I. Explain it —
[There can be no doubt but that the words, in their literal meaning, refer to the covenant which God made with David respecting the continuance of his posterity on his throne a; mid which seemed to be violated, now that both king and people were carried captive to Babylon ; but which, in fact, should be accomplished in all its parts ; because whatever they might endure for a season, the sceptre should not depart from Judah till Shiloh should come.
But there is doubtless a reference to Christ, who is often called David b. Some of the words originally addressed to David, are expressly declared to refer to Christ chiefly, yea exclusively c. They must be understood therefore as containing God's covenant with Christ.
In them we see, first, God's assurances respecting Christ himself, that notwithstanding all the troubles he should expe- rience, he should be raised from the deadd, and have all the kingdoms of the earth for his possession6.
Next, Christ is assured respecting his people, who are his seedf, that though through infirmity and temptation they may fall into sin, the Father will not utterly abandon them, or finally withdraw his love from themg. He will not indeed leave tjiem to continue in sin (for that would be incompatible with their salvation11) but he will chastise them, till they repent and turn from all their transgressions, and thus will he secure them to Christ as his inheritance1.
The grounds of these assurances are, lastly, specified. These are God's covenant, and his oath. Having entered into cove- nant with his Son, he cannot disannul it. Yet, if he were to give up to final destruction any who were Christ's spiritual seed, this covenant would be broken ; seeing that some who were given to Christ would perish, and Christ, as far as relates to them, would have died in vain. Moreover, in this, the oath, which (for our consolation) he sware to his Son, would be violated: but, having sworn by his holiness, which is the glory of all his perfections, he never can, nor ever will recede. On these grounds therefore the glory of Christ, and the salvation of his people are irrevocably secured.]
Lest however this consolatory passage should be
abused, let us,
a 2 Sam. vii. 12 — 17. b Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24. Hos. iii. 5.
c Compare 2 Sam. vii, 14. with Heb. i. 5.
d Compare Isai. Iv. 3. with Acts xiii. 34.
e Luke i. 32, 33. Rev. xi. 15.
f Isai. liii. 10. Ps. xxii. 30. 1 Pet. i. 23.
e Isai. liv. 7 — 10. Jer. xxxii. 40. h Heb. xii. 14.
1 John xvii. 11. 1 Pet. i. 5 — 7.
650.] god's covenant engagements. 115
II. Improve it —
It evidently teaches us,
1 . To cleave unto Christ with full purpose of heart —
[The covenant, whether made with David or with Abra- ham, was confirmed before of God in Christ k. Every blessing of the covenant was made over to him as our head and repre- sentative, and must be received from him by faith1. To him therefore must we look for pardon, stability, and everlasting salvation. As to him the promises were madem, so in him alone are they yea, and Amen11. Let it then be our great care to be found in him0; and then we may rest assured that nothing shall ever separate us from himp.]
2. To endure with patience and thankfulness what- ever afflictions God may lay upon us —
[Part of God's covenant is, to " correct us in measure V And, however afflicted any may be, have they any cause to say, that they are corrected beyond measure ? Can a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins1? Surely it is far better to be chastened here, than to be condemned with the world hereafter s. We may all see reason enough for chastisement, if we will but mark our daily and hourly transgressions. Let us therefore not so much as desire God to spare us, provided he see that we need correction for the welfare of our souls; but rather let us kiss the rod*, and im- prove itu, and adore the hand that uses it for our goodx.]