Isaiah 11:1-9, LXX (Thomson version) ; vs.1 ; "And there shall spring up a shoot from the root of Jessai -even from that root shall spring up a blooming shoot;

vs.2 and the Spirit of God will rest upon him- a spirit of wisdom and understanding; a spirit of counsel and majesty; a spirit of knowledge and pity-

vs3 by this spirit he will be filled with the fear of God. He will not judge according to opinion, nor will he reprove according to report;

vs 4 but he will administer justice to the lowly, and work conviction in the meek of the earth. And he will smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with a breath from his lips destroy the wicked.

vs 5 His loins will be girded with saving goodness, and his reins clothed with truth.

Vs 6 And a wolf shall pasture with a lamb ; and a leopard shall lie down with a kid; and the calf, and bull and lion shall pasture together; and a little child shall lead them.

Vs 7 The cow and bear shall feed together; and together their young shall herd; and the lion shall eat chaff like an ox.

Vs 8 And the sucking child shall lay it's hand on the holes of asps and on the bed of young asps.

Vs. 9 And they shall not hurt nor have power to destroy anyone on the mountain which is My sanctuary. Because the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as abundant water covereth depths of seas."

Isaiah 11:1 KJV/MT (Massoretic Text)  "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Dead Sea Scroll Isaiah 11.1And there shall come a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a branch (Nazar) from His roots will bear fruit." [ft]

Cross references:

Job 14:7 LXX (Thomson version) ; " For there is hope for a tree; for if it lopped, it may sprout again,and the tender branch may not fail."

Psalm 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness.

2 Samuel 22:51 LXX (Thomson version) ; "He is magnifying the deliverances of His own king,and shewing mercy to His anointed-to David and His seed forever."

Revelation 19:11-16   ¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  ¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  ¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

John Gill gives an overview of this chapter ; "This chapter is a prophecy of the Messiah, and gives an account of his descent, as man; of his qualifications for his office, as a Judge and King; of his performance of it; of the peaceableness of his kingdom; of the spread of it among the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel; and of the last and general conversion of the Jews. His original and descent from David the son of Jesse, under the titles of a rod and branch, is described as mean and obscure, expressed by stem and roots, Isaiah 11:1 his gifts and qualifications for his work, in general and particular, Isaiah 11:2 the performance of it, both with respect to good men and bad men, in the fear of the Lord, with all equity, righteousness, and readiness, Isaiah 11:3 the peaceableness of his kingdom is figuratively expressed, by the agreement of savage and tame creatures, the former becoming the latter, and so losing their malignant and hurtful nature, through the efficacy of the Gospel, spreading the knowledge of Christ all over the world, Isaiah 11:6 particularly among the Gentiles, comparable to those savage creatures, who, upon the exhibition of Christ in the Gospel; should seek to him, and find rest in him, Isaiah 11:10 which will be followed or accompanied with a collection of the Jews out of all lands, and the conversion of them, which will be brought about by the power and grace of God, all impediments being by him removed out of the way; the consequences of which will be, peace among themselves, and obedience among the Gentiles, Isaiah 11:11."

John Gill on verse 1..." that He should be the King Messiah, and be so great as was foretold He should; and have that power, authority, and wisdom He had; and do such mighty works as He did; and especially be the author of eternal salvation; and bring forth such fruits, and be the cause of such blessings of grace, as He was: or else because of His kingly power and majesty, the rod or branch being put for a sceptre, and so a symbol of that; to which the Targum agrees, paraphrasing the words thus,

"and a King shall come forth from the sons of Jesse:"

and the sense is, that though Jesse's or David's family should be brought so very low as to be as the stem or stump of a tree, without a body, branches, leaves, and fruit; yet from thence should arise a mighty King, even the King Messiah, who is spoken of by so many august names and titles, Isaiah 9:6. And in that day there shall be a root out of Jesse,"- ... "so the Targum,

"and the Messiah shall be anointed (or exalted) from His children's children."

Matthew Henry ; "...He comes forth out of the stem, or stump, of Jesse. When the royal family, that had been as a cedar, was cut down, and only the stump of it left, almost levelled with the ground and lost in the grass of the field (Dan. 4:15), yet it shall sprout again (Job 14:7); nay, it shall grow out of his roots, which are quite buried in the earth, and, like the roots of flowers in the winter, have no stem appearing above ground. The house of David was reduced and brought very low at the time of Christ's birth, witness the obscurity and poverty of Joseph and Mary. The Messiah was thus to begin His estate of humiliation, for submitting to which He should be highly exalted, and would thus give early notice that His kingdom was not of this world..."

"...That He should be every way qualified for that great work to which He was designed, that this tender Branch should be so watered with the dews of heaven as to become a strong rod for a sceptre to rule, "

Keil and Delitzsch ..." In the humble beginning there lies a power which will carry it up to a great height by a steady and certain process ( Ezek. 17:22,23) The twig which is shooting up on the ground will become a tree, and this tree will have a crown laden with fruit. Consequently the state of humiliation will be followed by one of exaltation and perfection." [ft2]

[ft2 Keil and Delitzsch. also make note of the hebrew word rcn for "Branch" as used here ; "...the  'netzer', i.e., a fresh green shoot ( from 'natzer', to shine or blossom). In the historical account of the fulfillment, even the ring of the words of the prophecy is noticed: the 'netzer', at first so humble and insignificant, was a poor despised  'Nazarene (Matt.2:23) But the expression  'yiphreh' "( shall grow)" shows at once that it will not stop at this lowliness of origin. The shoot will bring forth fruit..."

Keil and Delitzsch ; "..down below, in the roots covered with earth, and only rising a little above it, there shows itself a 'netzer', i.e., a fresh green shoot (from natzer), to shine or blossom). . the netzer, at first so humble and insignificant, was a poor despised Nazarene ."   and " 'The shoot will bring forth fruit.' In the humble beginning there lies a power which will carry it up to a great height by a steady  and certain process (Ezekiel 17:22-23). The twig which is shooting up on the ground will become a tree, and this tree will have a crown laden with fruit. Consequently the state of humiliation will be followed by one of exaltation and perfection."

Hengstenberg ; " Christ was to be represented as He in whom the Davidic Kingdom attains to its full truth and glory."...

" The circumstance that the words in the first verse are completed in the number seven,  [my ft]

[ft] according to the relationship of the hebrew alphabet correlating with their numbering system

divided into three and four, intimates that the Prophet here enters upon the territory of the revelation of a mystery of the Kingdom of God."

"...The house of David shall be exalted at a time when He is most humbled."

Hengstenberg quoting Calvin ; "The Prophet does not mention David ; but rather Jesse. For so much was the dignity of that family diminished, that it seemed to be a rustic, ignoble family, rather than a royal one." and then quotes Psalm 113:7-8 , [my ft]

[ft]  but rather I will  quote from versus 3 through 9 of the Septuagint ( Thomson version) ; " From the rising of the sun to its going down ; let the name of the Lord be praised. The Lord is high over all the nations : His glory is above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God Who dwelleth on high, and superintendeth the thing below Him in heaven and on the earth? Who raiseth the distressed from the ground, and lifteth the needy from a dunghill : to seat him with princes ; with the chiefs of his people. Who settleth the barren women in a family making her a joyful mother of children."

Hengstenberg continues ; "...The mention of Jesse's name thus explained, agrees, then, with the birth of Christ at Bethlehem, announced by Isaiah's cotemporary, Micah. Christ was born at Bethlehem, because that residence waa peculiar to the family of David during its lowliness..."

A shoot proceeding from his roots (ie., the cut-off stem of Jesse) shall grow up into a stately fruitful tree ; or : As a tree cut down throws out from its roots a young shoot which, at first inconsiderable, grows up into a stately fruit-bearing tree, so from the family buried in contempt and lowliness, a  'King' shall arise who, at first humble and unheeded, shall afterwards attain to great glory.'... 

 "...this shoot shall attain to importance and glory..."  "First, there is the bestowal of the Spirit of the Lord whereby He is enabled to bear fruit; then, the fruit-bearing itself."

"Branch" is a well known name of the Messiah; see Gill on "Isaiah 4:2" the word Netzer, here used, is the name of the city of Nazareth .. which perhaps was so called, from the trees, plants, and grass, which grew here; and so our Lord's dwelling here fulfilled a prophecy, that he should be called a Nazarene; or an inhabitant of Netzer, Mt 2:23."

Some may take exception that I, or others, would use this verse as a word picture of a "scion" springing out from the earth ( ie. buried in the garden earth and stone) or fallen tree trunk as did Jesus, out from His grave, but the same picture, as a negative is seen in Isaiah 14:19a (MT/KJV) ; " But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch,..." or as the Dead Sea Scroll ; " But you are sent out of your grave (like) a hated [N]azarene"... [my ft]

1. [ft] the word and letter in parenthesis are apparently lost in the 2000+ year old DSS (Dead Sea Scroll) document, perhaps many of the undecipherable scrolls will someday be retrieved and made legible by software developed by the Xerox Corporation's Digital Imaging Technology Center, Webster, N.Y.. See "Xerox World" Spring 1998 issue with the article titled ; "Dead Sea Scrolls", page 10.

Justin ; "And a Star of Light has arisen and a flower has sprung from then root of Jesse-this Christ."

Gill on verse 2; " And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,.... The rod and branch, the King Messiah, so qualifying him for his office, and the discharge of it. This shows that Christ's kingdom is of a spiritual nature, and administered in a spiritual manner, for which he was abundantly furnished by the "Spirit of the Lord" resting on him; by whom is meant the third Person in the Trinity, so called, not because created by him, for not any created spirit is meant, but because he proceeded from him; he is the one Jehovah with him, a divine Person, truly God, yet distinct both from the Father and the Son; so that here is a clear proof of the trinity of Persons. Christ was filled with the Spirit from the womb, and he descended and rested upon him at his baptism; he was anointed with him to be Prophet, Priest, and King, and received his gifts and graces from him without measure, which abide with him, and are designed in the following words:

the spirit of wisdom and understanding; which appeared in his disputation with the doctors; in his answers to the ensnaring questions of the Scribes and Pharisees; in the whole of his ministry; and in his conduct at his apprehension, trial, condemnation, and death; as also in the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding he imparted to his disciples, and does more or less to all his people:

the spirit of counsel and might; of "counsel", which fitted him to be the wonderful Counsellor, and qualified him to give suitable and proper advice to the sons of men; and of "might" or "power", to preach the Gospel with authority; do miracles in the confirmation of it; bear the sins of his people, and the punishment due to them; obtain eternal redemption for them; and engage with all their enemies and conquer them:

the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord; and so as man had the "knowledge" of God the Father; of his mind and will; of the Scriptures, and things contained therein; of the law and Gospel; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were hid in him, which he communicates to his saints; and "of the fear of the Lord", and so had a reverence of him, a strict regard to his will, and always did the things which pleased him; see Hebrews 5:7 this verse is also applied to the Messiah, both by ancient and modern Jews."

Keil and Delitzsch; "Isaiah 11:6-9 -

The fruit of righteousness is peace, which now reigns in humanity under the rule of the Prince of Peace, and even in the animal world, with nothing whatever to disturb it. "And the wolf dwells with the lamb, and the leopard lies down with the kid; and calf and lion and stalled ox together: a little boy drives them. And cow and bear go to the pasture; their young ones lie down together: and the lion eats shopped straw like the ox. And the suckling plays by the hole of the adder, and the weaned child stretches its hand to the pupil of the basilisk-viper. They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the land is filled with knowledge of Jehovah, like the waters covering the sea." The fathers, and such commentators as Luther, Calvin, and Vitringa, have taken all these figures from the animal world as symbolical. Modern rationalists, on the other hand, understand them literally, but regard the whole as a beautiful dream and wish. It is a prophecy, however, the realization of which is to be expected on this side of the boundary between time and eternity, and, as Paul has shown in Rom 8, is an integral link in the predestined course of the history of salvation (Hengstenberg, Umbreit, Hofmann, Drechsler). There now reign among irrational creatures, from the greatest to the least, - even among such as are invisible, - fierce conflicts and bloodthirstiness of the most savage kind. But when the Son of David enters upon the full possession of His royal inheritance, the peace of paradise will be renewed, and all that is true in the popular legends of the golden age be realized and confirmed. This is what the prophet depicts in such lovely colours. The wolf and lamb, those two hereditary foes, will be perfectly reconciled then. The leopard will let the teazing kid lie down beside it. The lion, between the calf and stalled ox, neither seizes upon its weaker neighbour, nor longs for the fatter one. Cow and bear graze together, whilst their young ones lie side beside in the pasture. The lion no longer thirsts for blood, but contents itself, like the ox, with chopped straw. The suckling pursues its sport ... by the adder's hole, and the child just weaned stretches out its hand boldly and fearlessly to me'ūrath tziph‛ōni. It is evident from Jer_8:17 that tziph‛ōni is the name of a species of snake."

