Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, making their appeal to Him in all confidence, as they were in need of His blessings; SO THE LORD SHALL MAKE BRIGHT CLOUDS, create lightnings, AND GIVE THEM SHOWERS OF RAIN, in a refreshing thunder-shower, TO EVERY ONE GRASS IN THE FIELD, all th... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHER BLESSINGS OF JEHOVAH UPON HIS PEOPLE. The subject discussed in the last Chapter was so great and wonderful that the Lord has not begun to exhaust it, but takes the opportunity of giving a fuller description of its beauties.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the idols, to whom the children of Israel had formerly applied for help, HAVE SPOKEN VANITY, their household oracles not being dependable, AND THE DIVINERS HAVE SEEN A LIE, they have announced deceitful oracles, AND HAVE TOLD FALSE DREAMS, proclaiming their own inventions as revelations from abo... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, the rulers of Israel to whom He had entrusted the leadership, AND I PUNISHED THE GOATS, visiting them with a severe punishment; FOR THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH VISITED HIS FLOCK, THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, looking after them with tender care, AND HATH MADE THEM AS H... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of Him, namely, Jehovah, CAME FORTH THE CORNER, that is, He furnished the corner-stone on which the entire building of the new Judah rests; OUT OF HIM THE NAIL, the pegs of the wall, from which the household utensils were suspended, types of the dependable men in a state. OUT OF HIM THE BATTLE-B... [ Continue Reading ]
And they, the Lord's people, SHALL BE AS MIGHTY MEN, WHICH TREAD DOWN THEIR ENEMIES IN THE MIRE OF THE STREETS, Cf Zechariah 9:15, IN THE BATTLE; AND THEY SHALL FIGHT BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH THEM, always in the majority because of His help, AND THE RIDERS ON HORSES SHALL BE CONFOUNDED, cavalry bein... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, the southern and the northern kingdom together being typical of the Church of God, AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN TO PLACE THEM, letting them dwell in safety, FOR I HAVE MERCY UPON THEM, His mercy is the one reason for His k... [ Continue Reading ]
And they of Ephraim, the true descendants of Joseph, the spiritual children of him who was given the right of the first-born in the house of Jacob, SHALL BE LIKE A MIGHTY MAN, like a hero, AND THEIR HEART SHALL REJOICE AS THROUGH WINE, with a fierce exultation; YEA, THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE IT AND B... [ Continue Reading ]
I will hiss for them, as a signal for them to assemble, and gather them, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEM, both by entering into a covenant with them and by promising them the Redeemer; AND THEY SHALL INCREASE AS THEY HAVE INCREASED, that is, the growth of the people of God in the Messianic era would be lik... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will sow them among the people, as a token of their quick increase; AND THEY SHALL REMEMBER ME IN FAR COUNTRIES, where ever the spiritual children of Israel would be found; AND THEY SHALL LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN, enjoying the blessing of the Lord in a permanent flow of mercy, AND TURN AGAIN,... [ Continue Reading ]
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria, the two world-powers being named as representative of the enemies of the Lord and the oppressors of His people; AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THE LAND OF GILEAD AND LEBANON, to occupy the land on both sides of Jordan... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, rather, "of distress," in allusion to the affliction felt by the children of Israel when they passed through the Red Sea, AND SHALL SMITE THE WAVES IN THE SEA, keeping them under control by His powerful word; AND ALL THE DEEPS OF THE RIVER SHALL DRY... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will strengthen them in the Lord, in Jehovah, the covenant God, AND THEY SHALL WALK UP AND DOWN IN HIS NAME. SAITH THE LORD, so that they would live under His protection and in accordance with His will. The entire connection brings out the characteristics of the New Testament Church, whose mem... [ Continue Reading ]