Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc30/v30850

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 14KB | 252 lines

30854
 #18-21 The enemies of the church threaten to cut off the name of
 Israel. They are horns, emblems of power, strength, and
 violence. The prophet saw them so formidable that he began to
 despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of
 every good work; but the Lord showed him four workmen empowered
 to cut off these horns. With an eye of sense we see the power of
 the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world
 shows us that; but it is only with an eye of faith that we see
 it safe. The Lord shows us that. When God has work to do, he
 will raise up some to do it, and others to defend it, and to
 protect those employed in doing it. What cause there is to look
 up in love and praise to the holy and eternal Spirit, who has
 the same care over the present and eternal interests of
 believers, by the holy word bringing the church to know the
 wonderful things of salvation!
30858
 * The prosperity of Jerusalem. (1-5) The Jews called to return
 to their own land. (6-9) A promise of God's presence. (10-13)

 #1-5 The Son of David, even the Man Christ Jesus, whom the
 prophet sees with a measuring line in his hand, is the
 Master-Builder of his church. God notices the extent of his
 church, and will take care that whatever number of guests are
 brought to the wedding-supper, there shall be room. This vision
 means well to Jerusalem. The walls of a city, as they defend it,
 so they straiten its inhabitants; but Jerusalem shall be
 extended as freely as if it had no walls at all, yet shall be as
 safe as if it had the strongest walls. In the church of God
 there yet is room for other multitudes, more than man can
 number. None shall be refused who trust in Christ; and He never
 shuts out from heaven one true member of the church on earth.
 God will be a Wall of fire round them, which can neither be
 broken through nor undermined, nor can it be assailed without
 danger to those who attack. This vision was to have its full
 accomplishment in the gospel church, which is extended by
 admitting the Gentiles into it; and which has the Son of God for
 its Prince and Protector; especially in the glorious times yet
 to come.

30863
 #6-9 If God will build Jerusalem for the people and their
 comfort, they must inhabit it for him and his glory. The
 promises and privileges with which God's people are blessed,
 should engage us to join them, whatever it costs us. When Zion
 is enlarged to make room for all God's Israel, it is the
 greatest madness for any of them to stay in Babylon. The
 captivity of a sinful state is by no means to be continued in,
 though a man may be easy in worldly matters. Escape for thy
 life, look not behind thee. Christ has proclaimed that
 deliverance to the captives, which he has himself wrought out,
 and it concerns every one to resolve that sin shall not have
 dominion over him. Those who would be found among God's
 children, must save themselves from this world, see #Ac 2:40|.
 What Christ will do for his church, shall be an evident proof of
 God's care and affection. He that touches you, touches the apple
 of his eye. This is a strong expression of God's love to his
 church. He takes what is done against her as done against the
 tenderest part of the eye, to which the least touch is a great
 offence. Christ is sent to be the Protector of his church.

30867
 #10-13 Here is a prediction of the coming of Christ in human
 nature. Many nations in that day would renounce idolatry, and
 God will own those for his people who join him with purpose of
 heart. Glorious times are foretold as a prophecy of our Lord's
 coming and kingdom. God is about to do something unexpected, and
 very surprising, and to plead his people's cause, which had long
 seemed neglected. Silently submit to his holy will, and
 patiently wait the event; assured that God will complete all his
 work. He will ere long come to judgment, to complete the
 salvation of his people, and to punish the inhabitants of the
 earth for their sins.
30871
 * The restoration of the church. (1-5) A promise concerning the
 Messiah. (6-10)