" The look of a snake, more especially of the basilisk (not merely the basilisk-lizard, but also the basilisk-viper), was supposed to have a paralyzing and bewitching influence; but now the snake will lose this pernicious power (Isa_65:25), and the basilisk become so tame and harmless, as to let children handle its sparkling eyes as if they were jewels. ."

"The fact that peace prevails in the animal world, and also peace between man and beast, is then attributed to the universal prevalence of the knowledge of God, in consequence of which that destructive hostility between the animal world and man, by which estrangement and apostasy from God were so often punished (2Ki_17:25; Eze_14:15, etc.: see also Isa_7:24), have entirely come to an end. The meaning of "the earth" is also determined by that of "all my holy mountain." The land of Israel, the dominion of the Son of David in the more restricted sense, will be from this time forward the paradisaical centre, as it were, of the whole earth - a prelude of its future state of perfect and universal glorification (Isa_6:3, "all the earth"). It has now become full of "the knowledge of Jehovah," i.e., of that experimental knowledge which consists in the fellowship of love."

Gill on verses 4-9; "Isaiah 11:4 - But with righteousness shall he judge the poor,.... The poor sinner, that is sensible of his spiritual poverty, and comes and acknowledges his sins and transgressions, and prays for pardoning grace and mercy, and hungers and thirsts after righteousness; such Christ justifies with his own righteousness, acquits and discharges them from all sin and condemnation, as also protects and defends them against all their enemies and oppressors:

and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; that is, shall take the part of the meek, the lowly, and the humble, who are under a sense of their sins and unworthiness, apply to him for grace, righteousness, pardon, and eternal life; and for their sakes reprove wicked men that would distress and crush them; and in a just and equitable manner, in a way of righteous retaliation, render tribulation to them that trouble them:

and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth: that is, either he shall smite the consciences of earthly and unregenerate men, by the ministration of his word, the rod of his strength, so that they shall be convinced of sin, and humbled for it, and be brought to repentance towards God, and faith in himself; or he shall smite the nations of the earth, the antichristian states, and destroy them, Rev_19:15.

and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked; either by the words of his mouth, as before; see Hos_6:5 so that they become dead men in their own apprehensions, have no hope of life and salvation by their own works, see themselves dead in law, and liable to eternal death and damnation; or this is to be understood of the destruction of the wicked at the last day, by a sentence of condemnation pronounced upon them by Christ; and particularly of antichrist, the wicked and lawless one, the man of sin and son of perdition, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming, 2 Thesselonians_2:4"

Isaiah 11:5 - And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins,.... He shall be adorned with it, strengthened by it, and ready at all times to perform it; he loved righteousness, and did acts of righteousness throughout the whole course of his life; and, by his active and passive obedience, wrought out an everlasting righteousness for his people; he is a King that reigns in righteousness, righteousness is the sceptre of his kingdom; all his administrations of government are righteous; just and true are all his ways:

and faithfulness the girdle of his reins; he was faithful to God, that appointed him as King and Head of the church; faithful as a Prophet, in declaring his mind and will; and is a faithful High Priest, as well as a merciful one..."

Isaiah 11:6 - And the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,..."This, and the three following verses Isa_11:7, describe the peaceableness of the Messiah's kingdom; and which the Targum introduces in this manner,

"in the days of the Messiah of Israel, peace shall be multiplied in the earth.''

The wild and tame creatures shall agree together, and the former shall become the latter; which is not to be understood literally of the savage creatures, as if they should lose their nature, and be restored, as it is said, to their paradisiacal estate, which is supposed to be the time of the restitution of all things; but figuratively of men, comparable to wild creatures, who through the power of divine grace, accompanying the word preached, shall become tame, mild, meek, and humble; such who have been as ravenous wolves, have worried Christ's sheep, made havoc of them, breathing out slaughter and threatenings against them, as did Saul, through converting grace, become as gentle and harmless as lambs, and take up their residence in Christ's fold, and dwell with, yea, some of them even feed, Christ's lambs and sheep, as the above mentioned person: (Paul)

and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; such who are like the leopard, for the fierceness of his nature, and the variety of his spots; who can no more change their hearts and their actions, than that creature can change its nature and its spots; are so wrought upon by the power of divine grace, as to drop their rage against the saints, alter their course of life, and attend on the word and ordinances, lie down beside the shepherds' tents, where the church feeds her kids, or young converts:

and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; either dwell and feed together, or lie down together, or walk together, since it follows:

and a little child shall lead them; become through the grace of God so tractable, that they shall be led, guided, and governed by the ministers of the Gospel, Christ's babes and sucklings, to whom he reveals the great things of his Gospel, and out of whose mouths he ordains praise. Bohlius (a) interprets this little child of Christ himself, by whom they should be led and directed, see Isa_9:6 and the following passages are referred to the times of the Messiah by the Jewish writers (b); and Maimonides (c) in particular observes, that they are not to be understood literally, as if the custom and order of things in the world would cease, or that things would be renewed as at the creation, but in a parabolical and enigmatical sense; and interprets them of the Israelites dwelling safely among the wicked of the nations of the world, comparable to the wild beasts of the field.

Isaiah 11:6 - (Clarke)

The wolf also shall, etc. "Then shall the wolf," etc. ".The wolf and the leopard not only forbear to destroy the lamb and the kid, but even take their abode and lie down together with them. The calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, not only come together, but are led quietly in the same band, and that by a little child. The heifer and the she-bear not only feed together, but even lodge their young ones, for whom they used to be most jealously fearful, in the same place. All the serpent kind is so perfectly harmless, that the sucking infant and the newly weaned child puts his hand on the basilisk's den, and plays upon the hole of the aspic. The lion not only abstains from preying on the weaker animals, but becomes tame and domestic, and feeds on straw like the ox. ."

Wesley ; "Isa 11:6 - The wolf - The creatures shall be restored to that state of innocency in which they were before the fall of man. Men of fierce, and cruel dispositions, shall be so transformed by the grace of Christ, that they shall become gentle, and tractable. A child - They will submit their rebellious wills to the conduct of the meanest persons that speak to them in Christ's name."

John Gill on verse 7; Isaiah 11:7 - And the cow and the bear shall feed,.... "That is, together, in one church state, at one table, or in one pasture, upon the wholesome food of the Gospel, the salutary doctrines of Christ; who though before of different dispositions, the one tame and gentle, useful and profitable, dispensing the milk of the divine word, and gracious experience; the other cruel and voracious, barbarous and inhuman, worrying the lambs and sheep of Christ; but now of the same nature, and having no ill will to one another, and being without fear of each other:

their young ones shall lie down together; those like the calf and the young bear, shall lie in the green pastures of Gospel ordinances, and do no injury, the latter to the former, being of one mind, and agreeing in doctrine and practice:

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; kings shall be nursing fathers to the church, and feed on the same Gospel provisions; and there shall be a great agreement between them who were before comparable to lions for their strength, power, and cruelty, and ministers of the Gospel, who are compared to oxen, for their strength and laboriousness, 1Corinthians 9:9 "straw" here denotes true doctrine, though elsewhere false, see 1Co_3:12."

Isaiah 11:8 - And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp,.... Without fear or danger:

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den; and suffer no damage: the meaning is explained in the next words, and to be understood of regenerate persons, both of new born babes, or just born, and all such who are weaned from their own righteousness, and live by faith on Christ, who shall not be hurt by the poison of false teachers, nor by the force of violent persecutors, now no more,

Matthew Henry on versus 2-9; "II. That he should be every way qualified for that great work to which he was designed, that this tender branch should be so watered with the dews of heaven as to become a strong rod for a sceptre to rule, Isa_11:2. 1. In general, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall not only come, but rest and abide upon him; he shall have the Spirit not by measure, but without measure, the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, Col_1:19; Col_2:9. He began his preaching with this (Luk_4:18), The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. 2. In particular, the spirit of government, by which he should be every way fitted for that judgment which the Father has committed to him and given him authority to execute (Joh_5:22, Joh_5:27), and not only so, but should be made the fountain and treasury of all grace to believers, that from his fulness they might all receive the Spirit of grace, ."(1.) He shall have the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and knowledge; he shall thoroughly understand the business he is to be employed in. No man knows the Father but the Son, Mat_11:27. What he is to make known to the children of men concerning God, and his mind and will, he shall be himself acquainted with and apprised of, Joh_1:18. He shall know how to administer the affairs of his spiritual kingdom in all the branches of it, so as effectually to answer the two great intentions of it, the glory of God and the welfare of the children of men. The terms of the covenant shall be settled by him, and ordinances instituted, in wisdom: treasures of wisdom shall be hid in him; he shall be our counsellor, and shall be made of God to us wisdom. (2.) The spirit of courage, or might, or fortitude. The undertaking was very great, abundance of difficulty must be broken through, and therefore it was necessary that he should be so endowed that he might not fail or be discouraged, Isa_42:4."

". (3.) The spirit of religion, or the fear of the Lord; not only he shall himself have a reverent affection for his Father, as his servant (Isa_42:1), and he was heard in that he feared (Heb_5:7), but he shall have a zeal for religion, and shall design the advancement of it in his whole undertaking. Our faith in Christ was never designed to supersede and jostle out, but to increase and support, our fear of the Lord.

III. That he should be accurate, and critical, and very exact in the administration of his government and the exercise of the power committed to him (Isa_11:3): The Spirit wherewith he shall be clothed shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord - ." Note, 1. Those are most truly and valuably intelligent that are so in the fear of the Lord, in the business of religion, for that is both the foundation and top-stone of wisdom. 2. By this it will appear that we have the Spirit of God, if we have spiritual senses exercised, and are of quick understanding in the fear of the lord. Those have divine illumination that know their duty and know how to go about it. 3. Therefore Jesus Christ had the spirit without measure, that he might perfectly understand his undertaking; and he did so, as appears not only in the admirable answers he gave to all that questioned with him, which proved him to be of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, but in the management of his whole undertaking. He has settled the great affair of religion so unexpectedly well (so as effectually to secure both God's honour and man's happiness) that, it must be owned, he thoroughly understood it.

IV. That he should be just and righteous in all the acts of his government, and there should appear in it as much equity as wisdom. He shall judge as he expresses it himself, and as he himself would be judged of, Joh_7:24. 1. Not according to outward appearance (Isa_11:3): he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, with respect of persons (Job_34:19) and according to outward shows and appearances, not reprove after the hearing of his ears, by common fame and report, and the representations of others, as men commonly do; nor does he judge of men by the fair words they speak, calling him, Lord, Lord, or their plausible actions before the eye of the world, which they do to be seen of men; but he will judge by the hidden man of the heart, and the inward principles men are governed by, of which he is an infallible witness. Christ will judge the secrets of men (Rom_2:16), will determine concerning them, not according to their own pretensions and appearances (that were to judge after the sight of the eyes), not according to the opinion others have of them (that were to judge after the hearing of the ears), but we are sure that his judgment is according to truth. 2. He will judge righteous judgment (Isa_11:5): Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins. He shall be righteous in the administration of his government, and his righteousness shall be his girdle; it shall constantly compass him and cleave to him, shall be his ornament and honour; he shall gird himself for every action, shall gird on his sword for war in righteousness; his righteousness shall be his strength, and shall make him expeditious in his undertakings, as a man with his loins girt. In conformity to Christ, his followers must have the girdle of truth (Eph_6:14) and it will be the stability of the times. Particularly, (1.) He shall in righteousness plead for the people that are poor and oppressed; he will be their protector (Isa_11:4): With righteousness shall he judge the poor; he shall judge in favour and defence of those that have right on their side, though they are poor in the world, and because they are poor in spirit. It is the duty of princes to defend and deliver the poor (Psa_82:3, Psa_82:4), and the honour of Christ that he is the poor man's King, Psa_72:2, Psa_72:4. He shall debate with evenness for the meek of the earth, or of the land; those that bear the injuries done them with meekness and patience are in a special manner entitled to the divine care and protection. I, as a deaf man, heard not, for thou wilt hear, Psa_38:13, Psa_38:14. Some read it, He shall reprove or correct the meek of the earth with equity. If his own people, the meek of the land, do amiss, he will visit their transgression with the rod. (2.) He shall in righteousness plead against his enemies that are proud and oppressors (Isa_11:4): But he shall smite the earth, the man of the earth, that doth oppress (see Psa_10:18), the men of the world, that mind earthly things only (Psa_17:14); these he shall smite with the rod of his mouth, the word of his mouth, speaking terror and ruin to them; his threatenings shall take hold of them, and be executed upon them. With the breath of his lips, by the operation of his Spirit, according to his word, and working with and by it, he shall slay the wicked. He will do it easily, with a word's speaking, as he laid those flat who came to seize him, by saying I am he, Joh_18:6. Killing terrors shall arrest their consciences, killing judgments shall ruin them, their power, and all their interests; and in the other world everlasting tribulation will be recompensed to those that trouble his poor people. The apostle applies this to the destruction of the man of sin, whom he calls that wicked one (2Th_2:8) whom the Lord will consume with the spirit of his mouth. And the Chaldee here reads it, He shall slay that wicked Romulus, or Rome, as Mr. Hugh Broughton understands it.

