xxii. 24. _And they shall hang upon him all the glory of
his father's house--_
As on the nails or spikes fixed in the walls of the ancient temples
and palaces it was customary to hang suits of armour, shields,
helmets, swords, &c., that had been taken in war as spoils of
victory, or that had been used by illustrious ancestors. The
declaration is made concerning Eliakim, and the meaning of it is,
that all his relatives would connect with him all they deemed
illustrious, and would rest upon him as their common support. Some of
the expressions used concerning him are appropriated by our Redeemer
to Himself (comp. ver. 22 and Rev. iii. 7); and, without adopting the
view that Eliakim was a type of Christ, we may say that, true as this
declaration was concerning Eliakim, it is still more eminently true
of Him to whom "the key of David" belongs by right. Upon _Him_ "they
shall hang all the glory of His Father's house."
I. THE GLORY THAT IS PLACED UPON CHRIST. Applying the text to Christ,
the phrase "His father's house" acquired a new and more glorious
significance, even that of the Church of the living God, the one
family in heaven and on earth. All the glory of that spiritual and
eternal house depends upon and is justly ascribed to Christ. 1. _All
the glory of purchasing the Church._ All the persons of whom it is
composed were in circumstances of bondage and misery, yea, under
sentence of death, for which He ransomed them at inconceivable cost
(1 Pet. i. 18, 19). 2. _All the glory of redeeming the Church._ This
is not a mere repetition of what has just been said. We are the
subjects of a twofold redemption--a redemption of price and a
redemption of power. From the penalties of sin Christ redeemed us by
His blood; from the power of sin, by His Spirit. A supremely
difficult and an eternally glorious task is that which He thus
undertook and has accomplished. 3. _All the glory of preserving the
Church._ What a marvellous history of dangers and deliverances it has
had! 4. _All the glory of perfecting the Church._ It shall be
complete in number, complete and resplendent with every spiritual
grace. Remember what marvellous symbols are employed to set forth the
beauty and the preciousness of its component parts, what treasures of
spiritual wisdom and grace are already included in it. Hereafter,
when it shall stand in all its radiance, the wonder and the
admiration of all heavenly intelligences, all the glory of it shall
hang upon Christ.
II. THE PERSONS WHO UNITE IN PLACING THIS GLORY ON CHRIST. "_They_
shall hang," &c. 1. The penitent sinner hangs upon Christ all the
glory of his hope of acceptance with God. 2. The justified believer
hangs upon Him all the glory of the favoured position in which he
stands. 3. The spiritual veteran hangs upon Him all the glory of his
triumphs. 4. The dying Christian hangs upon Him all the glory of the
calmness and courage with which he advances to the final victory.
5. The glorified Church hangs upon Him all the glory of its perfected
salvation. 6. Angels and archangels, though they were not the
subjects of redemption, join in the song of salvation (Rev.
v. 11-13), and ascribe to Him all the splendour in which they shine.
7. GOD exalted Him to the right hand of power, and gave Him a Name
above every name (Phil. ii. 9-11).
"Oh that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!"
--_George Smith, D.D._