Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
The King is the risen Christ, not a Saviour still in the tomb, but the Lord of hosts who rules in heaven. Enthroned between the cherubim, He rules over the destiny of nations and guards His people amid the strife and tumult of nations, measuring every trial and watching the furnace fire that must test every soul. His sharp arrows are the arrows of God's wrath striking through the hearts of His enemies when the strongholds of kings are overthrown, whereby peoples fall under Him. While this overthrow takes place amid conflict and the overthrow of earthly powers, His people remain safe in His hands.
The sharp arrows are also God's truth, the written Word of the living God, by which the wicked are slain, given to the believer as a weapon. Believers are to combat error by holding forth and lifting up that weapon and presenting the truth. That presenting is to be done in simplicity when truth is lifted up and spoken, rather than by entering into controversy, contention, and wounding words. The arrows picture piercing words: the apostles' words, made powerful by the Holy Spirit, convicted hearers of their terrible guilt in rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory.
The same image describes Christ's words, which reached and wounded the hearts of His accusers, while His teaching brought a saving effect to some who heard it. The truth may pierce a listener's heart without any visible sign, so ministers who faithfully give the message of mercy need not fear their work is in vain. At the final account God will make their work and its fruits known, and the honor will belong to Christ. Because His loyal people are safe in His hands, they are to possess their souls in patience, with no mourning and despair and no doubt and unbelief.
The King is the risen Christ, not a Saviour still in the tomb, but the Lord of hosts who rules in heaven. Enthroned between the cherubim, He rules over the destiny of nations and guards His people amid the strife and tumult of nations, measuring every trial and watching the furnace fire that must test every soul. His sharp arrows are the arrows of God's wrath striking through the hearts of His enemies when the strongholds of kings are overthrown, whereby peoples fall under Him. While this overthrow takes place amid conflict and the overthrow of earthly powers, His people remain safe in His hands.
The sharp arrows are also God's truth, the written Word of the living God, by which the wicked are slain, given to the believer as a weapon. Believers are to combat error by holding forth and lifting up that weapon and presenting the truth. That presenting is to be done in simplicity when truth is lifted up and spoken, rather than by entering into controversy, contention, and wounding words. The arrows picture piercing words: the apostles' words, made powerful by the Holy Spirit, convicted hearers of their terrible guilt in rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory.
The same image describes Christ's words, which reached and wounded the hearts of His accusers, while His teaching brought a saving effect to some who heard it. The truth may pierce a listener's heart without any visible sign, so ministers who faithfully give the message of mercy need not fear their work is in vain. At the final account God will make their work and its fruits known, and the honor will belong to Christ. Because His loyal people are safe in His hands, they are to possess their souls in patience, with no mourning and despair and no doubt and unbelief.