18.

to Israel, according to the triumphant song of

Ex. xv. 17, Moses, "Thou shalt bring them (the people thou hast purchased) in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, [in] the place, O Jehovah, [which] thou hast made for thee to dwell in, [in] the sanctuary, Adonai, [which] thy hands have established : Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever." There is, then, a place upon earth which Jehovah has made in order for himself to dwell in; one not made with human hands, but by the hands of God himself, and apparently the place in which Jehovah will reign for ever: "the sanctuary which thy hands have established:" it is established, because Jehovah will reign for ever and Ex. xxxiii. ever; and this seems the connexion-" the sanctuary, Adonai, [which] thy hands have established, [in which] Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever." Now, as in the earthly sanctuary there was a seeing face to face, and a direct speaking by Jehovah to his Isa. lii. 8; servant, so will there again be a seeing "eye to eye" and "face to face;" we must expect, in short, a manifestation of Jehovah

9-11; Num.

vii. 89; xiv. 14.

Ezek. xx.

35.

upon the earth, as full as the creature is capable of receiving.

1

13; viii. 11

18, 41.

When he, whose reign typified the glories of Messiah's kingdom, had built a house for the Lord "to abide in for ever," according 1 Kings, vi. to the promise of God, and when the glory 13. of Jehovah had filled the house of the Lord, Solomon asks, "But will God indeed dwell 2 Chron. vi. on the earth?" implying, that something was expected upon the earth more glorious than the manifestation of the Divine presence which they then had. This expectation was kept up by the prophets, both before and after the destruction of the Temple: so Joel says, "Fear not, O land! be glad and rejoice for Jehovah will do great things for you;" which he crowns by saying, "And ye shall know, that I am in the midst of Israel; and that I am Jehovah your God, and none else." This he repeats: "So shall Joel, ii. 27. ye know, that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain ;" and

21.

he concludes by saying, "Judah shall abide Joel, iii. 17(mar.) for ever; and Jerusalem from generation to generation; for I will cleanse their

N

blood that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion:" which I thus understand: Judah, the people, shall abide for ever; for I will cleanse their blood which I have not cleansed; and Jerusalem, the place, shall abide from generation to generation; for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion; the dwelling of Jehovah in Zion is the cause of its abiding. The same is said, Psalm xlvi. Ps. xlvi. 5. 5: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved." And Isaiah, speaking of

the cleansing of Jerusalem from her blood, Isa. iv. 5. adds, in allusion to the type, " And Jehovah will create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a defence." This, I conceive, is "the excellent glory" which was over the Lord when he shewed forth his " power

2 Pet. i.

and coming." There seems a similar proZech. ii. 5. mise in Zech. ii. 5: "I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her (Jerusalem) a wall of fire round

about, and will be the glory in the midst Numb. x. of her." The expression with respect to

35, 36.

the removal of the ark is very remarkable: "When the ark set forward . . . Moses said, Rise up, Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." This language is applied, in Psalm lxviii., to the ascension of Christ ;* but when the ark rested, [Moses] said, "Return, O Jehovah, unto the many thousands of Israel." This is worthy of notice; for, when the ark set forward, it could not be said to leave Israel. The language seems to be more adapted to the antitype than to the type; and as the former clause is, in the Psalms, applied to the ascension of Christ, so this latter is to his return: 66 Arise, O Ps. cxxxii. Jehovah, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy strength.... for Jehovah hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation; this is my rest for ever; here will I dwell;

*

Our

Compare Ps. lxviii. 18 with Eph. iv. 8. church, by appointing this Psalm for Whit-Sunday, authorises its application to the dispersion of Christ's enemies by the Holy Spirit during this dispensation.

8, 13, 14.

17.

for I have desired it." Jeremiah expressly marks the distinction between the ark of the covenant, as a type, and the future much Jer. iii. 16, more glorious antitype: "In those days they shall say no more, "The ark of the covenant of Jehovah ;' neither shall it come to mind; neither shall it be magnified; (margin) at that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah." The circumstances of this prophecy are also remarkable; it was addressed to Israel, who were already captive, and was given shortly before those judgments commenced on Judah, which ended in their captivity. This was not fulfilled after the captivity, for then they had not even the symbols of "the glory." Nor has it been accomplished during this dispensation of the Spirit; for the peculiar feature of this dispensation is, that there is no pre-eminence given to Jerusalem: worship is not confined to Zion, but can be offered every where alike. Lastly, as the other member of the comparison, "the ark of the covenant," is plain and literal, so

John, iv. 21.