 #1-5 The angel showed Joshua, the high priest, to Zechariah, in
 a vision. Guilt and corruption are great discouragements when we
 stand before God. By the guilt of the sins committed by us, we
 are liable to the justice of God; by the power of sin that
 dwells in us, we are hateful to the holiness of God. Even God's
 Israel are in danger on these accounts; but they have relief
 from Jesus Christ, who is made of God to us both righteousness
 and sanctification. Joshua, the high priest, is accused as a
 criminal, but is justified. When we stand before God, to
 minister to him, or stand up for God, we must expect to meet all
 the resistance Satan's subtlety and malice can give. Satan is
 checked by one that has conquered him, and many times silenced
 him. Those who belong to Christ, will find him ready to appear
 for them, when Satan appears most strongly against them. A
 converted soul is a brand plucked out of the fire by a miracle
 of free grace, therefore shall not be left a prey to Satan.
 Joshua appears as one polluted, but is purified; he represents
 the Israel of God, who are all as an unclean thing, till they
 are washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by
 the Spirit of our God. Israel now were free from idolatry, but
 there were many things amiss in them. There were spiritual
 enemies warring against them, more dangerous than any
 neighbouring nations. Christ loathed the filthiness of Joshua's
 garments, yet did not put him away. Thus God by his grace does
 with those whom he chooses to be priests to himself. The guilt
 of sin is taken away by pardoning mercy, and the power of it is
 broken by renewing grace. Thus Christ washes those from their
 sins in his own blood, whom he makes kings and priests to our
 God. Those whom Christ makes spiritual priests, are clothed with
 the spotless robe of his righteousness, and appear before God in
 that; and with the graces of his Spirit, which are ornaments to
 them. The righteousness of saints, both imputed and implanted,
 is the fine linen, clean and white, with which the bride, the
 Lamb's wife, is arrayed, #Re 19:8|. Joshua is restored to former
 honours and trusts. The crown of the priesthood is put on him.
 When the Lord designs to restore and revive religion, he stirs
 up prophets and people to pray for it.

30876
 #6-10 All whom God calls to any office he finds fit, or makes
 so. The Lord will cause the sins of the believer to pass away by
 his sanctifying grace, and will enable him to walk in newness of
 life. As the promises made to David often pass into promises of
 the Messiah, so the promises to Joshua look forward to Christ,
 of whose priesthood Joshua's was a shadow. Whatever trials we
 pass through, whatever services we perform, our whole dependence
 must rest on Christ, the Branch of righteousness. He is God's
 servant, employed in his work, obedient to his will, devoted to
 his honour and glory. He is the Branch from which all our fruit
 must be gathered. The eye of his Father was upon him, especially
 in his sufferings, and when he was buried in the grave, as the
 foundation-stones are under ground, out of men's sight. But the
 prophecy rather denotes the attention paid to this precious
 Corner-stone. All believers, from the beginning, had looked
 forward to it in the types and predictions. All believers, after
 Christ's coming, would look to it with faith, hope, and love.
 Christ shall appear for all his chosen, as the high priest when
 before the Lord, with the names of all Israel graven in the
 precious stones of his breastplate. When God gave a remnant to
 Christ, to be brought through grace to glory, then he engraved
 this precious stone. By him sin shall be taken away, both the
 guilt and the dominion of it; he did it in one day, that day in
 which he suffered and died. What should terrify when sin is
 taken away? Then nothing can hurt, and we sit down under
 Christ's shadow with delight, and are sheltered by it. And
 gospel grace, coming with power, makes men forward to draw
 others to it.
30881
 * A vision of a candlestick, with two olive trees. (1-7) Further
 encouragement. (8-10) An explanation respecting the olive trees.
 (11-14)

 #1-7 The prophet's spirit was willing to attend, but the flesh
 was weak. We should beg of God that, whenever he speaks to us,
 he would awaken us, and we should then stir up ourselves. The
 church is a golden candlestick, or lamp-bearer, set up for
 enlightening this dark world, and holding forth the light of
 Divine revelation. Two olive trees were seen, one on each side
 the candlestick, from which oil flowed into the bowl without
 ceasing. God brings to pass his gracious purposes concerning his
 church, without any art or labour of man; sometimes he makes use
 of his instruments, yet he needs them not. This represented the
 abundance of Divine grace, for the enlightening and making holy
 the ministers and members of the church, and which cannot be
 procured or prevented by any human power. The vision assures us
 that the good work of building the temple, should be brought to
 a happy end. The difficulty is represented as a great mountain.
 But all difficulties shall vanish, and all the objections be got
 over. Faith will remove mountains, and make them plains. Christ
 is our Zerubbabel; mountains of difficulty were in the way of
 his undertaking, but nothing is too hard for him. What comes
 from the grace of God, may, in faith, be committed to the grace
 of God, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands.