V. That there should be great peace and tranquillity under his government; this is an explication of what was said in Isa_9:6, that he should be the Prince of peace. Peace signifies two things: -

1. Unity or concord, which is intimated in these figurative promises, that even the wolf shall dwell peaceably with the lamb; men of the most fierce and furious dispositions, who used to bite and devour all about them, shall have their temper so strangely altered by the efficacy of the gospel and grace of Christ that they shall live in love even with the weakest and such as formerly they would have made an easy prey of. So far shall the sheep be from hurting one another, as sometimes they have done (Eze_34:20, Eze_34:21), that even the wolves shall agree with them. Christ, who is our peace, came to slay all enmities and to settle lasting friendships among his followers, particularly between Jews and Gentiles: when multitudes of both, being converted to the faith of Christ, united in one sheep-fold, then the wolf and the lamb dwelt together; the wolf did not so much as threaten the lamb, nor was the lamb afraid of the wolf. The leopard shall not only not tear the kid, but shall lie down with her: even their young ones shall lie down together, and shall be trained up in a blessed amity, in order to the perpetuating of it. The lion shall cease to be ravenous and shall eat straw like the ox, as some think all the beasts of prey did before the fall. The asp and the cockatrice shall cease to be venomous, so that parents shall let their children play with them and put their hands among them. A generation of vipers shall become a seed of saints, and the old complaint of homo homini lupus - man is a wolf to man, shall be at an end. Those that inhabit the holy mountain shall live as amicably as the creatures did that were with Noah in the ark, and it shall be a means of their preservation, for they shall not hurt nor destroy one another as they have done. Now, (1.) This is fulfilled in the wonderful effect of the gospel upon the minds of those that sincerely embrace it; it changes the nature, and makes those that trampled on the meek of the earth, not only meek like them, but affectionate towards them. When Paul, who had persecuted the saints, joined himself to them, then the wolf dwelt with the lamb. (2.) Some are willing to hope it shall yet have a further accomplishment in the latter days, when swords shall be beaten into ploughshares.

2. Safety or security. Christ, the great Shepherd, shall take such care of the flock that those who would hurt them shall not; they shall not only not destroy one another, but no enemy from without shall be permitted to give them any molestation. The property of troubles, and of death itself, shall be so altered that they shall not do any real hurt to, much less shall they be the destruction of, any that have their conversation in the holy mountain, 1Pe_3:13. Who, or what, can harm us, if we be followers of him that is good? God's people shall be delivered, not only from evil, but from the fear of it. Even the sucking child shall without any terror play upon the hole of the asp; blessed Paul does so when he says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? and, O death! where is thy sting?

Lastly, Observe what shall be the effect, and what the cause, of this wonderful softening and sweetening of men's tempers by the grace of God. 1. The effect of it shall be tractableness, and a willingness to receive instruction: A little child shall lead those who formerly scorned to be controlled by the strongest man. Calvin understands it of their willing submission to the ministers of Christ, who are to instruct with meekness and not to use any coercive power, but to be as little children, Mat_18:3. See 2Co_8:5. 2. The cause of it shall be the knowledge of God. The more there is of that the more there is of a disposition to peace. They shall thus live in love, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, which shall extinguish men's heats and animosities. The better acquainted we are with the God of love the more shall we be changed into the same image and the better affected shall we be to all those that bear his image. The earth shall be as full of this knowledge as the channels of the sea are of water - so broad and extensive shall this knowledge be and so far shall it spread - so deep and substantial shall this knowledge be, and so long shall it last. There is much more of the knowledge of God to be got by the gospel of Christ than could be got by the law of Moses; and, whereas then in Judah only was God known, now all shall know him, Heb_8:11. But that is knowledge falsely so called which sows discord among men; the right knowledge of God settles peace.

Spurgeon ; "...Now, beloved friends, our Divine Lord has gone away from us up into His rest in glory.  This Man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God ; from henceforth expecting till Hiw enemies be made His footstool.' He is taking His rest now, for His work is done. There is nothing for Him to do, or for us to do, by way of perfecting righteousness and salvation ; Christ has accomplished it all, and now He rests. It must be divinely glorious to Him thus to sit down on the right hand of God. "..." Now He rests, and with an unbroken calmness of spirit waits until the ages shall have rolled on, till the end shall come, til He shall have trodden Satan finally beneath His feet, till He shall send out that last great summons, " Gather My saints together unto Me ; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." Till then, He rests in glory, and His rest is glorious."

Matthew Henry ; "Some understand this of the death of Christ (the triumphs of the cross made even that glorious), others of his ascension, when he sat down to rest at the right hand of God. Or rather it is meant of the gospel church, that Mount Zion of which Christ has said, This is my rest, and in which he resides."

John Gill leaves open several possibilities of interpretation of this Messianic passage ; " Some understand it of His death, which, though ignominious in itself, yet glorious in its consequences; a glorious display of the condescension and love of Christ was made in it; and glorious things have been effected by it: others, of His grave, which was an honourable man's; His grave was made with the rich; though perhaps better of His rest in glory; when He had done His work, and sat down at the right hand of God, He was crowned with glory and honour; or rather it may design His church, which is His rest, Ps 132:13,14 which is glorious, with his righteousness, grace, and presence, and being put in order by Him, as an army with banners; and especially it will be, when all the glorious things spoken of it shall be fulfilled."

"This chapter commences with the full Messianic strain ; 'there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse;' and the music wells, in the Hebrew rhythm of thought, into a sublime prophecy of the reign of Christ. This 'Root of Jesse' is to be in ensign of the people,'   and

"We are thus led to understand the words, 'this rest', to it shall applying to the triumph of the Savior." (from the "Pulpit Commmentary" ; W.M.S.)

Exodus 30:1, LXX ; "And thou shalt make the altar of incense of incorruptible wood.

 2 And thou shalt make it a cubit in length, and a cubit in breadth: it shall be square; and the height of it shall be of two cubits, its horns shall be of the same piece.

 3 And thou shalt gild its grate with pure gold, and its sides round about, and its horns; and thou shalt make for it a wreathen border of gold round-about.

 4 And thou shalt make under its wreathen border two rings of pure gold; thou shalt make it to the two corners on the two sides, and they shall be bearings for the staves, so as to bear it with them.

 5 And thou shalt make the staves of incorruptible wood, and shalt gild them with gold.

 6 And thou shalt set it before the veil that is over the ark of the testimonies, wherein I will make myself known to thee from thence."

John Gill ; "...this altar was a type of Christ, the shittim [my ft]

[ft] LXX "avsh,ptwn" "incorruptible wood"

wood may respect his human nature; which wood, though it sprung out of the earth, was not common, but choice and excellent, and very strong durable, and incorruptible; and so Christ, though he was man made of an earthly woman in his human nature, yet was chosen out of the people, is the chiefest among ten thousand, and excellent as the cedars, the man of God's right hand, whom he made strong for himself; and though he died in it, he saw no corruption, he now lives, and will live for evermore; in which nature he acts the part of a Mediator, and intercedes for his people, and offers up their prayers, perfumed with the much incense of his mediation, to which this altar has a special respect."

"Ver. 2. A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, four square shall it be, &c.] It was one Jewish square cubit, which is in surface, according to Bishop Cumberland, three English square feet, and about forty seven square inches; which may denote the solidity, perfection, and extensiveness of Christ's priesthood, it being unchangeable, firm, and lasting; and which passes not from one to another, and the which makes something perfect, which the law and priesthood of Aaron could not, even perfects for ever them that are sanctified; and is very extensive; the virtue of it reaches to all the elect of God, from the beginning of the world to the end of it; not his sacrifice only, but his intercession, which is principally respected; that is made for all the people of God, in all places, and in all ages, and for all things for them, both for this life, and that which is to come:

and two cubits shall be the height thereof; so that it was as high again as it was long and broad: Christ, our interceding high priest, is made higher than the heavens:

the horns thereof shall be of the same; of the same wood the altar itself was made: these were a sort of spires that rose up at the four corners of the altar; and the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the words,

"and of it its horns shall be erect;"

which were chiefly for decoration and ornament; and may denote the honour and glory of Christ, as well as his power and ability to save, to the uttermost, all that come to God by him, or lay hold upon him, since he ever lives to make intercession.

Ver. 3. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, &c.] Hence this altar is sometimes called the golden altar, # Nu 4:11 Re 8:3 this may figure the deity of Christ, whose head is as the most fine gold, and is in the divine nature, in the form of God, and is the brightness of his glory, and possessed of the same perfections; or rather the glorification of his human nature in heaven, where he is highly exalted, and the preciousness of his intercession, which is always powerful and prevalent, and the duration of it:

the top thereof, and the sides thereof, round about, and the horns thereof: all and each of them were covered with gold; this altar had a top, when the altar of burnt offering had none, but its hollow place was filled up with earth at every encampment; so Jarchi observes: this was not a grate, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, for here were neither blood nor ashes to be let through; but it was a flat covering like the roof of a house, as the word signifies, on which was set a golden dish, with live coals and incense burning on them; and which, when burnt, was carried away: and the sides are the four sides of the frame, it being a square, or the two sides and two ends of it; and the horns, the four horns at each corner, all were covered with plates of gold; so that this altar was a richer and more excellent one than that of burnt offering; and may signify the superior excellency of Christ's state of exaltation to that of his humiliation: in the latter, which the altar of burnt offering respected, he was made of no reputation, and became obedient to the death of the cross, yea, was made sin, and a curse for his people; but in the former, which the altar of incense respected, he was raised from the dead, and had glory given him; he was raised for the justification of his people, and was himself justified in the Spirit, ascended on high, was received into glory, sat down at the right hand of God, making continual intercession for his saints:

and thou shall make unto it a crown of gold round about; which was partly to keep from slipping what was put upon it, but chiefly for ornament; and plainly points at the exaltation of Christ in our nature in heaven, as our interceding high priest, where he is a priest upon his throne; and is crowned with glory and honour." ~

"...before the mercy seat, that is over the testimony; the mercy seat that was over the ark, a lid or cover to it, where the testimony was; and towards this, before the face of it, was the altar of incense, where the priest officiating, looked directly towards it; having that in view for the acceptance of the people's prayers to God through Christ, which they were making while he was burning the incense:."

Psalm 68:18 LXX (Brenton's rendering of the Vaticanus) "Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, Thou hast received gifts for man, yea, for they were rebellious, that Thou mightest dwell among them."

Augustine's ancient LXX "Thou hast gone up. Thou hast led captivity captive. For they that believe not to dwell." [my ft]

[ft] Augustine commenting on the last part of the verse in the ancient greek text; "...By the gifts therefore of His grace, He that hath received gifts in men, hath led captive that captivity. For they believed not that they should dwell. For faith hath thence delivered them, in order that now believing they may dwell in the House of God, even they too becoming the House of God, and the Chariot of God, consisting of thousands of men rejoicing."

Cross references :

Ephesians 4:8-10, verse 4; " Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

Matthew 27:52 "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of saints who slept were raised,"

Psalms 24:3 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Psalms 24:7  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Psalms 24:8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Psalms 24:9  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Psalms 24:10  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Psalms 47:5  God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalms 110:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Mark 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."

Edersheim's comments of the Resurrection event ; "In the earthquake the rocks were rent, and their tombs opened. This, as Christ descended into Hades. And when He ascended on the third day, it was with victorious saints who had left those open graves. To many in the Holy City on that ever-memorable first day, and in the week that followed, appeared the bodies of many of those saints who had fallen on sleep in the sweet hope of that which had now become reality."

