of Him, the tongue ready to declare His greatness, and the ear attentive to His word of authority. As it is written, “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” (Exodus 15:3), and again, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25).