xxxiii. 17. _Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall
behold the land that is very far off._
The literal application of this prophecy is generally supposed to
have reference to the deliverance of the Jews from the Assyrian army.
They would then have the joy of seeing Hezekiah in his goodly
apparel, and, freed from the presence of the invader, would be left
at liberty to enjoy their own pleasant and goodly land. The
deliverance was accomplished (2 Chron. xxxii. 21). But there is
another application of the text--to the beatific vision of the King
of kings in the heavenly land. Let us then consider--
I. THE GLORIOUS PROSPECT BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF GOD. "Thine eyes,"
&c. The prospect respects--1. _The vision of Christ._ Christ is king.
Of Him Melchisedec, David, and Solomon were types (Ps. ii. 6, &c.;
John xviii. 36; Heb. ii. 9; Rev. i. 5; 1 Tim. vi. 10). Patriarchs and
prophets saw Him in human form. The Jews saw Him in His humiliation,
as "a man of sorrows," &c. The apostles and disciples saw Him in His
risen glory. John saw Him in the vision of Patmos (Rev. i. 13, &c.).
Hereafter all His people shall see Him "in His beauty," in all His
regal splendour and magnificence. They shall see Him clearly, fully,
eternally. 2. _The vision of heaven._ "The land," &c. Of heaven
Canaan was a type. It was a land of beauty and abundance; of freedom,
after the slavery of Egypt; of triumph, after warfare; of rest, after
the toils of the desert. Its crowning distinction was the Temple,
which God filled with His presence and glory. But heaven is all
temple.
II. THE CERTAINTY OF ITS REALISATION. "Thine eyes _shall,_" &c.
1. _This was contemplated by Christ in our redemption._ He designed
our emancipation from the dominion of sin, our deliverance from this
present evil world, and also our elevation to His glorious kingdom
(Heb. ii. 10; John xvii. 24). 2. _This is repeatedly the subject of
the Divine promises_ (Luke xxii. 29, xii. 32; John xiv. 2, 3, &c.).
3. _To this tends the work of grace in all its influence on the
soul._ See what our calling is (1 Pet. v. 10); to what we are
begotten (1 Pet. i. 3, 4); why we are sanctified (Rev. iii. 4). 4. _A
goodly number are now enjoying the fulfilment of these promises_
(Rev. vii. 9, 14). 5. _The glory and joy of Christ would not be
complete without the eternal salvation of His people_ (Isa. liii. 11).
III. THE PREPARATION NECESSARY FOR ITS ENJOYMENT. Nothing is
necessary in the way of merit, price, or self-righteousness. But if
we would see the King, _we must make Him the object of our believing,
affectionate regard now._ If we would see "the land," &c., _we must
seek and labour for its attainment_ (Heb. xi. 16, iv. 10).--_Jabez
Burns, D.D.: Pulpit Cyclopædia,_ vol. ii. pp. 154-157).