John Gill ; "Ver. 18. 'Thou hast ascended on high', &c.] ... of Christ's ascension to heaven, as the apostle cites and explains it in Ephesians 4:8,9; [my ft]

[ft] Eph 4:8  "wherefore, he saith, 'Having ascended on high He led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,'

 and that, He went up, what is it except that He also descended first to the lower parts of the earth?"

"...which ascension respects Him as man, was not figurative, as in Genesis 17:22; [my ft]

[ft] Genesis 17:22 And he left off speaking with him, and God went up (grk.  avne,bh anebh) from Abraam.

but real and local, from earth to heaven, and was certain and visible; He was seen to go up by angels and men; and, because of the certainty of it, it is here expressed in the past tense, though it was then future; 'thou hast led captivity captive;' meaning either such who had been captives, in which sense the word is used, Psalm 126:1;[my ft]

[ft] Psalm 126:1 LXX, ; "When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion, we became as comforted ones."

and so may design  either those who had been prisoners in the grave, but were set free at Christ's resurrection, and went with him in triumph to heaven; or all His people, whom he redeemed by His blood from that captivity and bondage they were in by nature; or rather those who led them captive are here meant by "captivity"; such as sin, Satan, the world, death, and every spiritual enemy, whom Christ conquered and triumphed over; the allusion may be to public triumphs, when captives were led in chains, even kings and great men, that had captivated others: the words seem to be borrowed out of Judges 5:12;[my ft]

[ft] Judges 5:12 "Awake, awake, Debbora; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, son of Abineem" !

'thou hast received gifts for men;' the gifts of the Holy Spirit, qualifying men for the ministry of the Gospel, as they are interpreted by the Apostle, Eph 4:11;[my ft]

[ft] Ephesians 4:11 ; "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

these Christ received from his Divine Father in human nature, when He ascended up to heaven, in order to give them to men; and which He did in a very extraordinary manner on the day of Pentecost. The Targum and Syriac version render it, "thou hast given gifts to men"; and the Arabic version, "and He gave gifts to men",[my ft]

[ft] the LXX has it "Thou hast received gifts for man,"

as the apostle, Ephesians 4:8 [my ft]

[ft] KJV ; "Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

 'yea, for the rebellious also;' disobedient and unbelieving .., as all men are by nature, even God's elect, before conversion, Tit 3:3; who are not only called by grace, and have the blessings of grace bestowed upon them; but some of them have gifts given them, whereby they are fitted to preach the Gospel to others, as Saul, the blasphemer, persecutor, and injurious; and some of those among the Jews, that were concerned in the crucifixion of Christ: though some think the Gentiles are intended, on whom the Holy Spirit was poured forth after our Lord's ascension; and so the Targum interprets it of the rebellious, who become proselytes, and return by repentance; 'that the Lord God might dwell among them;' that is, that they, by the gifts and graces of the Spirit bestowed on them, might become a fit habitation for God; or that "they", the rebellious, being now partakers of the grace of God and His gifts, "might dwell with the Lord God" .. in His churches; enjoy His divine presence, and have communion with Him in his word and ordinances."

Matthew Henry ; "Thou hast ascended on high' (v. 18); compare Ps. 47:5, 6. [my ft]

[ft] Psalm 47:5 LXX ; " God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with a sound of a trumpet."

Christ's ascending on high is here spoken of as a thing past, so sure was it; and spoken of to his honour, so great was it. It may include his whole exalted state, but points especially at His ascension into heaven to the right hand of the Father, which was as much our advantage as His advancement. For, 1. He then triumphed over the gates of hell. He led captivity captive; that is, He led his captives in triumph, as great conquerors used to do, making a show of them openly, Colossions 2:15. He led those captive who had led us captive, and who, if He had not interposed, would have held us captive for ever. Nay, he led captivity itself captive, having quite broken the power of sin and Satan. As He was the death of death, so He was the captivity of captivity, Hosea 13:14. [my ft]

[ft] Hosea 13:14, LXX (Thomson's version) ; "Him I will deliver from the power of the grave, and from death I will redeem them."

This intimates the complete victory which Jesus Christ obtained over our spiritual enemies; it was such that through Him we also are more than conquerors, that is, triumphers, Romans 8:37. 2. He then opened the gates of heaven to all believers: 'Thou hast received gifts for men.' 'He gave gifts to men,' so the apostle reads it, Ephesians 4:8. For He received that He might give; on His head the anointing of the Spirit was poured, that from Him it might descend to the skirts of His garments. And He gave what He had received; having received power to give eternal life, He bestows it upon as many as were given Him, John 17:2. Thou hast received gifts for men, not for angels; fallen angels were not to be made saints, nor standing angels made gospel ministers, Hebrews 2:5. Not for Jews only, but for all men; whoever will may reap the benefit of these gifts. The apostle tells us what these gifts were (Ephesians 4:11), prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers, the institution of a gospel ministry and the qualification of men for it, both which are to be valued as the gifts of heaven and the fruits of Christ's ascension.'Thou hast received gifts in man' (so the margin), that is, in the human nature which Christ was pleased to clothe Himself with, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God. In Him, as Mediator, all fulness dwells, that from His fulness we might receive. To magnify the kindness and love of Christ to us in receiving these gifts for us, the psalmist observes, (1.) The forfeiture we had made of them. He received them for the rebellious also, for those that had been rebellious; so all the children of men had been in their fallen state. Perhaps it is especially meant of the Gentiles, that had been enemies in their minds by wicked works, Colossions 1:21. For them these gifts are received, to them they are given, that they might lay down their arms, that their enmity might be slain, and that they might return to their allegiance. This magnifies the grace of Christ exceedingly that through Him rebels are, upon their submission, not only pardoned, but preferred. They have commissions given them under Christ, which some say, in our law, amounts to the reversing of an attainder. Christ came to a rebellious world, not to condemn it, but that through Him it might be saved. (2.) The favour designed us in them: He received gifts for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them, that He might set up a church in a rebellious world, in which He would dwell by His word and ordinances, as of old in the sanctuary, that He might set up His throne, and Christ might dwell in the hearts of particular persons that had been rebellious. The gracious intention of Christ's undertaking was to rear up the tabernacle of God among men, that He might dwell with them and they might themselves be living temples to His praise, Ezekiel 37:27[my ft]

[ft] Ezekiel 37:27 (KJV) ; " My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people"

.... The glory of Zion's King is that he is a Saviour and benefactor to all His willing people and a consuming fire to all those that persist in rebellion against Him,"

John Gill's view ; Psalm 68:1 - Let God arise,.... Which, as Kimchi observes, is either by way of prayer, or by way of prophecy; and in either way the sense is the same: for, if it is considered as a prayer, it is a prayer of faith that so it would be; or, if as a prophecy, it is certain that so it should be. And this is to be understood of the same divine Person, whose chariots the angels are; who is said to be the "Adonai", or "Lord" in the midst of them; and of whom it is prophesied that he should ascend to heaven, Psalm_68:17; even the Messiah, who is God over all. And this "arising", attributed to him, may be interpreted either of his incarnation, his exhibition and manifestation in the flesh; which is sometimes called in Scripture a raising of him up, as in Acts 3:26; or of his resurrection from the dead, as it is interpreted by many of the ancients; which, as it was a certain thing, and previous to his ascension hereafter spoken of, so it was a proof of his deity; for though it was only the man that rose, who died and was buried, yet as in union with the divine Person of the Son of God, and who rose by virtue of that union; and thereby he was declared to be the Son of God with power. Or else rather this is to be understood of his arising and exerting his power as a man of war, as a mighty and victorious hero, on the behalf of his people, and against his enemies; as he did when he arose and met Satan, the prince of the world, and engaged with all the powers of darkness; see Psalm_45:3; and this sense is confirmed by what follows:

let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him: the sense of these two clauses is the same; his enemies, and those that hate him, are the same persons; and to be scattered and flee express the same things; for enemies, being discomfited, flee and scatter. Some interpret this of the watch set to guard our Lord's sepulchre; who, upon his rising from the dead, were filled with great fear and dread, and scattered, and fled to the priests, to acquaint them with what was done: others, of the Jewish nation in general, who were enemies to Christ; and hated him, and would not have him to reign over them; against whom he rose up and exerted his great strength; came in his kingdom and power against them; poured out his wrath upon them to the uttermost; which issued in the utter destruction of them, as a body politic; and in the entire dispersion of them in all countries, which remains until quite recently. Or rather the whole is to be applied to Satan (as defeated), and to his principalities and powers; the professed enemies of Christ, personal and mystical; who, when he arose and exerted his mighty power in his conflict with them, in the garden and on the cross, were spoiled and dissipated, and obliged to fly before him: and who at the same time overcame the world, made an end of sin, abolished death, as well as destroyed him which had the power of it; see Numbers 10:35.

Spurgeon ; "The hill of Zion had been taken out of the hand of the Jebusites. They had held it long after the rest of the country had been subdued; but David at last had taken it from them. This was the mountain ordained of Jehovah of old to be the place of the Temple. David, therefore, with songs and shouts of rejoicing, brought up the ark from the abode of Obed-edom to the place where it should remain. That is the literal fact upon which the figure of the test is based. We are at no loss for the spiritual interpretation, for we turn to Ephesians 4:8, where, quoting rather the sense of the passage than the exact words, Paul says, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The same sense is found in Colossians 2:15: "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Not misled by the will-o'-the-wisp of fancy, but guided by the clear light of the infallible Word, we see our way to expound our text. In the words of David we have an address to our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning His ascent to His glory. "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

Our Savior descended when He came to the manger of Bethlehem, a babe; and further descended when He became "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He descended lower still when He was obedient to death, even the death of the cross; and further yet when His dead body was laid in the grave. Well saith our apostle, "Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" Long and dark was the descent: there were no depths of humiliation, temptation, and affliction which he did not fathom. Seeing He stood in their place and stead, He went as low as justice required that sinners should go who had dared to violate the law of God. The utmost abyss of desertion heard Him cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" Low in the grave He lay; but he had His face upward, for He could not see corruption.

On the third day He quitted the couch of the dead, and rose to the light of the living. He had commenced His glorious ascent. To prove how real was His resurrection, He stayed on earth some forty days, and showed Himself to many witnesses. Magdalene and James saw Him alone; the eleven beheld Him in their midst; the two on the road conversed with Him; five hundred brethren at once beheld Him. He gave infallible proofs that He was really risen from the dead, and these remain with us unto this day as historic facts. He ate a piece of a broiled fish and of an honeycomb, to prove that He was no phantom. He said to the apostles, "Handle me, and see that it is I Myself; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." One laid his finger in the print of the nails, and even thrust his hand into His side.

Their very doubts were used to make the evidence clearer. The fact that Jesus died was put beyond question by the spear-thrust; and the fact that He was alive, in a material form, was equally well established by the touch of Thomas. Beyond a doubt, Christ Jesus has risen from the dead, and become the 'Firstfruits of them that slept'.

This being settled beyond question, the time came for our Lord to continue His homeward, upward journey, and return unto the glory from which He had come down. From "the mount called Olivet," while His disciples surrounded Him, "he was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."...

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in." How high He ascended after He passed the pearly portal Paul cannot tell us, save that he says "He ascended up far above all heavens," and describes Him as "set at God's Right Hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion"; and as "dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto."

The man Christ Jesus has gone back to the place from whence His Godhead came. Thou art the King of glory, O Christ! Thou art the eternal Son of the Father! Thou sittest ever in-the highest heaven, enthroned with all glory, clothed with all power, King of kings and Lord of lords. Unto thy name we humbly present our hallelujahs, both now and for ever. Now, concerning the text itself, which speaks of the ascent of our ever blessed Lord, we shall say, first, that OUR LORD'S TRIUMPH WAS SET FORTH BY HIS ASCENSION.

He came here to fight the foes of God and man. It was a tremondous battle, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickednesses and evil powers. Our Lord fought against sin, and death, and hell, and hate of God, and love of falsehood. He came to earth to be our Champion. For you and for me, beloved, He entered the lists, and wrestled till He sweat great drops of blood: yea, "He poured out His soul unto death." When He had ended the struggle He declared His victory by ascending to the Father's throne.

Now His descent is ended. There was no need for Him to remain amid the men who despised Him. The shame, and suffering, and blasphemy, and rebuke are far beneath Him now. The Sun has risen, and the darkness of night has fled. He has gone up beyond the reach of sneering Sadducees and accusing Pharisees. The traitor cannot again kiss Him, Pilate cannot scourge Him, Herod cannot mock Him. He is far above the reach of priestly taunt and vulgar jest.

"No more the cruel spear,

The cross and nails no more;

For hell itself shakes at His frown,

And all the heavens adore."