30888
 #8-10 The exact fulfilment of Scripture prophecies is a
 convincing proof of their Divine original. Though the
 instruments be weak and unlikely, yet God often chooses such, to
 bring about great things by them. Let not the dawning light be
 despised; it will shine more and more to the perfect day. Those
 who despaired of finishing the work, shall rejoice when they see
 Zerubbabel giving directions what to do, and taking care that
 the work be done. It is a comfort to us that the same all-wise,
 almighty Providence, which governs the earth, is in particular
 conversant about the church. All that have the plummet in their
 hands, must look up to the eyes of the Lord, have constant
 regard to Divine Providence, act in dependence on its guidance
 and submission to its disposals. Let us fix our faith on Christ,
 and view Him carrying on his work according to his own glorious
 plan, and daily bringing his spiritual building nearer to
 completion.

30891
 #11-14 Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees.
 Zerubbabel and Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued
 with the gifts and graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the
 same time, and both were instruments in the work and service of
 God. Christ's offices of King and Priest were shadowed forth by
 them. From the union of these two offices in his person, both
 God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted.
 They built the temple, the church of God. So does Christ
 spiritually. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointed One
 himself, but he is the Good Olive to his church; and from his
 fulness we receive. And the Holy Spirit is the unction or
 anointing which we have received. From Christ the Olive Tree, by
 the Spirit the Olive Branch, all the golden oil of grace flows
 to believers, which keeps their lamps burning. Let us seek,
 through the intercession and bounty of the Saviour, supplies
 from that fulness which has hitherto sufficed for all his
 saints, according to their trials and employments. Let us wait
 on him in his ordinances, desiring to be sanctified wholly in
 body, soul, and spirit.
30895
 * The vision of a flying roll. (1-4) The vision of a woman and
 an ephah. (5-11)

 #1-4 The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are rolls, in
 which God has written the great things of his law and gospel;
 they are flying rolls. God's word runs very swiftly, #Ps
 147:15|. This flying roll contains a declaration of the
 righteous wrath of God against sinners. Oh that we saw with an
 eye of faith the flying roll of God's curse hanging over the
 guilty world as a thick cloud, not only keeping off the sunbeams
 of God's favour, but big with thunders, lightnings, and storms,
 ready to destroy them! How welcome then would the tidings of a
 Saviour be, who came to redeem us from the curse of the law,
 being himself made a curse for us! Sin is the ruin of houses and
 families; especially the doing hurt to others and false witness.
 Who knows the power of God's anger? God's curse cannot be kept
 out by bars or locks. While one part of the curse of God ruins
 the substance of the sinner, another part will rest on the soul,
 and sink it to everlasting punishment. All are transgressors of
 the law, so we cannot escape this wrath of God, except we flee
 for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us in the gospel.
30899
 #5-11 In this vision the prophet sees an ephah, something in the
 shape of a corn measure. This betokened the Jewish nation. They
 are filling the measure of their iniquity; and when it is full,
 they shall be delivered into the hands of those to whom God sold
 them for their sins. The woman sitting in the midst of the ephah
 represents the sinful church and nation of the Jews, in their
 latter and corrupt age. Guilt is upon the sinner as a weight of
 lead, to sink him to the lowest hell. This seems to mean the
 condemnation of the Jews, after they filled the measure of their
 iniquities by crucifying Christ and rejecting his gospel.
 Zechariah sees the ephah, with the woman thus pressed in it,
 carried away to some far country. This intimates that the Jews
 should be hurried out of their own land, and forced to dwell in
 far countries, as they had been in Babylon. There the ephah
 shall be firmly placed, and their sufferings shall continue far
 longer than in their late captivity. Blindness is happened unto
 Israel, and they are settled upon their own unbelief. Let
 sinners fear to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath; for
 the more they multiply crimes, the faster the measure fills.