The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 112

I. Tnrn 0ATHERING, So now under the gospel. From far and near they come. A~ the call of Jesus they gather under the banner of the cross. If. TnE PABSAOI!I. (Ver. 11.) Like children of Israel-pilgrims in the wilderness. ManHold trials. Educated by adversity and prosperity. Course ever onward, under the bane! and guidance of God. III. 'l'HE SETTLEMENT. Canaan. Future glory of the Church-in increase o.nd prosperity. "Place not found."-F. Ver. 12.-Manliness. Of the true man, we might ask, as Delilah did of Samson, "'l'ell me, I pmy thee, wherein thy great strength lieth 'I" The answer includes several things. I. Sn:LF-MASTERY, Reason must rule, and not passion. The Spirit, not the flesh. II. DIVINE INVIGORATION. Need constant aid. The plant thrives by commerce with the sun, so the soul gains energy from God. The prayer of all true men is that favourite one of David, "Quicken thou me." III. DEVOTION TO THE RIGHT. Doing evil is dissipation of strength. Doing good brings its own recompense. 'rhe Sandwich Islanders believed that the souls of the braves slain in war pass into those who slay them, and that therefore the more a man kills the stronger he becomes. This is true spiritually. It was fabled of the giant Antreus that when he touched the earth he renewed his strength; so when we touch right we are renewed after the image of God. IV . .AssoCIATION wrrH THE NOBLEST. 'l.'o be allied with the bad is not only criminal, but ruinous. Fellowship with the good elevates and ennobles. V. GROWING NOBLENESS OF OHARACTER. There is the consciousness of advance. Settled principles. Enlarged experience. Progress in faith and godliness. .All this prophesies of victory. Peter was far stronger at Pentecost than when he made his great confession; when he wrote his Epistles than when Paul had to withstand hiw. to the face for dissembling at .Antioch. VI. HOPE OF IMMORTALITY. The strength won will never be lost. The life given by God in Christ is everlasting. "Whene'er right feelings fire thy languid heart, Let them not smoulder out in sighs and songs, But flash them into living acts forthwith. '.rhus strength Divine shall nerve thy mortal frame, And light frow. upper worlde shall fell upon thy path." F. Ver. 12.-The true life. I. HOLY CONSE0BATION. "In the Name of the Lord." Sincere and thorough renewal of consecration essential to increase of faith and holiness. II. HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT. "Walking" implies health, freedom, activity. Necessary to the right development of the soul. Not in part, but in all its powers. III. SPIRITUAL USEFULNESS. Time, talent, opportunity, rightly employed. "Up and down" zeal and diligence in all good. IV. HAPPY ASSOCIATIONS, We are continually forming associations in life. Places and persons. The result may be good or evil, sad and painful or bright and exhilarating. V. DELIGHTFUL PROSPECTS. Not only memories to cheer, but tho outlook of the future, bright with hope up to the very gates of heaven.-F. Vera. 1-4.-God in relation to the good and the bad. "Ask ye of the Lord rnin in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give thl'm showers of rain, to every one grass iu the field," eto. This chapter is a continuation of the subject with which the former concluded; and the words lead us to observe three facts in relation to the .Almighty. I. HE ATTENDS 'l'O THE PRAYERS OF ooon MEN, "Ask ye of the Lord ruin in tho time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall urnke bright clouds, and give them showers of ro.in." The abundance of coru promised in the last clauso of tho preccdiug chapter ZECIIARIAH, l 114 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [CB', x, 1-12.