Now, also, our Lord's work was done. We are sure that the purpose of His love is secure, or He would not have returned to His rest. The love that brought Him here would have kept Him here if all things necessary for our salvation had not been finished. Our Lord Jesus is no sudden enthusiast, who rashly commences an enterprise of which He wearies before it is accomplished. He does not give up a work which He has once undertaken.

Because he said, "I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do," and then ascended to the Father, I feel safe in asserting that all that was required of the Lord Christ for the overthrow of the powers of darkness is performed and endured: all that is needed for the salvation of His redeemed is fully done. Whatever was the design of Christ's death, it will be accomplished to the full; for had he not secured its accomplishment He would not have gone back. I do not believe in a defeated and disappointed Savior, nor in a Divine Sacrifice which fails to effect its purpose. I do not believe in an atonement which is admirably wide but fatally ineffectual. I rejoice to hear my Lord say, "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me." Whatever was the purpose of the Christ of God in the great transaction of the cross, it must be fully effected: to conceive a failure, even of a partial kind, is scarcely reverent. Jesus has seen to it that in no point shall His work be frustrated. Nothing is left undone of all His covenanted engagements. "It is finished" is a description of every item of the diving labor; and, therefore, has He ascended on high. There are no dropped stitches in the robe of Christ. I say again, the love that brought our Lord here would have kept Him here if He had not been absolutely sure that all His work and warfare for our salvation had been accomplished to the full. Further, as we see here the ending of our Lord's descent and the accomplishment of His work, remember that His ascent to the Father is representative. Every believer rose with Him, and grasped the inheritance.

When He uprose, ascending high, He taught our feet the way. At the last His people shall be caught up together with the Lord in the air, and so shall they be for ever with the Lord. He has made a stairway for His saints to climb to their felicity, and He has trodden it Himself to assure us that the new and living way is available for us. In His ascension He bore all His people with Him. As Levi was in the loins of Abraham, when Melchisedek met Him, so were all the saints in the loins of Christ when He ascended up on high. Not one of the number shall fail to come where the head has entered, else were Jesus the head of an imperfect and mutilated body. Though you have no other means of getting to glory but faith in Jesus, that way will bring you there without fail. Not only will He not be in glory and leave us behind, but He cannot be so, since we are one with Him; and where He is His people must be. We are in the highest glory in Jesus as our representative, and by faith we are raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenlies, even in Him. Our Lord's ascent is to the highest heaven. I have noticed this already; but let me remind you of it again, lest you miss an essential point. Our Lord Jesus is in no inferior place in the glory land. He was a servant here, but He is not so there. I know that He intercedes, and thus carries on a form of service on our behalf; but no strivings, and vyings, and tears are mingled with His present pleadings. With authority He pleads. He is a priest upon His throne, blending with His plea the authority of His personal merit. He saith, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth"; and therefore He is glorious in His prayers for us. He is Lord of every place, and of everything; He guides the wheel of Providence, and directs the flight of angels; His kingdom ruleth over all. He is exalted above every name that is named, and all things are put under Him. Oh, what a Christ we have to trust in and to love!

And on this account we are called upon in the text to think much of His blessed Person. When we speak of what Christ has done, we must think much of the doing, but still more of the Doer. We must not forget the Benefactor in the benefits which come to us through him. Note well how David puts it. To him the Lord is first and most prominent. He sees him, he speaks to him. "speak Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men." Three times he addresses Him by that personal pronoun "thou." Dwell on the fact that He, the Son of David, who for our sakes came down on earth and lay in the manger, and hung upon a woman's breast, has gone up on high, into the glory infinite.

He that trod the weary ways of Palestine now reigns as a King in His palace. He that sighed, and hungered, and wept, and bled, and died, is now above all heavens. Behold your Lord upon the cross - mark the five ghastly wounds, and all the shameful scourging and spitting which men have wrought upon him!  See how that blessed body, prepared of the Holy Ghost for the indwelling of the Second Person of the adorable Trinity, was evil entreated! But there is an end to all this. 'Thou hast ascended on high.' He that was earth's scorn is now heaven's Wonder. I saw thee laid in the tomb, wrapped about with cerements, and embalmed in spices; but Thou hast ascended on high, where death cannot touch thee. The Christ that was buried here is now upon the throne. The heart which was broken here is palpitating in His bosom now, as full of love and condescension as when He dwelt among men. He has not forgotten us, for He has not forgotten Himself, and we are part and parcel of Himself. He is still mindful of Calvary and Gethsemane. Even when you are dazzled by the superlative splendor of His exalted state, still believe that He is a brother born for adversity.

Let us rejoice in the ascent of Christ as being the ensign of His victory, and the symbol thereof. He has accomplished His work. If thou hadst not led captivity captive, O Christ, Thou hadst never ascended on high; and if Thou hadst not won gifts of salvation for the sins of men, Thou hadst been here still suffering! Thou wouldst never have relinquished Thy chosen task if Thou hadst not perfected it. Thou art so set on the salvation of men, that for the joy that was set before Thee, Thou didst endure the cross, despising the shame; and we know that all must have been achieved, or Thou wouldst still be working out Thy gracious enterprise. The voice of the ascension is (Latin) CONSUMMATUM EST: "It is finished."

"... Having led your thoughts that way, I would, secondly, remind you that THE LORD'S TRIUMPHAL ASCENT DEMONSTRATED THE DEFEAT OF ALL OUR FOES. "Thou hast led captivity captive" is as certain as "Thou hast ascended on high."

Brethren, we were captives once - captives to tyrants, who wrought us woe, and would soon have wrought us death. We were captives to sin, captives to Satan, and therefore captives under spiritual death. We were captives under divers lusts and imaginations of our own hearts: captives to error, captives to deceit. But the Lord Jesus Christ has led captivity captive. There is our comfort. Yet, forget not that we were hopeless captives to all these: they were too strong for us, and we could not escape from their cruel bondage.

The Lord Jesus, by His glorious victory here below, has subdued all our adversaries, and in His going up on high He has triumphed over them all, exhibiting them as trophies. The imagery may be illustrated by the triumph of Roman conquerors. They were wont to pass along the Via Sacra, and climb up to the Capitol, dragging at their chariot-wheels the vanquished princes with their hands bound behind their backs. All those powers which held you captive have been vanquished by Christ. Whatever form your spiritual slavery took, you are clean delivered from it; for the Lord Christ has made captives those whose captives you were. "Sin shall not have dominion over you." Concerning Satan, our Lord has bruised his head beneath His heel. Death also is overcome, and his sting is taken away.

Death is no more the king of dread: "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Whatever there was or is, which can oppress our soul, and hold it in bondage, the Lord Jesus has subdued and made it captive to Himself.

What then? Why, henceforth the power of all our adversaries is broken. Courage, Christians! you can fight your way to heaven, for the foes who dispute your passage have been already worsted in the field. They bear upon them the proofs of the valor of your leader. True, the flock of the Lord is too feeble to force its way; but listen, "The Breaker is come up before them, and the King at the head of them." Easily may the sheep follow where the Shepherd breaks the way. We have but to follow those heavenly feet, which once were pierced, and none of our steps shall slide.

Move on, O soldiers of Jesus, for your Captain vies, "Follow me!" Would He lend you into evil? Has he not said, "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Your Lord has sot His foot on the necks of your enemies: you wage war with vanquished foes. What encouragement this glorious ascension of Christ should give to every tried believer!

Remember, again, that the victory of our Lord Christ is the victory of all who are in Him. "The Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head."

Now, the Seed of the woman is, first of all, the Lord Jesus; but also, it is all who are in union with Him. There are still two seeds in the world: - the seed of the serpent, and these cannot enter into this rest; and the seed of the woman, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God: in these last is the Living and Incorruptible Seed, which liveth and abideth for ever. Jesus, our Lord, represents them in all that He does - they died in Him, were buried in Him, are raised in Him, and in the day when He triumphed, they led captivity captive in Him.

No, brethren, by those bleeding hands and feet He has secured the struggle.

By that side opened down to His heart we feel that His heart is fixed in our cause. Specially by His resurrection, and by His climbing to the throne of God, he has made the victory of His truth, the victory of His church, the victory of Himself most sure and certain.

III.    Let us notice, thirdly, that OUR LORD'S TRIUMPHANT ASCENSION WAS CELEBRATED BY GIFTS. The custom of bestowing gifts after victory was practiced among the Easterns, according to the song of Deborah.  Those to whom a triumph was decreed in old Rome scattered money among the populace. Sometimes it seemed as if every man in the city was made rich by his share of the spoils of vanquished princes. Thus our Lord, when He ascended on high, received gifts for men, and scattered largess all around.

The psalm says: "Thou hast received gifts for men." The Hebrew hath it, "Thou hast received gifts in Adam" - that is, in human nature. Our Lord Christ had everything as Lord; but as the man, the Mediator, He has received gifts from the Father. "The King eternal, immortal, invisible," has bestowed upon His triumphant General a portion with the great, and He has ordained that He shall divide the spoil with the strong. This our Lord values, for He speaks of all that the Father has given Him with the resolve that He will possess it.

When Paul quotes the passage, he says, "He gave gifts to men." Did Paul quote incorrectly? I trow not. He quoted, no doubt, from the Greek version. Is the Greek version therefore compatible with the Hebrew?

Assuredly; for Dr. Owen says that the word rendered "received" may be read "gave." And if not, for Christ to receive for men is the same thing as to give to men, for He never receives for Himself, but at once gives it to those who are in Him. Paul looks to the central meaning of the passage, and gives us the heart and soul of its sense. He is not intending to quote it verbatim, but to give in brief its innermost teaching. Our Lord Jesus Christ has nothing which he does not give to His church. He gave Himself for us, and He continues still to give Himself to us. He receives the gift, but He only acts as the conduit-pipe, through which the grace of God flows to us. It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and of His fullness have all we received.

What are these great ascension gifts? I answer that the sum of them is the Holy Spirit. I invite your adoring attention to the sacred Trinity herein manifested to us. How delightful it is to see the Trinity working out in unity the salvation of men! "Thou hast ascended on high": there is Christ Jesus. "Thou hast received gifts for men": there is the Father, bestowing those gifts. The gift itself is the Holy Spirit. This is the great largess of Christ's ascension, which He bestowed on His church at Pentecost. Thus you have Father, Son, and Holy Spirit blessedly co-working for the benediction of men, the conquest of evil, the establishment of righteousness. O my soul, delight thyself in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

One of the sins of modern theology is keeping these Divine Persons in the background, so that they are scarcely mentioned in their several workings and offices. The theology which can feed your souls must be full of Godhead, and yield to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perpetual praise.

Beloved, the gifts here spoken of are those brought by the Holy Spirit. "The water that I shall give him," said Christ, "shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." He said again, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." We read that He "spake of the Spirit, which they that believed on Him should receive." "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" To conquer the world for Christ we need nothing but the Holy Spirit, and in the hour of His personal victory He secured us this boon. If the Holy Spirit be but given we have in Him all the weapons of our holy war.

But observe, according to Paul, these gifts which our Lord gave are embodied in men; for the Holy Spirit comes upon men whom He has chosen, and works through them according to His good pleasure. Hence He gave some, apostles, some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers.

No one may be judged to be given of God to the church in any of these offices unless as the Spirit dwells upon him. All are given of God upon whom the Holy Spirit rests, whatever their office may be. It is ours to accept with great joy the men who are chosen and anointed to speak in the name of the Lord, be they what they may. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, they are all the gifts of the risen Christ to His redeemed ones, for their edifying and perfecting. The Holy Spirit, in proportion as He abides in these servants of God, makes them to be precious benisons" (bessings or benedictions) "of heaven to His people, and they become the champions by whom the world is subdued to the Lord Jesus Christ.

These gifts, given in the form of men, are given for men. Churches do not exist for preachers; but preachers for churches. We have sometimes feared that certain brethren thought that the assemblies of believers were formed to provide situations for clerical persons; but, indeed, it is not so. My brethren in the church, we who are your pastors are your servants for Christ's sake. Our rule is not that of lordship, but of love..."

