Martin Luther on Psalms 132:18

Verse. 18. His enemies will I cloth with shame, but on him his crowne shall flourish.

Not the King of Babylon, not of Syria, not of Edom, not of Moab, not of Egypte, briefly no enemy shall preuaile against this kingdom: but this kingdome shall stand vnmoueable and mightely established euen vnto Christ, and the enemyes of this kingdome shal be all clothed with confusion. This light shall neuer be quenched vntill he come which shall fulfill all thinges. This throne, although it be neuer so contemptible and odious to the whole worlde, shall remaine in glory, not onely before men, but also before the worlde. Neither could Satan yet euer bring to passe (although with all his force, power and policie he hath continually attempted it) that the posteritie of Dauid should be extinguished before Christ should be borne. To these promises, as vnto a sure staffe, yea as vnto a strong rocke, the Saincts of God haue alwaies leaned in great calamities, wherewith Satan exercised this people to the ende he might hinder the promise concerning Christ. And in deede Antiochus, aboue all other laboured with maine and might, to roote out and to destroy this people for euer. But, as the Psalme here promiseth, because he was an enemie to this holy nation, therefore he was clothed with shame and confusion.

But on him his crowne shall flourish: That is to say, although the crowne of Dauid often tymes shall seeme in outwarde appearance to decay and perishe: yet by a secret and a diuine power it shall be renued, plenteously fructifie, and gloriously flourish. But the trueth of this promise resteth in Christe, of whose kingdome there is no ende. For vppon his head hath flourished a crowne which could neuer decay as the crownes of worldly Princes do. For the crowne of the sonne of God is farre otherwise: to whom all power is giuen both in heauen and in earth. Matth. 11. In the meane time the Lorde preserued this temporall kingdome, vntill that was accomplished in the person of his onely begotten sonne, which he would [illegible: 1 letter]ignifie vnder those shadowes and figures. But because this externall kingdome of Dauid was of this world and earthly, therefore was it but temporall and for a tyme. But the kingdom of Christ, because it is not of this worlde, but heauenly and spirituall, is eternall and shall endure for euer.

This Psalme conteyneth a prayer for the preseruation of the word, and publike peace: For this must we specially desire in our prayer, except we will be found vnthankfull. Moreouer, we must not be offended when we see that the common wealth is disquieted through the disobedience of the people or wickednes of the Magistrates: or the Church vexed through false brethren and heresies. For thus will it be and no otherwise, that where so euer the word, ioyned with publike peace and concord, is found, there Satan that lying and murthering spirite will alwayes goe about to trouble them both. And this is the cause of seditions, of warres, of sectes and heresies. Wherefore we must be well armed, that seeing our aduersary slepeth not, we may valiantly oppose our selues against these offences, and thinke that they are certein warnings, and often times also roddes or punishments which God sendeth to amend vs, and not to destroy vs. Our sinnes haue deserued more greeuous punishments. Better it is therefore to be afflicted of the wicked world, then to be condemned and perish for euer. God be mercifull vnto vs, and turne from vs that we haue so iustly deserued.