iv. 2-5. _In that day shall the Branch of the Lord, &c._
Note the contrast between the preceding chapter, in which
denunciations fall upon the ear like thunder, and the sunny promise
of this. The references to Zion both in the Psalms and in the
Prophecies are frequent and striking. Originally crowned by the
Jebusite citadel, it was besieged and taken by David, who transferred
his court from Hebron thither; he afterwards erected a tabernacle
upon its height, and it there became the chosen resting-place of the
ark of the Lord. Hence, in Scripture language, it came sometimes to
denote the entire city of Jerusalem, and sometimes the Church or
commonwealth of the faithful, which the Highest has promised to
establish, and out of which God, the perfection of beauty, shines.
You will have no difficulty in thus understanding the reference in
the words before us. Applied to the ancient Zion, or even to the
entire city of Jerusalem, the words are extravagant and unmeaning;
applied to the Church of God--His living, spiritual temple--they are
sober, comforting truths. Consider
I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE PROMISE--(2-4). Two things are presented
as antecedent to the gifts of blessing--the coming of the Divine
Saviour, and His discipline for holiness within His Church. +1. The
coming of the Divine Saviour+ (ver. 2). The transition from the
gloomy judgment to the grandeur of deliverance is abrupt and
striking, as if from a savage wilderness one were to emerge suddenly
into green pastures and among gay flowers. So great a change passes
upon human destinies when Christ the Lord comes down. We are
naturally heirs of judgment. But a Saviour has been provided--a
Saviour who, in the mysterious union of natures, combines perfection
of sympathy and almightiness of power. Without Christ, we are
hopeless and lost. Give us Christ, and we are heirs to all the
fulness of God. +2. The Saviour's discipline for holiness within His
Church+ (ver. 3, 4). With God the great thing is holiness. To work
this holiness in His people, God subjects them to discipline, and, if
necessary, to the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. There
are some stains so deep that the fire must purge them. The constant
superintendence over human affairs which these words imply is assured
to us by the experience of our own witnessing hearts, which
corroborate the declarations of the inspired Word. In this
superintendence the Christian will rejoice. In his anxiety to be
conformed to the whole image of God, he will not be careful or
delicate about the means God may use. Here is a test by which to try
yourselves. Are you willing to submit to this preparation for the
promise? Do not shrink from the hissing brand; it will only burn away
the core of the ulcer.
II. THE PROMISE ITSELF (ver. 5). As we read these words, we go back
to former ages and a fierce wilderness, where a pilgrim host marches,
and there, now in their van for guidance, now in their rear for
protection, races a pillar of cloud by day, and by night a pillar of
flame. This was the vision prominent in the prophet's mind, when he
symbolised by it God's presence and protection to His chosen Church.
We are the heirs of the glorious things thus spoken of the city of
God. There is the presence of God with His Church--that is the
central thought; then there are right-hand and left-hand thoughts or
aspects in which that presence manifests itself, radiating itself on
the one hand for counsel, and on the other hand for defence. 1. The
central thought, +The presence of God.+ It was in cloud and in fire
that God specially revealed Himself for His people in days of old
(Gen. xv. 17; Exod. xix. 18; xxxiii. 9; 1 Kings viii. 10; Hab.
iii. 3-5). So long as the cloud and fire were in the camp, so long
the wilderness lost half its terror, because the Israelites knew that
God was in the midst of them for good. That God is still present in
His church is no impious fanatic's dream. To be sure He does not come
as He did in former times, bewildering the sight and overawing the
mind. The Divine manifestations of terror which made even Moses fear
and quake, would not suit this later and better dispensation of love.
Yet our tabernacles are not merely places of human assembly; they are
tabernacles of God's presence, and our worship ascends not to a
remote or absent God. 2. The right-hand thought, +The presence of God
for counsel.+ You remember that this was the primary purpose for
which the pillar of cloud and fire was given. Consider how much it
was needed by the Israelites in the trackless wilderness. (1.) For
guidance in their perplexities, God's presence is promised to the
churches of to-day. Nobody can look upon the history of the Church
with eyes that are not blinded by infidel films without discovering
traces of a presence and counsel higher than that of the mightiest
and wisest men. What chance had she at the beginning but in the
support and upholding that was itself Divine! Through what perils she
has been safely guided since! (2.) If I were to come nearer home, if
I were to ask you to not look at the history of the Church, but at
your own history, is there not something that would cause you to
respond with a joy not less deep and solemn, as you think how the
Lord through all your wanderings has been a guide and counsel for
you? 3. The left-hand thought, +The presence of God for defence.+ You
know what the pillar of fire was--to the Israelites a lamp,
brilliant, exquisite, and heartening; to the Egyptians that followed,
a consuming fire. There is defence as well as counsel for the Church
to-day. Expositors have differed a little about the reading of the
last clause in this verse. Some tell us it ought to read, "upon all
the _glory_ shall be a defence;" that is, there shall be protection
round about the glory which is created by this luminous cloud and by
this kindled fire. Some tell us it should be read, "upon _all_ the
glory shall be a defence;" that is, the luminous cloud and the
brilliant fire shall be itself the defence of the Church. What does
it matter which way we take it? The defence is sure, the salvation of
the Lord is for bulwarks equally in the one case as in the other; and
so the Church is safe, whatever betide. Powerful adversaries have
banded themselves for her destruction, and yet she still lives, while
their names are forgotten, or remembered with accusation and shame.
Let us, then, not be afraid of future assaults (Num. xxiii. 23). The
defence is not merely for Zion as a whole, but for every
dwelling-place therein. Every believer has a pillar of cloud and fire
over his own homestead, visible not to your eyes, but to those of the
angels. There cannot be a cloud upon "the assembly" unless there are
first clouds upon the dwelling-places. Consecrated homes furnish
consecrated congregations; consecrated homes bring the baptism of
fire. Dear brethren, this promise is yours, if you like to have it.
It is the simple, quiet soul that sits at the feet of Jesus and
listens to His voice, that has all this done for him (Heb. i. 14).
"Which of the petty kings of earth
Can boast a guard like ours,
Encircled from our second birth
With all the heavenly powers?"
--_W. Morley Punshon, LL.D., Christian World Pulpit,_ ii. 372-377.