V.      I have done when I have handled the fifth point, which is this: OUR LORD'S TRIUMPHANT ASCENSION SECURES THE CONSUMMATION OF HIS WHOLE WORK. What doth it say? "That the Lord God might dwell among them." When our Lord Christ came here at the first He was willing enough to "dwell" among us; but it could not be. "The word was made flesh and tabernacled among us," like a Bedouin in his tent, but not as a dweller at home. He could not "dwell" here on that occasion. He was but a visitor, and badly treated at that. "There was no room for Him in the inn," where everybody else was freely welcome. "He came unto His own" - surely they will lodge Him, "but His own received Him not." There was no room for Him in the temple - there He had to use the scourge. There was no room for Him in the open streets, for they took up stones to stone Him. Out of the synagogue they hurried Him, to cast Him down headlong from the brow of the hill. "Away with Him! Away with Him!" was the cry of the ribald crowd. This dear visitor, who came here all unarmed, without sword or bow, they treated as though he had been a spy or an assassin, who had stolen among them to do them ill. And so they ran upon Him with a spear, and He, quitting these inhospitable realms which knew Him not, took home with Him the marks of man's discourtesy. O earth, earth, how couldst thou drive away thy dearest friend, and compel Him to be as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth but for a night; nay, worse, as a man astonied, who meets with wounding in the house of His friends?

After He had risen again, He went home, that from this throne He might a work by which earth should become a place where God could abide. Again is the temple of God to be with men, and He shall dwell among them. This world of ours has been sprinkled with the precious blood of the Lamb of God, and it is no longer as an unclean thing. Jesus is the Lamb of God Who so taketh away the sin of the world that God can treat with men on terms of grace, and publish free salvation. The Lord God Himself had long been a stronger in the land. Did not the holy man of old say, "I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were"?

But Jesus, the ascended One, is pouring down such gifts upon this sin-world, that it will yet become a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness and the God of righteousness."...

"But there cometh a day when this shall be carried out to the letter.

Methinks I hear the angels say, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Now, "in like manner" must mean in Person. In Person our Lord was taken up into heaven, and in Person He will come again; and when He cometh, the Lord God will, indeed, dwell among us. Oh, that the day would come! We wait watch for His glorious appearing; for then will He dwell among men in a perfect fashion. What happy days shall we have when Jesus is here! What a millennium His presence will bring; there can be no such auspicious era without it, any more than there can be summer without the sun. He must come first, and then will the golden age begin. The central glory of that period shall be that the Lord is here. "The Lord God shall dwell among them." Then shall be heard the song which will never end, earth's homage to the Lord, who renewed the heavens and the earth, and has taken up His dwelling in them. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."...

"Soon the little boat of this globe shall be drawn nearer to the great ship, and earth shall lie alongside heaven.

Then shall men praise God day and night in His temple. Heaven shall find her choristers among the ransomed from among men. The whole world shall be as a censer filled with incense for the Lord of hosts. All this will be because of those gifts received and bestowed by our Lord Jesus in the day when He returned to His glory, leading captivity captive. O Lord, hasten thy coming! We are sure that thine abiding presence and glorious reign will come in due season. Thy coming down secured thy going up: thy going up secures thy coming down again. Wherefore, we bless and magnify thee, O ascended Lord, with all our hearts, and rise after thee as thou dost draw us upward from grovelling things. So be it! Amen."

Psalm 149:6-9, Vs.:6,   "The high praises of God shall be in their throat, and two-edged swords in their hands;

 7 to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments among the peoples;

 8 to bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron;

 9 to execute on them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints."

John Gill ; "Ver. 6. [Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, &c.] Or "throats" {m}; loudly declared by them. The word "praises" is not in the text, and so may be read, "the high things of God" {n}; or, "the heights of God", as the Septuagint: and these are the perfections of God; as his omniscience, which is knowledge too high for a creature to attain unto, and even to conceive of; his omnipotence, for high is his right hand; his omnipresence, this is higher than heaven, deeper than hell, its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea; his love, grace, and mercy, which are in the heavens; and his truth and faithfulness, which reach to the clouds; his eternity, immutability, and other attributes; all which should be often talked of and celebrated: also the high acts and works of God, those more inward and secret; as the thoughts of his heart, which are higher than ours, as the heavens than the earth; the everlasting love of God, which has an height not to be reached; the eternal choice of persons to grace and glory, before all time; the covenant of grace, which exceeds the mountains for height, as well as duration; and the glorious scheme of our peace, reconciliation, and redemption, contrived in the divine mind, and formed in Christ from everlasting: and others more outward, open, and manifest; as the works of creation and providence; of redemption by Christ; the operations of the Spirit, and the powerful success of the Gospel among Jews and Gentiles. The Vulgate Latin version and others render it, "the exaltations of God" ; Father, Son, and Spirit: Jehovah the Father should be exalted in the mouths of his saints, for his love to them, choice of them, covenant with them, the mission of his Son on their account, and the regeneration of them according to his abundant mercy; and Jehovah the Son should be exalted by them with their mouths and lips, as well as in their hearts, in his person, by honouring him as they do the Father, in his offices, kingly, priestly, and prophetic; and the Holy Spirit should be exalted, by ascribing the work of grace to him, the beginning, carrying on, and finishing of it;

and a twoedged sword in their hand; which is no other than the word of God,  Ephesians 6:17 Hebrews 4:12; one of its edges is the law, which sharply reproves and menaces for sin, threatening with curses, condemnation, and death; and which, in the Spirit's hand, cuts deep into the hearts of men, lays open the corruption of their nature, and the swarms of sin which are in them; it causes pain and grief, working wrath in the conscience; it wounds and kills, and is therefore called the letter that kills, 2 Co 3:6. The other edge is the Gospel, which cuts in pieces the best of men; all their works of righteousness, which it removes from their justification and salvation; and all their wisdom, holiness, freewill power, and creature abilities; and it cuts down the worst in man, his sinful as well as his righteous self; it teaches him to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; it is useful to refute errors, and defend truth: and it is an instrument, and only a passive instrument, used by the Lord, as his power unto salvation; it is a sword, but only effectual as it is the sword of the Spirit; it is a part of the weapons of our warfare, and it is mighty, but only through God; it can do nothing of itself, but as it is in the hand of another; and it should be in the hands of all the saints in common, as well as in the hands of Gospel ministers, to withstand error, maintain truth, and repel the temptations of Satan. The Targum is,

"the praises of God in their throats, and as twoedged swords in their hands;"

making the praises of God and the two-edged swords to be the same: and so Jarchi and R. Jeshuah in Aben Ezra interpret them."

C.H. Spurgeon ; "Our praises should climb up to heaven's gate, running up Jacob's

ladder even as the angels did, till we cast our praises right at the foot of the eternal throne. Let us sound forth the high praises of God with our mouths, let us extol him, and magnify him, and make him great. Say noble things of God wherever you go, for he well deserves it at your hands.

The last phase of praise concerns courage in conflict: "and a two-edged sword in their hand." Songs in their mouths, and swords in their hands! It is something like the sword and the trowel, the trowel to build with and the sword to smite with. God's people must sing and fight at the same time; and they fight best who sing best. Not those that growl most, but those that sing most, fight best.

But with whom are we to fight? That depends upon what your sword is. If you had a sword of steel, you would fight with men; but that is no part of your business. You are not called to that cruel work; but, as you have the sword of the Spirit, which is two-edged, which is indeed all edge, for it cuts whichever way you turn it, go forth and praise God by the use of that two-edged sword which is the Word of God.

Let me stir up God's people here to do this. Go and tell out the gospel, tell out the gospel. I think I have to a large extent attained my wish in this congregation. I miss such a large number of our friends on Sunday nights, and I am delighted to miss them, for they have no business to be here then.

They are out preaching, teaching, working in Ragged-schools [my ft]

[FT] orphanage schools?

Mission halls, and all sorts of holy service. That is what you ought to do if you love

the Lord; get a good meal once on the Sabbath, and then go and do a good day's work in the rest of the Sunday. Praise God with your mouths, and have the two-edged sword in your hands. To war against ignorance, to war against vice, to war against drunkenness, to war against infidelity and sin of every kind, is one of the best ways of praising the Most High. Until the last sinner is saved, see to it that you keep the two-edged sword of God's Word in your hand, and then for ever let the high praises of God be in your mouth."

".7, 8. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the

people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of

iron".The Lord shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly; and, meanwhile, we fight against the powers of evil of every kind.

Oh, that God would help us to bind King Drunkenness with chains, and King Infidelity with fetters of iron! Would God the day were come when impurity, which defiles so many, were overcome and vanquished by the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God!"

"...At this hour, under the gentler dispensation of grace, we wrestle not with flesh and blood; yet is our warfare none the less stern, and our victory none the less sure. All evil shall eventually be overthrown: the Lord shall display his justice against evildoers, and in that warfare his servants shall play their parts. The saints shall judge the world. Both the conflict and the victory at the end of it shall cause glory to God, and honour to his holy ones."

"Thus are the greatest enemies of Jehovah and his people reduced to shame, rendered helpless, and themselves punished. This was Israel's boast in actual fact, it is ours spiritually. The chief powers of evil shall be restrained and ultimately destroyed. Those who made captives of the godly shall themselves be made captive. The powers of evil cannot bind our King, but by his power their king shall be bound with a great chain, and shut up in the bottomless pit, that he may at length be trodden under the feet of saints."

Ezekiel 17:22, LXX (Thomson Version) "For thus saith the Lord: I will Myself take one of the choicest cedars from a summit ; ( their hearts I will nip) and I will plant it on a lofty mountain;

(vs.23) I will cause it to be suspended on a lofty mountain of Israel ; and I will plant it , and it shall blossom and bear fruit, and become a great cedar ; and under it shall rest every bird, even all the winged tribe shall repose in its shade ; its branches shall be renewed

(vs.24) and all the trees of the plain shall know that I am the Lord Who bringeth down the lofty tree, and exalteth the tree which is low, and Who causeth the green tree to wither, and the withered tree to flourish. I the Lord have spoken and I will perform."

Ezekiel 17:22 - 24 AV/MT    "Thus saith the Lord God, I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set {it}; I will crop off from the top of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant {it} upon a high mountain and eminent:  ²³ In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shade of its branches shall they dwell.  ²⁴ And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done {it}." 

Cross references:

Luke 1:32 " He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David:"

Luke 1:30-33   "And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.  ³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.  ³³ And he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Isaiah 4:2 KJV/MT  "In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Isaiah 11:1-10, LXX (Thomson version) ; vs.1 ; "And there shall spring up a shoot from the root of Jessai -even from that root shall spring up a blooming shoot;

vs.2 and the Spirit of God will rest upon him- a spirit of wisdom and understanding; a spirit of counsel and majesty; a spirit of knowledge and pity-

vs3 by this spirit he will be filled with the fear of God. He will not judge according to opinion, nor will he reprove according to report;

vs 4 but he will administer justice to the lowly, and work conviction in the meek of the earth. And he will smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with a breath from his lips destroy the wicked.

vs 5 His loins will be girded with saving goodness, and his reins clothed with truth.

Vs 6 And a wolf shall pasture with a lamb ; and a leopard shall lie down with a kid; and the calf, and bull and lion shall pasture together; and a little child shall lead them.

Vs 7 The cow and bear shall feed together; and together their young shall herd; and the lion shall eat chaff like an ox.

Vs 8 And the sucking child shall lay it's hand on the holes of asps and on the bed of young asps.

Vs. 9 And they shall not hurt nor have power to destroy anyone on the mountain which is My sanctuary. Because the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as abundant water covereth depths of seas."

Jeremiah 23:5-6, 9 LXX (Thomson version) , verse 5 ; "Behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous shoot who shall reign as king and shall understand and execute judgement and justice on the earth.

Vs 6 In his days Juda shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell securely.

Vs 9 (LXX) And the name which the Lord will give him by the prophets shall be Josedek [Lord our righteousness]."

Vs. 10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, and his rest shall be glorious.

Romans 15:12 (from the LXX) ; "And again Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust."

Zechariah 6:12-13  "And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:  vs.13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."

John Gill "...by the "cropping off" of this tender twig seems to be designed not the incarnation of the Messiah, but his sufferings and death; whereby  He was cut off, not for himself, but for the sins of his people, and in which His divine Father had  a considerable hand,..."

"...and will plant [it] on a high mountain and eminent"; which may be  expressive not of the incarnation of Christ, but rather of His ascension to heaven after His death,  and resurrection from the dead; and the constitution of Him upon that as Lord and Christ, or the  setting of him up as King over God's holy hill of Zion, the church of God: and no doubt but there is an allusion to Mount Zion, and to Jerusalem, from whence the Gospel first went forth, and  where the first Gospel church was planted; and being said to be on a mountain high and  eminent, may note both the visibility and stability of the church of Christ."

