_The burden of the Word of the Lord _ The dark and bright side of God ’s revelation to mankind I. The dark side of the Divine Word. Notice two things-- 1. In this aspect it is here called a “burden.” The word “burden” is almost invariably used to represent a calamity. Thus we read of the burden o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy King cometh unto thee; He is just and having salvation _ PALM SUNDAY This prophecy was generally recognised by the Jews as referring to the Messiah. First of all, prophecy spoke only of Messiah’s glory. It was not until the era of the Captivity that we find Christ spoken of as the Man afflict... [ Continue Reading ]
_By the blood of thy covenant i have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water _ THE DELIVERED PRISONERS Enlarge on the Gospel promise in immediate connection with the text. It calls on the daughter of Zion to rejoice in the coming of the Saviour. It describes His character; the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope _ IMPRISONED BY HOPE In Zechariah 9:8 is the assurance that the Divine blessing specially rests on Israel returned to Jerusalem. On this assurance is based an earnest plea, addressed to the Jews who were still remaining in Babylon, unwilling to bre... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord of hosts shall defend them _ GOD WORKS AMONGST THE NATIONS IN THE INTERESTS OF HIS PEOPLE The double recompense which the Lord will make to His people will consist in the fact that He not only liberates them out of captivity and bondage, and makes them into an independent nation, but tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land _ THE LORD’S PEOPLE Here we see-- I. The dignity of the lord’s people. They are “stones, precious stones,” set in the “crown” of the King of kings. God not only spares, but pardons and justifies them. In His righteousne... [ Continue Reading ]
For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! GOD’S GOODNESS AND BEAUTY There is no subject of contemplation more delightful to a serious mind than the goodness of the Lord. The prophet had been, in the preceding verses, describing the appearance of Christ as King of Zion, as just, an... [ Continue Reading ]