Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

This Chapter is full of gospel promises, like the former, and particularly with an eye to the restoration of Judah; the close of the Chapter abounds with an assurance of many blessed things.

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to everyone grass in the field. 2. For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

Under the figurative language of rain, the blessings of the Holy Spirit, in his gracious influences, are directed to be sought for from the Lord. Reader! pray notice the similarity in this injunction to that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 11:9-13. And do observe further, that in those precepts there is implied the accompanying grace to enable the petitioner to ask. The Corner-stone is well known to be an emblem of Christ. Psalms 118:22. with Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11. And the nail fastened in a sure place, equally typical of Christ. Isaiah 22:23; Ecclesiastes 12:11. And the battle-bow, which implies the holy war of the Lord Jesus. Isaiah 63:1. And the oppressor together, means that all agents must have their commission from him. Hence Peter, when charging the Jews with crucifying the Lord of life and glory, declared, that it was only accomplishing, what before, the Lord had determined to be done. Acts 2:23.

¶ And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall light, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them: for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. 7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.

Souls truly converted to Jesus are always mighty in the Lord, because the Lord puts their enemies under the soles of their feet. Malachi 4:3. But what wonderful blessings are here said to be in store for Judah? Well was it said by the dying Patriarch, such glorious events would take place in this tribe. Genesis 49:8-12. And Moses reiterated the same. Deuteronomy 33:7. And Reader, do observe the foundation of all this mercy; because of God's covenant engagements. And Ephraim also shall come in for a portion of the same grace, for there is enough in Christ for everyone, and for all. The house of Joseph, as well as the house of Judah, shall be thus blessed. The dying Jacob spake of this tribe also. And Moses, ages after, was commissioned to confirm it. Genesis 49:22-26; Deuteronomy 33:13-17. Now, in the prospect of the gospel, all these promises come to be fulfilled. And how strong and expressive the words are, their hearts shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it and be glad. Both fathers and children shall join in the blessings; and all their rejoicing shall be, not in themselves, not in their attainments, but in the Lord. Isaiah 51:21-22.

I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. 9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries, and they shall live with their children, and turn again. 10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead, and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. 11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. 12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.

I have made a division in the view of those rich promises, because I wish the Reader not to pass over them too hastily; but I beg of him to mark their number, their greatness, their value. And I hope the Reader in going over them, will consider who it is that undertakes all, engageth for all, and will assuredly accomplish and fulfil all. Jesus will hiss for them, the original word is whistle for them, meaning the affectionate familiar call of a friend. And why will he do it; because he saith, I have redeemed them. Sweet thought! The redemption of Christ is a finished salvation. In the same strain runs the whole of the promises. I only add, that the last verse seem to be spoken in the person of God the Father, and the promises are in Jesus. And I beg the Reader here also to observe, that Jehovah undertakes both for himself and them. I will, the Lord saith, and they shall. Precious promise! And all yea and Amen in Christ, 2 Corinthians 1:20; Jeremiah 32:40.

REFLECTIONS.

Blessed Jesus! thou hast promised to be as the dew to Israel, and here thou commandest thy people to ask those blessings of thee. Lord! when thou art coming forth in grace, thou inclinest thy redeemed to meet thee at the mercy seat, and then preventest them with thy goodness. We beseech thee, Lord, to fulfil thy promises to thy redeemed. Let the souls of thy people know thee, under all thy gracious characters. Thou art the chief corner stone in thy spiritual building. On thee would I rest all my hopes, for life, for death, for time, and for eternity. Thou art the nail in a sure place; for on thee is firmly fixed the whole hopes of the Church, not only in respect of the life that now is, but for that which is to come. Oh! do thou strengthen thy Judah, and bless thine Israel. Save the house of Joseph, as thou hast said; yea, save all thy redeemed, both of Jew and Gentile, and bring the whole as one fold into the land of spiritual Gilead; and into the everlasting mountain of Lebanon, thy glorious kingdom. To thee the whole Church are looking, and on thee, they are resting for those blessings. Do, Lord, as thou hast said. And, oh! that the Lord may hasten his blessed purpose for his people, when righteousness shall cover the earth, as the waters do the channel of the great deep; and when the whole earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and incense shall be offered to the Lord, from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same. Amen.