Matthew Henry ; "The house of David shall again be magnified, and out of its ashes another phoenix shall arise. The metaphor of a tree, which was made us of in the threatening, is here presented in the promise, Ezekiel 17:22-23.  This promise had its accomplishment in part when Zerubbabel, a branch of the house of David, was raised up to head the Jews in their return out of captivity, and to rebuild the city and temple and re-establish their church and state; but it was to have its full accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, who was a root out of a dry ground, and to whom God, according to promise, gave the throne of his father David, Luke 1:32".

".Our Lord Jesus was the highest Branch of the high cedar,  the furthest of all from the root (for soon after He appeared the house of David was all cut off and extinguished), but the nearest of all to heaven, for His kingdom was not of this world. He was taken from the top of the young twigs,  for He is the man, the Branch, a tender plant, and a root out of a dry ground (Isaiah 53:2), but a Branch of righteousness, the Planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

".The Christian church was at first like a grain of mustard seed, but became, like this tender branch, a great tree, its beginning small, but its latter end increasing to admiration. When the Gentiles flocked into the church then did the fowl of every wing (even the birds of prey, which those preyed upon, as the wolf and the lamb feeding together, Isaiah 11:6) come and dwell under the shadow of this goodly cedar. ."

"God himself will herein be glorified, The setting up of the Messiah's kingdom in the world shall discover more clearly than ever to the children of men that God is the King of all the earth,  Isaiah 4:2  ?In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.' Never was there a more full conviction given of this truth, that all things are governed by an infinitely wise and mighty Providence, than that which was given by the exaltation of Christ and the establishment of his kingdom among men; for by that it appeared that God has all hearts in his hand, and the sovereign disposal of all affairs. All the trees of the field shall know,."

".  All the enemies of Christ shall be abased and made His footstool, and His interests shall be confirmed and advanced: I the Lord have spoken (it is the decree, the declared decree, that Christ must be exalted, must be the headstone of the corner), and I have done it,  that is, I will do it in due time, but it is as sure to be done as if it were done already.."

J.R. Thompson (Pulpit Commetary) ; "After words of darkness and ruin, there appears the wonderful Messianic prophecy of restoration and future blessings. Sometimes this prophecy is expressed in general terms; but here the personal Messiah is distinctly predicted under the image of a shoot taken from the fallen cedar.

I. THE PLANTING OF THE NEW CEDAR.

1. It is a cutting from the old cedar. That proud and once venerable tree has been cruelly torn by the fierce eagle. One of its topmost twigs has been carried away, for Jehoiachin has been taken to Babylon. But another shoot from the same tree is destined to a glorious future. Christ is of the stock of David. He is called God's Servant, "the Branch" (Zechariah 3:8). The people hailed Jesus as the "Son of David" (Matthew 20:30). Christ comes as a King, and he comes to fulfil God's ancient promises to David. He unites the present to the past, and accomplishes in himself what the throne of David had failed to attain.

2. It appears as a slender twig. It was said of the Christ, "He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground" (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus entered the world in the lowly estate of the infant Child of a poor woman, and his earthly life was one of humiliation and slight visible achievements.

3. It is planted on a mountain.

(1) At Zion. Christ appears on the holy hill of Zion. He was welcomed with hosannahs as he went up to Jerusalem. His truth first shone out of Judaism, and for the benefit of the people of Zion.

(2) In exaltation. Christ was exalted by God, although he presented a humble appearance to men.

(3) In a conspicuous place. Christ appeared openly before men. His gospel is for the world.

II. THE GROWTH OF THE NEW CEDAR.

1. It is to grow in size. It shall bring forth boughs. The cutting becomes a cedar tree. The mustard seed grows into a great tree. Christ not only grewin stature, wisdom, and grace as a Child (Luke 2:14). He grew in power afterwards, being made perfect by the things that he suffered (Hebrews 5:8, 9), and being exalted to the right hand of God on account of his great self sacrifice at the cross. Christ continues to grow in the extension of his kingdom, in the progress of the Church, which is his body.

2. It is to be fruitful. "And bear fruit." This cedar is to share the merits of the vine. Great as the monarch of Lebanon is it is to be fruitful as the tender plants of the vineyard. Christ is not only great and exalted, and ever growing in the power of his kingdom. He gives out grace. His fruit is for the healing of the nations. He is the Bread of life, and his people feed upon him. Christianity is not merely a big success, like Mohammedanism. It is a blessing to the world as beneficent as it is victorious. The great Oriental monarchies were destructive, bringing a blast from the desert over the countries they conquered. The kingdom of heaven is healthful and fertilizing, promoting goodness, enterprise, civilization. We do not simply admire a great Lord in his solitary grandeur, like some awful, barren, Alpine peak. We are grateful to One who is as a fruitful tree.

3. It is to afford shelter. The birds are to roost in its branches, and take refuge from the storm under its foliage. So was it to be with the mustard tree (Matthew 13:31).

(1) Christ is a Refuge.

(2) His shelter is for all who need him, as under the cedar "shall dwell all fowl of every wing."

J.D. Davies (Pulpit commentary) ; ". As a word from him started into being the material globes, so a word from him shall "create new heavens and a new earth." The promised good is imaged in a prosperous tree.

I. A TENDER SHOOT PLANTED. "I will take the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it." This is but a variation of Isaiah's prediction that a rod should spring out of the stem of Jesse. and a branch spring from his root. As the cedar was the most renowned among their trees, so the dynasty of David was the most illustrious of their princely families. Of this ancestral tree should the Messiah spring. Commencements are always full of interest. They are pregnant with hope. The appearance of a new child awakens tire imagination; much more the opening of a new epoch, the founding of a new kingdom. In this case the interest is immeasurably enhanced because God himself is the immediate Actor. "I, saith Jehovah, I will do it."

II. THE GARDEN PLOT CHOSEN. "In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it." Mountains may not the best localities in which to plant trees. They flourish better if rooted in shady valleys or on alluvial plains.

But, inasmuch as the reference here is to the cedars of Lebanon, it is seemly that a mountain locality should be chosen. Still more is this appropriate when we consider that the language is metaphorical, and carries a spiritual meaning. The mountain here points to Zion ? the cradle of the Messianic kingdom. "Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." We are not to separate between this predicted king and his matchless kingdom. The Church "is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." In Jerusalem this new empire was founded; from the literal Mount Zion the first heralds and ambassadors went forth. And the Church is a moral elevation. It stands above the common level of human life. It holds a conspicuous place in the earth. Still is it true that "the Lord is King in Zion."

III. ITS GROWTH AND BEAUTY. "It shall bring forth boughs.., and be a goodly cedar." From a small beginning it shall steadily develop and increase. Nature is prolific in growth, especially in favoured places; but this growth shall transcend nature ? it shall awaken on all sides surprise and admiration. The fulfilment has been equal to the promise. From a feeble and despised beginning it has become already a splendid empire. It has sent its boughs into every land; and, like the drooping branches of the banyan tree, these have taken root and commenced a new life. It has sent its plastic influence into every department and province of human life. It is symmetrical in its proportions, graceful in outline, replete with beauty ?"a goodly cedar."

IV. ITS FRUITFULNESS. It shall "bear fruit." It is said of the tree of life, seen in the Apocalyptic vision, that it bore twelve manner of "fruits, and yielded her fruit each month." Of this goodly tree it may with truth be said that it yields an infinite variety of fruits. It would be difficult to enumerate them. Knowledge, wisdom, pardon, hope, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, temperance, forbearance, strength, love, conquest over sin, victory over death, ? these are a few of the fruits gathered from this generous tree. As years roll on, the productiveness of this tree, instead of diminishing, increases. There is no human want that cannot here find a suitable supply.

V. ITS WORLDWIDE USEFULNESS. "Under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing." This description is parallel to the language of our Lord himself, when he likened his kingdom to a grain of mustard seed, which, having sprung into a tree, all the fowls of the heavens lodge in the branches thereof. Under the sceptre of King Jesus every useful thing is sheltered ? childhood is protected, womanhood is honoured, good legislation spreads, commerce prospers, art and science grow, every beneficent institution is nurtured. Beneath the regis of this gracious Monarch human life is enhanced in value, lands are recovered from desolation, Music learns to tune her lyre, international concord abounds. The world of man is gradually revolutionized and beautified.

VI. THE CERTAINTY OF THE EVENT. "I the Lord have spoken and have done it." God's word is equivalent to a deed; his promise is equal to a performance. With him a volition is omnipotent; therefore he speaks of things that are not as though they were. At the Creation a single word was sufficient. "He spake, and it was done;" "By the breath of the Lord were the heavens made." So in the redemption of the world a word was enough.

Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word ? never! When the Son of God walked our earth, a word from him sufficed forevery occasion. If he spake, the tempest slept, the fig tree withered, disease vanished, the grave gave up its dead, vice was conquered. He smiles, and men live. He frowns, and the earth quakes. It' only God has spoken, we may wait with confidence and calmness for the performance.

VII. THE EVENT SHALL BRING UNIVERSAL HONOUR TO JEHOVAH. "All the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord" have done it. In other words, all kings and statesmen shall learn that "I Jehovah am supreme ? am King over all mankind." "By me kings rule;" "He putteth down one, and setteth up another." And has not this prophecy been fulfilled? Has not faith in idols ceased among most of the civilized nations?

Has not our God obtained for himself great renown? There is a more intelligent belief in God today than ever there has been in the past; and this admiration of God grows and strengthens. The number of real atheists is small; they are the units. Men of intelligence and culture confess that there is, behind all the machinery of the visible world, an Unseen Power ? the hand of the wonder-working God! Waves of scepticism may now and again pass over the surface of human thought; but these are soon spent; and when they are past, there is seen the solid rock of intelligent belief and reverent faith. His Name shall eventually shine resplendent as the noonday sun."

Albert Barnes; The highest branch of the high cedar - "The rightful representative of the royal house of David, the Messiah.

Tender one - The Messiah. This prophecy rests upon Isa_11:1, Isa_11:10.

Eze 17:23 - In the mountain of the height of Israel - The parallel passage Eze_20:40 points to the mountain on which the temple stood. But it is not here the actual Mount Moriah so much as the kingdom of which that mountain was the representative, the seat of the throne of the anointed Son of God (Psa_2:6; compare Psa_40:2).

All fowl of every wing - (or, of every kind) are those who flock from all lands to this kingdom. Compare Mat_13:32.

The prophet brings prominently forward the future exaltation of the king; and he furnishes us thereby with hope, encouragement, and consolation, at such times as we see the Church of Christ in like depression."

Spurgeon;..."I see that forest stretched over sea and land, over mountain and valley. It is a forest of men. There stands the Pharisees, the self-righteous, the tyrants, the autocrats of haughty mien, the men of profound intellect with lofty brows;  the men that questioned God's government; the infidels who said "Atheos," (without God) "and denied His being. I see the high trees, that towered to such an elevation, and attracted so much admiration; and there, too, are the low trees contented to be low, for Christ of Nazareth was lowly. He whose disciples they are, came riding on an ass even in the day of His highest earthly triumph."

additional scriptures prophesying Christ Jesus Resurrection and exaltation 

Isaiah 49:5, LXX (Thomson version) ; " And now, thus saith the Lord, Who formed me from the womb to be His servant, to gather Jacob to Him, and Israel. I shall be gathered and glorified before the Lord. And My God shall be My strength."  [ the greek for "womb" as is in this verse is "koilia ]

Isaiah 49:5 Dead Sea Scroll : " And now says YHWH Who formed You from the womb to serve Him, to return Jacob to Him, and to gather Israel to Him, and I shall be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and My God shall be My Strength."

