Set your minds on the things that are above

“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.” Psa 110.3

There are pointers in the scriptures of truth which lead the mind to a better state than that which is our immediate experience. Lofty ideals are set before us which can lift us above the level of a humdrum existence in the present mundane state. If we can but grip the eternal realities which God has in store for those who love and fear Him, we shall loosen the hold on the passing glamour of a fleeting life. The Apostle Paul in writing to the Colossians, chap. 3. 23, R.V., said, “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God”.

The words of the Psalmist, which we have put in the panel, refer to the day of power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “beauties” is translated from a Hebrew word meaning also honour and majesty. These words are significant in our worship of God. The Psalmist mentions them in Psalm 145. 5. R.V.: “Of the glorious majesty of thine honour, and of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.” The 110th Psalm is prophetic of the reign of Christ on earth. It opens with the words,

“The LORD (Yahweh) said unto my lord (Adon, lord, sir or master) sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool”.

Christ was here foretold, and his ascension to the Father’s right hand predicted. This is made the subject matter of teaching by the Apostles in the New Testament, e.g. the words of the Apostle Peter, Acts 3. 21, (Emph. Diag.) “. . . whom, indeed, heaven must retain till the times of restoration of all things God spoke by the Mouth of His Holy Prophets, from of old.” (The Amplied N.T. puts it “from the most ancient time in the memory of man”.)

“In the beauties of holiness”. This phrase is used in a psalm of David of thanks to God for the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to its resting place in Jerusalem. (See 1st Chron. 16. 29.) “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” The R.V. margin suggests an alternative, “in holy array”. We would like to link this up with another phrase (Psa. 93. 5, R.V.): “Holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.” There is beauty in holiness. When Aaron was clothed in holy array for officiating in the service of the tabernacle (tent of meeting), his garments were “for glory and for beauty”. The saints will take up that position in the day of Christ’s power; and in this connection I would quote the Septuagint reading of our first quotation:

“With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.”

Regarding the dew which comes from the womb of the morning, and embracing the appearance of Christ, the words of the hymn are very expressive:

As dew upon the tender herb,

Diffusing fragrance round;

As showers that usher in the Spring

And cheer the thirsty ground.