The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 321

the destruction of the enfeebled and subject kingdom of Zedekiah to the establishment of the mighty and majestic kingdom of the Messiah. I. THE PLU,'TTh"G oir THE :i;:INGDOM OF CHRIST, "Thus saith the Lord God, I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it," etc. (ver. 22). Notice: 1. The Person by whom this kingdom was planted. The Lord Jehovah declares that he himself will plant the tender shoot out of which the new kino-dom is to o-row. He comes forward "as the rival of the King of Babylon," or in ~omplete co;trast to t.hat monarch. (1) Nebuchadnezzar cut off the top shoot of tho cedar when he dethroned Jehoiachin; Jeho,ah will plant the top shoot in the Person of Jesus Christ. (2) Nebuchndnezzar carried his top shoot into Babylon; Jehovah will plant his "in the mountain of the height of Israel." (3) When Nebuchadnezzar planted Zedekiah a king, it was only as a vine, and with the design of keeping it low; when Jehovah plants the 11lessiah a King it is as a cedar, that it may grow into might and majesty. "I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it," etc. "This I is of powerful import, as the Speaker is no other than the Lord Jehovah, the .A.lmio-hty the purely absolute Being, whom no created thing can resist." 2. The Person in ~hor/,, this l.i11gdom was planted. The tender twig from the top of the cedar denotes the Lord Jesus, and the cedar denotes (as in ver. 3) the house or family of David. The pro- phecy looks back to Isa.. xL 1, " There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit." There is, perhaps, a reference also to Isa.. !iii. 2, "He grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." " It is Messiah as an individual," says Fairbairn, " that is here indicated • first, as a tender scion of the house of David, in the direct and proper line, then gro~ into a stately tree; and, finally, risen to the highest place of honour and power and glory. But the Messiah, who was to appear on earth only for the sake of the Divine kingdom, could not be regarded as apart from the kingdom itself; its fortunes must stand inseparably bound up with his history, and partake along with it of evil or of good." This kingdom cannot exist apart from its glorious King. Christianity is inseparable from Christ. 3. The place in which this kingdom was planted. "I will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 1n the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it." The mountain thus described is Mount Zion, as will be seen by a comparison of this place with eh. xx. 40. Yet not becanse of its natural height is it thus spoken of, but because of its spiritual pre-eminence. So also in Ps. xlviii. 2, "Beautiful for elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion," etc. .And in Isa. ii. 3, "Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusa- lem." Mount Zion signifies the seat of the throne of the Divine King. "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion" (Ps. ii. 6). .And from Jerusalem the extension of this kingdom began. IL THE PROGRESS OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. ".And it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar," etc. 1. Its progress will be productive of benefit to men. It will bring forth boughs and leaves for the shelter of men. "In the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell." The idea of finding shelter and safety in the Lord is frequently and variously expressed in the Scriptures. "How precious is thy loving-kindness, 0 God I .And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings;" "Thou hast been a Stronghold to the poor, a Stronghold to the needy in his distress, a Refuge from the storm.'' etc. (Isa. xxv. 4); ".And a man shall be as an hidino--place from the wind," etc. (Isa. x.x:xii. 2). There is assured safety under the gover~ment of this i;racious and almighty King. "My people shall abide in a peace- able habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places." But this tree "shall bear fruit" also. The fruit is the saving power and grace which proceed from Christ. The subjects of his kingdom find sustenance as well as shelter in their King. He is made unto them "Wisdom from God, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption." He gives the living water, which 6prings up unto eternal life within those who receive him as tlleir Saviour and King (John iv. 13, 14). .And he is the Bread of life, whereof if any man eat he shall live for ever (John vi. 32-51). The provisions of Christianity are rich and abundant and free (cf. Isa. Iv. 1, 2; Matt. xxii. 1-10; Luke xiv. 15-24). 2. Its progress will be productive of benefit to all men. "under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing." Men shall flock from all lands into this kiugdoQl. Inspired poet a.nd prophet predicted this iq exultant song e.qd thrillipg  011. xvm. 1-32.) '1.'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'r EZEKIEL. 321