2. — The Horn of Salvation
This title is also used by David in Psalm 18: 2, and it is clearly applied to Christ by Zacharias in Luke 1: 69. How appropriate is this as a title of the Saviour that David saw in the promised Messiah.
When David uses the title “the horn of salvation”, he is reminding us of the salvation that the Lord came to provide for His people. This salvation in its application to sinners has an instantaneous and also a continuous aspect to it. It includes the instantaneous act of regeneration, when the believer is empowered to respond to the effectual call of the gospel and is justified in God’s sight, being delivered from the punishment, guilt and condemnation of sin. This is what is expressed by the idea of deliverance from danger that is included in the word used here. It does not end there, though, for the word that is used has a continuous aspect in the preserving power of the Saviour towards His people. He keeps and defends and feeds them.
But why is this title — “the horn” used?
Horns were used for various purposes. They were used for drinking vessels. Drinking water out of a horn provided that which was essential to their physical existence. So the Water of Life, as the Holy Spirit is called in Revelation chapter 22, is sent not only by the Father, but also by the Son, the Horn of salvation, to all who will drink from this horn, providing that which is essential to their spiritual life.
The horn was also used to hold the oil of anointing. Those set apart for God’s service were anointed with oil. So those who believe upon Christ are anointed by Him with gifts and graces and comforts necessary and suitable for the Lord’s purposes for them. This is what David speaks of in Psalm 23: 5.
Another use of the horn was as a trumpet, to call the attention of the people to hear the message of God. So the Horn of Salvation, in His prophetic office, sends the gospel of salvation through the scriptures, and sends His Spirit to apply the outward call of the gospel to those whom He effectually calls.
Horns were also featured on the corners of the altar of incense where the sacred incense was offered up under the ceremonial law as a sweet savour to God. This reminds us of the one who is the Advocate, who ever liveth to make intercession for His people. They also featured on the corners of the altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices were offered up to atone for sin. This shows us the One who is the perfect sacrifice, the only, yet all-sufficient atonement for sin. To this altar criminals fled for protection. How clearly this illustrates the perfect protection from the claims of justice and wrath of God that belongs to those who are holding fast to the Horn Jesus Christ.
The figure of the horn meant that the word was used to mean the summit of a mountain, as we still see, for instance, in the Matterhorn. This reminds us of the exaltation of the Saviour. Though He humbled himself even as far as to die the accursed death of the cross, yet He rose again, ascended into Heaven, and sits at the Father’s right hand. He is the High and Holy one who inhabits eternity. He is divine and all the divine attributes are His.
The shape of the horn also lent its use to flashes of lightning, where we have power demonstrated and light shed forth. So the Lord is the all powerful One, with the power to save, and by sending His Spirit, sheds light on, and gives understanding of His word, especially concerning salvation.
The horn is also a symbol of power and authority. Jesus Christ has the power to save in that He fulfilled all the conditions of the covenant of grace when He satisfied the claims of the Law in His perfect righteousness, and the claims of justice in taking upon Himself the sins of the believing world and suffering punishment due to them. He alone provided the way whereby the mercy of God in forgiving sin could be consistent with His justice. He is able to save, but He also has the authority given to Him as mediatorial king to administer the covenant of grace. This He exercises in sending the Spirit in effectual calling to renew the will, to enable us to submit to Him and be ruled by Him, and in restraining and conquering our enemies. He has the authority to use His power of salvation.
How appropriate then is this title of the Saviour — the horn of Salvation. David could say, “The LORD is . . . the horn of MY salvation” from his own experience. Can you?