Bible Commentaries

The Inviting Comeliness of the Branch of Jehovah

v. 2. In that day, in the Messianic period preceding the end of the world, shall the Branch of the Lord, the great Son of David, the Messiah Himself, Isa 11:1; Isa 53:2; Zec 3:8, be beautiful and glorious, literally, "ornament and glory," emphasizing these attributes as essential in the miraculous person of Christ, and the Fruit of the earth, the Savior Himself, product of the human race, growing up out of the house of David according to the counsel of God, shall be excellent and comely, literally, "splendor and brilliant glory," for them that are escaped of Israel, included in the great deliverance which came through Jesus Christ.

v. 3. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, the elect of the Lord, shall be called holy, consecrated to the Lord and serving Him in a holy life, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem, those who are appointed by God unto eternal life, Act 13:48, whether they be of Jews or Gentiles,

v. 4. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, namely, the moral uncleanness and sinfulness which no amount of outward ornament can cover before His eyes, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem, the outstanding acts of wickedness and guilt, from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment and by the Spirit of burning, His Holy Spirit both rebuking the evil and destroying all wickedness by a thorough winnowing and sifting, for conversion is entirely and alone His work.

v. 5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies, wherever there are congregations of believers, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night, these being the vehicle and sign of the merciful presence of Jehovah in the midst of His people; for upon all the glory, in every place of glory where believers are assembled in His name, shall be a defense, a covering, or canopy, the Lord Himself, as the King of Grace, having His throne in every congregation and causing it, by the gifts of His mercy, to be a glory, a place where His glory shines forth.

v. 6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, Christ Himself dwelling in their midst, and for a place of refuge and for a covert, where one may hide in safety, from storm and from rain; for Christ is the Protector of His Church against the manifold dangers with which it is surrounded. In this way the Branch of the Lord serves for glory to His elect, and the believers cheerfully trust themselves to His keeping.