AND HE - God, (for the office of the attendant angel was to explain, not to show the visions) “showed me Joshua the high priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord;” probably to be judged by him ; as in the New Testament, “to stand before the Son of Man;” for although “standing before,” whether i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SATAN, THE LORD REBUKE THEE - Jerome: “This they so explain, that the Father and the Son is Lord, as we read in the Psalms 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand.” The Lord speaketh of another Lord; not that He, the Lord who speaketh, cannot rebuke, but... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JOSHUA WAS CLOTHED WITH FILTHY GARMENTS - Such, it is expressed, was his habitual condition; he was one so clothed. The “filthy garment,” as defilement generally, is, in Scripture, the symbol of sin. “We are all as the unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6. “He tha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SPAKE TO THOSE WHO STOOD BEFORE HIM - the ministering angels who had waited on the Angel of the Lord to do His bidding. SEE, I HAVE CAUSED THINE INIQUITY TO PASS FROM THEE - The pardoning words of the Lord to David by Nathan, “The Lord too hath put away thy sin” 2 Samuel 12:13. “And clothe th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID, LET THEM SET A FAIR MITRE ON HIS HEAD - This seems to have been purposely omitted, in order to leave something, and that, the completion of all, to be done at the intercession of the prophet. The glory and complement of the high priest’s sacrificial attire was the mitre with the “holy cr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD PROTESTED - Solemnly (etymologically, called God to witness) as in, “Did I not make thee swear by the Lord and protested unto thee” 1 Kings 2:42, laying it as an obligation upon him. The charge is given to Joshua, and in him to all successive high priests, while Israel shou... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU WILT WALK IN MY WAYS AND IF THOU WILT KEEP MY CHARGE - Both of these are expressions, dating from the Pentateuch, for holding on in the way of life, well-pleasing to God and keeping the charge given by God. It was the injunction of the dying David to Solomon, “Keep the charge of the Lord thy... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU AND THY COMPANIONS WHICH SIT BEFORE THEE; YEA MEN OF MARVELOUS SIGNS ARE THEY - o It seems probable that the words addressed to Joshua begin here; else the “men of signs” would be the companions of Joshua, to the exclusion of Himself. His companions are probably ordinary priests, who sit as sha... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEHOLD THE STONE, THAT I HARE LAID BEFORE JOSHUA - This must be an expansion of what he had said, or the ground of it, being introduced by, for. It must be something future, to be done by God Himself, since God says, “I will grave the graving thereof;” something connected with the remission of s... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER THE VINE AND UNDER THE FIG TREE - Micah had already made the description of the peaceful days of Solomon 1 Kings 4:25, a symbol Micah 4:4 of the universal fearless peace of the time of Christ. Lap.: “Christ by His passion shall not only take away iniquity, but also bring peace, delight, free c... [ Continue Reading ]