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The spiritual union that exists between Christ and His Church is here beautifully described. Within her pale were to be found in future ages the noble, the learned and the great. Kings' daughters were to tread her courts and defend her bulwarks. Her territory was to be enlarged, for the "daughter of Tyre" was to be there as pro-figurative of that vast and large accession of heathen nations to the profession Of the Christian faith.

I. GOD'S GLORY IS DISPLAYED IN HER AS HIS RESIDENCE AND PLACE OF HABITATION. Transcendent on this account are the glory and beauty of the Church, which is called "the city of God" (Psalm 46:4). In this city God dwells — "God is in the midst of her" (Psalm 46:5); and she cannot but be glorious, because God delights in her for man's good: He is represented as "loving the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Psalm 48:2). The Church is described as "beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth" (Psalm 48:2). Yea, "glorious things are spoken of thee, thou city of God" (Psalm 87:8). Christ has secured to His Church the perpetuity of His presence by His own unalterable words (Matthew 28:20). The Church is the depositary of God's Word (1 Timothy 3:15). "The Church is a witness and a keeper of holy writ" (Art. 20); and by her is manifested "all the glory of the Godhead in the face of Jesus Christ." Angels above and men below consider His salvation of His people glorious (Luke 15:7). "The unsearchable riches of Christ "are preached, "to the intent that now unto the principalities," etc. (Ephesians 3:10). God does not now answer His people in a visible way, by Urim and Thummim, but yet in a real and effectual way, "drawing nigh to them that draw nigh to Him"; and, though God be neglected and forgotten and despised, yet "He is known in her palaces for a refuge" (Psalm 48:3) — "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

II. THE KING'S DAUGHTER IS ALL GLORIOUS WITHIN BECAUSE GOD'S CHILDREN ARE BORN IS HER, The figure of being "all glorious within" is, no doubt, taken from the splendour of Eastern palaces. The Asiatic queens, sultanas and begums scarcely ever appeared in public. They remained, as they do to the present day, in their harems, amidst splendid and gorgeous decorations. In the former part of the psalm are described the excellencies of God — in the latter part the excellencies of God's Church. Now, whether we speak of the Church collectively, or of individual believers, their graces, their gifts, and their holiness, are the fruits of Christ's passion and the work of the Holy Ghost, who renews the heart and rectifies the will. "Of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her" (Psalm 87:6). When a man is born again from above, he is accepted of God in the Beloved; Christ's righteousness covers his past sins, and gives him a title to heaven. But the work does not stop here. Along with the title to heaven given to the believer in justification, there is also wrought in his heart, a meetness for heaven by sanctification. And what a privilege is this! Satan is trodden down under foot; the old man is supplanted by the new man; a depraved nature gives way to a divine nature; the image of Christ is imprinted on the heart; the believer is made like his Lord and Master — is changed from glory to glory. Now, whence is the source of all these blessings? They proceed from the King of the Church — from Him who has adopted the Church to be His daughter. With this agrees the language of the apostle (1 Corinthians 1:30). God is the Church's glory; her honour, her wisdom and her grace proceed from Him who is, and shall be, the praise of the redeemed for ever.

III. THE KING'S DAUGHTER IS ALL GLORIOUS, BECAUSE SHE IS EMBLEMATIC OF HEAVEN ITSELF. Surely, when we are robed in Christ's righteousness and blessed with His salvation, we shall go to the Church triumphant, of which the Church militant is a type, and has a rich foretaste. When the Church of Christ is fully prepared, she will at last be presented to God without spot. The union begun on earth will be satisfied and avowed in the King's palace in heaven. Then will it be shouted through the universe (Revelation 19:7). Then will there be a jubilee on earth; and then will the angels tune their golden harps to joyous hallelujahs in the heavens. The Church of God will then be complete; "she shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework," etc. Then will angels rejoice; then will prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and saints in glory sing (Revelation 5:13). Surely the Church is an emblem of heaven; for all who are born in her "are come unto Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22). The temple of God on earth and His temple in heaven are two parts of one glorious whole. They enjoy distinctions far above any earthly temple. Of our earthly Zion it is said (Isaiah 60:19). And thus it is also in the heavenly Zion (Revelation 21:23). It is but one family inhabiting both the one city and the other, even the family of our Lord Jesus Christ; and their employments are altogether the same; for whilst the one "are rejoicing in the Lord always" here below, the other are incessantly engaged in singing praises to Him above — even to "Him who loved them," etc. (Revelation 1:5, 6).

(E. Striokland, M. A.)

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KJV: The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

WEB: The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.