- The glory:
- That is, the cedar; and as the choice timber of Lebanon beautified Solomon's temple, that footstool of Jehovah; so shall the peculiar advantages of every nation, and of every description of men, concur to beautify the church of Christ, which He has determined to make glorious. The language then becomes more energetic, and the images employed more grand and magnificent; and nothing can answer to the glorious description but some future exalted state of the church on earth, or the church triumphant in heaven; though several expressions seem to limit it to the church below. "It shall blossom²° abundantly,ª° and rejoiceª° even¹ with joyª and singing:²°¹ the gloryª of Lebanonª shall be givenª° unto it, the excellencyª of Carmelª and Sharon,ª they¹ shall seeª° the gloryª of the LORD,ª [and] the excellencyª of our God.ª" {Isa 35:2} + "I will plantª° in the wildernessª the cedar,ª the shittah tree,ª and the myrtle,ª and the oilª tree;ª I will setª° in the desertª the fir tree,ª [and] the pine,ª and the box treeª together:ª ... That¹ they may see,ª° and know,ª° and consider,ª° and understandª° together,ª that¹ the handª of the LORDª hath doneª° this,¹ and the Holy Oneª of Israelª hath createdª° it." {Isa 41:19-20} + "Instead¹ of the thornª shall come upª° the fir tree,ª and instead¹ of the brierª shall come upª° the myrtle tree:ª and it shall be¹ to the LORDª for a name,ª for an everlastingª signª [that] shall not¹ be cut off.ª°" {Isa 55:13} + "His branchesª shall spread,²°¹ and his beautyª shall be¹ as the olive tree,ª and his smellª as Lebanon.ª ... They that dwellª° under his shadowª shall return;ª° they shall reviveª° [as] the corn,ª and growª° as the vine:ª the scentª thereof [shall be] as the wineª of Lebanon.ª" {Hsa 14:6-7}
|
