Page 90 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

84 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

flourish: I Jehovah have spoken and have done it.’
(Ver. 22—24 )
It is Messiah in His kingdom, not suffering on earth
nor coming from heaven, but the rightfully reigning
king of Israel, and hence later on designated as David,
the true Beloved under whose sceptre the whole people-
will be once more re-united, never again to be divided
by folly, never more to fall by idolatrous sin or any
other.
This is in no way the mystery of the kingdom that we
know now, in no way the day of rejection in grace for
Him or His, but of power—judicial yet withal bene­
ficent on earth. It is not the calling out of souls from
the world to a glorified Christ on high, but the land
and all the earth blessed under the reign of Him. who-
sets the sanctuary of Jehovah in the midst of Israel
for evermore. Without denying that Zerubbabel might
be a speedy but passing pledge of the great King and
mighty reign of peace and blessing here foreshadowed,
I cannot but regard it as a paltry answer and end to so
glorious a promise. But ill as one may think of the
Grotinn interpretation, that of the ancients and mo­
derns seems tome even more injurious and remote from
the truth, whereby Israel’s hopes are blotted out from
God’s mercy, and the church is lowered to an usurpation
of their promises and earthly blessing and glory, instead
of being maintained in the fellowship of Christ’s suf­
ferings now, as she looks for heavenly joy a n d glory in
His love at His coming.