Isaiah 49:6-9 exposition is in the "Exaltation" portion of this study (see page 1 for download link)

Cross references :

Isaiah 49:5-13 Dead Sea Scrolls ; "... (5.) And now, says YHWH who formed You from the womb to serve Him, to return Jacob to Him,   and to gather Israel to Him, and I shall be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and My God shall be My strength. (6.) And He said, Is it a light thing from your being to me  a servant to raise up the tribes of Israel and to restore the Nazarenes of Jacob : I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, to be My Salvation {Yeshua] to the end of the earth. (7.). Thus says the Lord YHWH your Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to those despising his soul, to Him who the nation counts an abomination, to a Servant of rulers,  Kings shall see and arise, princes shall worship, for the sake of YHWH who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, shall choose You.  (8.) Thus says YHWH, In an excellent time have I heard You, and in a day of Salvation [Hebrew:Yeshua] I helped You: and I will preserve [or "make Nazarene "] You, and I will give You for a covenant of  the people, to raise up the earth, to cause them to inherit heritages of desolation; (9.) saying to the prisoners, Go out; to them that are in darkness, reveal yourselves upon all the mountains they shall feed, and in all the high places of their pastures. (10.) They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall it strike them the heat  nor the sun : for He has mercy on them shall lead them, and onto the springs of water He guides them. (11.) And I will set all my mountains as a roadway and My highways shall be exalted. (12.) Behold, these shall come from far: and behold, these from the north and west; and these from the land of China. (13.). Sing, O heavens; and rejoice, O earth; and break out into singing, O mountains: because YHWH has comforted his people, and on the afflicted He will have mercy." [FT]

[FT] see the Dead Sea Scrolls translated to English at  http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/qa-tran.htm

Jonah 2:2 {LXX, Thomson version} "and said: In my affliction I cried to the Lord my God, and He hearkened to me.Thou didst hear my cry from the womb of Hades, Thou didst hearken to my prayer;"

Psalm 110:3 LXX (Thomson version); "With thee shall be the government; in the day of thy power-in the splendours of thy holies from the womb : before the morning star I begot thee."
Micah 2:12 - 3:1  ¹² Jacob shall be completely gathered with all his people: I will surely receive the remnant of Israel; I will cause them to return together, as sheep in trouble, as a flock in the midst of their fold: they shall rush forth from among men through the breach made before them:  ¹³ they have broken through, and passed the gate, and gone out by it: and their king has gone out before them, and the Lord shall lead them.:"

Psalm 116:15-16 ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. ¹⁶ O Lord, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast burst by bonds asunder."

Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: (Greek; koilia|) so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all {things} he may have the pre-eminence."

John 17:4-5   ⁴ "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  ⁵ "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

John 17:10  ¹⁰ "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them."

Acts 3:13-15   ¹³ "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.  ¹⁴ "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,  ¹⁵ "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

I believe there is much significance in that the term "womb' (greek  koilia) There is of coarse the traditional meaning pf "womb" however it is used in the scriptures symbolically as well. 

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament has the following  out-takes ; "... Of hollows in the earth, "...

[my ft] here can the tomb of Christ be thought of ...

"e.g., of the underworld, Jonah 2:3,..." [my ft]

[my ft] Jonah 2:3  "Thou didst cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and the floods compassed me: all thy billows and thy waves have passed upon me."

This interesting word picture is also used elsewhere of the underworld as in Jonah 2:2 LXX ; " and said, I cried in my affliction to the Lord my God, and he hearkened to me, even to my cry out of the belly (koilia)) of hell (Hades) : thou heardest my voice." Jonah's (or "Jonas") experience is a symbol of Christ's resurrection.

Ephesians 4:9 says ; " Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?"

Jesus was transformed into His resurrected-glorified body in the tomb's "womb", as-it-were, early on Resurrection morning; cf. Psalm 110:3 LXX, much as a catapiller will undergo a tranformative metamorphysis in its cacoon and exiting in a complete change going from something bound in darkness and mystery to a glorious butterfly.

  Colossians 1:18 instructs us; "And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.", 

 Psalm 132:11, LXX ; "The Lord sware in truth to David, and He will not annul it, saying, Of the fruit of thy body ( the same Greek word koilia) will I set a King upon thy throne." or as the Douay-Rheims version has ; thee, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth. The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne."

And 1 Corinthians 15:20 "But now is Christ raised from the dead, {and} become the first-fruits of them that slept."

 The picture is clear; the earth's tomb or sepulcher that Jesus was placed in after His death on the cross would become the womb (figuratively speaking) or sealed cacoon or rather "womb" of Christ's transformed resurrection body."

The Pulpit Commentary : ".He proclaims alike, with the greatest distinctness, both the glory (Isaiah 9:6, 7; 42:1-8; 49:1-6) and the humiliation (Isaiah 49:7; 53:2-12), both the exaltation and the depression, of the Redeemer. And the event justified him, in both respects alike."

"... CHRIST'S EXALTATION AND GLORY. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"

(Philippians 2:9-12). Note the chief points of the exaltation. No sooner is he dead than he descends to Hades, "preaches to the spirits in prison," and deprives hell of its prey; then rises, "loosens the bonds of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it," cheers his "little flock" with his presence for forty days, ascends to heaven, and sits at God's right hand, King of kings and Lord of lords for evermore. On earth he has "a Name above every name."

" ...In heaven the angels worship him; he sits upon the great white throne, and before him are the four and twenty elders, and the host of angels, and the ten thousand thousand saints, and the song is sung, "Salvation unto our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb;" and all the angels stand about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fall on their face before the throne, and worship him, saying, "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 7:9-12).

John Gill ; " Ver. 5. And now, saith the Lord, &c.] Jehovah the Father, in confirmation of the call, office, and work of Christ, which he hath declared, Isaiah 49:1,3: that formed me from the womb to be his servant; who preordained him to this service before the world began, and prepared him for it from the womb of his mother Mary, by filling him with grace and wisdom and with the Spirit without measure; anointing him with the oil of gladness above his fellows, and so fitting him as man and Mediator for the preaching of the Gospel, and every other service he called him: to bring Jacob again, to him; the lost sheep of the house of Israel, God's elect among the Jews, which were as straying sheep; or all his chosen people, whether Jews or Gentiles, which were scattered abroad, and were afar off from God, whom Christ was to bring back again, and bring nigh unto God, and did:"...

..."And so it is by Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, and by the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and by Aquila: "yet shall I be glorious" in the eyes of the Lord; or "I shall be glorious,"[my ft]

[ft] the Dead Sea Scrolls has "...I shall be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and my God shall be my strength." Note also the apparent error in the King James Version (Massoretic Text) where it has "...Though Israel be not gathered."

&c.; as He was at His baptism and transfiguration on the mount; by the wonderful things done in heaven and on earth at the time of His death, at His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to heaven, and exaltation at the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers, angels, authorities, and powers, being subject to Him; and by the ministration of the Gospel in the Gentile world, and particularly when He shall reign gloriously in the latter day, and in the New Jerusalem church state:"

Matthew Henry ; "Though few of the Jewish nation were converted by Christ's preaching and miracles, and many of them loaded Him with ignominy and disgrace, yet God put honour upon Him, and made Him glorious, at His baptism, and in His transfiguration, spoke to Him from heaven, sent angels to minister to Him, made even His shameful death glorious by the many prodigies that attended it, much more His resurrection."

The writers of the Holy scriptures as well as the early church "fathers" show clearly that the word "gather" is used often in the context of our being assembled with the Lord Himself:

Psalm 102:22 "When the people are assembled, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD."

John 11:51-52 (KJV)" And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; ⁵² And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."

Clement taught (2Cl 2 Clement 17:4) For the Lord said," I come to gather together all the nations, tribes, and tongues." This He speaketh of the day of His appearing, when He shall come and redeem us, each one according to his works.

Clement (2Cl 2 Clement 17:3) "And let us not think to give heed and believe now only, while we are admonished by the presbyters, but also when we have returned home, remembering the commandments of the Lord; and let us not be dragged away by worldly lusts, but coming more frequently let us attempt to make advances in the commandments of the Lord, that all being of the same mind we may be gathered together unto life."

Justin Martyr ( MPo Martyrdom of Polycarp 22:3 ) "...that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me along with His elect into His heavenly kingdom, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

STUDY SUPLIMENTALS

The Exaltation of the Messiah Prophecies
{click on study links below} 
 

our resurrection union with Christ (in a pdf document)

a work in progress. add your own input to this document by clicking on a feedback tab in the "post your comments" section in the right column of this page (subject to review)

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The photo seen above (in particular the photo with a circled word, written in Hebrew) is one of thousands of Dead Sea Scroll fragments of the era "Before Christ" found near Qumran in the Northwest caves near the Dead Sea in Israel.  Greek Old Testament fragments from the text family known as the Septuagint Old Testament Bible found nearby ( "Septuagint" means "seventy" in reference to the seventy Jewish scholars who translated the text from ancient Hebrew Bible texts, abbreviated as "LXX")  as well as Hebrew texts attest to the genuine nature of prophecies concerning Jesus. Such scrolls and fragments similar to these have hushed many critics and their criticisms targeting the truths and prophetic fulfillment of Jesus Christ. The greater portion of the "Dead Sea (Biblical) scrolls" are the same texts that we find written in the Old testament today. However, as this study will show, there are several instances where the Septuagint texts speak of the Messiah/Christ to be resurrected that are not found in most of our Bibles today!   "For I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and {from} the things which are written in this book. He who testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ {be} with you all. Amen."  Revelation 22:18-2           Jim Elliot's (martyred missionary) treasured recorded audio sermon on this very subject of Christ's Resurrection prophecies in the Old Testament, click on the link below: http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/docs/elliotsermons.html click on the link above and this will take you to the Wheaton College/ Billy Graham Center "Archives" sermon: "Resurrection" recorded in 1951. Right click on the Resurrection Sermon button and choose "Save as" to download the file to your hard drive.  This is in my estimation one of the most anointed and attention-commanding sermons ever recorded on tape. (there is some background "hum" noise so you may want to turn down your bass settings and understand that due to ambiant (background) sounds in the room and the propensity of our flesh to distraction and drowsiness, Elliot effectively uses forceful vocalization as well as the pounding on the pulpit better than any judge uses his commanding speech and the gavel in a courtroom!) Search instructions When using an Internet Explorer browser window try clicking on "Edit" and then select  "Find (on this page)"  then enter the word(s) you are looking for in the "Find What:" field.   Fonts: free Greek and Hebrew fonts are available at:    http://www.bibleworks.com/fonts.html   unless you are viewing one of the documents on this website in a PDF doc., you must have the Greek and Hebrew fonts such as GraecaII and HebraicaII or BWGRKL or BWHEBL installed on your computer in order to view the Greek and Hebrew fonts within the documents. Without the fonts installed on your computer it may have a strange substitute such as a scan bar code!

online Greek Septuagint (registration reqd., however it is free) this is an interlinear version and Grk. fonts are not required to be installed on your computer. The text is from the "Vatican manuscript codex B, or Sixtine edition." There is an online version of Rhalf's LXX  (very early texts) however, be ready to acquint yourself with the explaination for the accompanying code at  http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/gopher/text/religion/biblical/parallel/ Should you desire that I send you a specific passage from Rhalf's Greek text, I will attempt to email it to you in a pdf. document. (time permitting) online Greek septuagint LXX (source text unk.) free; no registration Brenton's Septuagint (from Vaticanus) with English translation This is Greek text with an English translation. I prefer Charles Thomson's English translation to this one. Non Biblical historic witnesses (accounts and other evidences) of Jesus Christ's Resurrection (click on this) After downloading this file you will occasionally find text in brackets. The text in brackets is supplied as portions are lost due to antiquity and the accompanying deterioration. Non Biblical historic witnesses (accounts and other evidences) of Jesus Christ's Resurrection as a pdf file (click on this) After downloading this file you will occasionally find text in brackets. The text in brackets is supplied as portions are lost due to antiquity and the accompanying deterioration.   Charles Thomson wrote: " As the quotations which the writers of the New Testament made from the Old (Testament), either to show the predictions of the prophets are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, or to confirm and enforce the doctrines they delivered, or convey their own thought on different subjects, are chiefly taken from the Septuagint; and as, upon inquiry, I could not find that there was any translation of this into English"   Whereby he (Thomson) set upon to translate this most noble and massive undertaking himself!   Charles Thomson had two Doctorates of Law (L.LD.)  ( whether they were "earned" or "honorary" degrees is unclear from his history); one from the University of Pennsylvania (1784) and the other from Princeton (1822).   The following links will take you directly to "Google Books" where you may freely view, search, and/or download (in a pdf file) Charles Thomson's unedited Septuagint (Greek Old Testament translated by Thomson himself into English) and his New Testament  (merely click on the link or highlight the link, copy it to your clipboard, and paste the address into the URL / web address bar at the top of this browser. Click on the "back" button at top left to return to this website):  Gen. 1:1-1Sam. 31   http://books.google.com/books?id=ZUsXAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:05gNc5qqHto9jbycpLA#PPP9,M1   2 Kings 1-Psalms 150 (and 151)   http://books.google.com/books?id=s0sXAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=holy+bible+commonly+called+by+charles+thomson#PRA6-PT172,M1   2 Chronicles 1:1-end of the Old Testament This is the same as Charles Thomson's version however it has a British publisher who includes annotations (not in the Biblical text) .   http://books.google.com/books?id=b88UAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA9-PA19&dq=holy+bible+commonly+called+by+charles+thomson+pells&as_brr=1#PPP1,M1   New Testament (this translation of the Textus Receptus/Authorized version is very rare !)   http://books.google.com/books?id=VR0WAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:05gNc5qqHto9jbycpLA#PPA19,M1