II The evidence that it is accomplished. 1. Universal knowledge of Ood. The goSf«l is intended for all men. Every man has a personal interest in its message. To keep back the truth from any one who has come within our reach is a sin ; especially is this the case with regard to those who are our daily companions and closest friends. The words are not satirical, but a gracious promise. It is an end towards which wo should hopefully and constantly aim. Some day it will be realized ; " for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea " (Isa. xi. 9 ; Ilab. ii. 14). So long as one soul is ignorant of Ood, we arebound to continue the work. 2. Universal experience of the hlessinys of salvation. It is no speculative abstraction we have to communicate, but a " word " which has iu it the power to awaken, convert, and reconcile eternally to God. This knowledge of him is therefore experimental and prac- tical. It will not leave men as it finds ti.eni. It will purify and redeem, and introduce them to the blessedness of a complete and enduring salvation. God will seal the labours of his servants by "signs following" — by righteous and holy fruits, and by the assurance that the sins of them that believe through their teaching will be forgiven for ever. — M.
Vers. 38 — 40. — 2%e new Jerusalem. The law or condition of the spiritual life of the future having been referred to, the organized embodiment or community to which they will give rise is next described. This will be —
I. The antitype of the old Jerusalem. 1. An organized community. With permanent constitutinn and laws, and subject to a central authorit)'. Comprehending and unifying the manifold relations of human life. A true " ciiy of God" on earth. 2. With an earthly manifestation. It would not be a mere idea, but would realize itself, in part at least, in sensible forms and external manifestations. It would be the incar- nation of spiritual principles and their practical realization. 3. And a sacred character. This would be its distinguishing characteristic, as it had been that of the former city. There would be a wall of consecraiion, and a special aim and direction given to the life, of which it would be the dwelling-place and home. It would be built " to the Lord," and would in its entirety be " holy to the Lord."
II. CoKTEASTED WITH IT 1. Mm'e complete in its surroundings and defence*. Jeho- ash bad destroyed the wall in the north and north-east, in the reign of Amaziah. On tnis side, therefore, the old city was most defenceless. A large portion of this was rebuilt by Nehemiah (iii. 1), but probably not the whole. The new city will be entirely rebuilt and thoroughly defended, "a city compact and built together." 2. More comprehensive. Outlying jilaces would be included, and the bounds of the ril i vastly extended. The whole earth will be included in the city of salvation. 8. More inclusively consecrated. The hill Gareb (perhaps that of the lepers), and the hill Gua. ..
•23 THE BOOK OP THE PBOPHBT JERi:>MlAH. [en. xxxl 1— 40.
(possibly Golgotha), and the valley of Einnom, the foul Gehenna— even these which had confronted the old city as a reproach, would be cleansed, transformed, and included. The sources of disease and the occasions of defilement would thus be entirely removed. 4. More permanent in its duration. It is to be preserved from all injury, and is to stand for ever.
III. Wholly distinct tbom it. At no time In the history of Israel were these predictions fulfilled with regard to the earthly Jerusalem. Portions ot the description might appear to correspond with what took place in the time of Nehemiah and others, but in its entirety it is evident that the city here spoken of is utterly distinct from the geographical and historical Jerusalem. It is associated with it according to the law ot Divine continuity, but in itself it is a new creation. The " wall great and high " is of no earthly material ; the extension is not one of yards or miles, but of nations and ages; the consecration of the unclean places is but typical of the regenerative force oi Christianity, which reclaims the moral wastes of the world, and purifies the carnal affections and sinful tendencies of human nature ; and no material city could ever " stand for aye." Only the kingdom and Church of Christ could satisfy the conditions of such a prophecy. — M.
Vera. 1 — 9. — The restoration of Israel. To cheer the hearts of the exiles, to lift up the despondent, and to vindicate the faithfulness of God, is the intent of this and the many other predictions concerning the restoration of Israel. In a limited sense they were fulfilled by the restoration at the close of the Captivity; but the events of that period can hardly be said to have filled up the meaning of the emphatic language which the prophets were wont to employ. Hence it has been felt to be necessary to look further for the complete fulfilment of these many most glorious predictions. And in the yet future restoration of Israel, in the gathering home to their own land again in all their national entirety, not a few see the real meaning of the prophets' words. Others, whilst clearly seeing that the return of the exiles from Babylon could not satisfy the inspired Word, find that which more than meets the case in the restoration of humanity at large — ^in that which our Saviour called " the regeneration," and St, Peter "the restitution of all things," and St. Paul "the gathering of all things in one, even in Christ." And, as in a microcosm, we may see in the redemption of every individual soul the varied characteristics which shall be more broadly and conspicuously displayed when these prophetic utterances shall have their perfect fulfilment in the kingdom of God. In the above verses (1 — 9) some of these characteristics are indicated ; «.y.—
I. Its Author. This is the Lord. See how in all these opening verses this fact is emphatically proclaimed. In ver. 1 it is the Lord who declareth that he " will be the God," etc ; in the second verse " the Lord" speaks, saying, " I caused him to rest ; " in the third the Lord it is who declares to his servant the unchanging love whiih is at the root of all this restoration ; and in ver. 4 it is again, " / wdl build thee," etc. Let these prophecies be understood as they may, the blessin<is of which they tell are every one of them due to the Lord alone, whether we apply them to the return from exile, the national restoration of Israel yet to come, the redemption of humanity, or to the individual soul. He is the gracious Author of every such restoration, and to him is the praise to be given.