Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/6_500.lzh/6_569.TXT

Text File | 1994-11-10 | 7KB | 126 lines

tree, as one goes up 'to the top of a fig-tree; and it is
said {q}, he that prays on the top of an olive-tree, or on
the top of a fig-tree must come down, and pray below;
and again {r}, R. Ja, cob and his .companions were fasting,
studying in the law, under a certain fig-tree; and
sometimes they speak of all these together, of sitting
under olives, and under vines, and under fig-trees, and
studying in the words of the law {}; see John i. 48. This
is to be understood, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi explain
it, of all men; not of the Israelites only, but of all na-
tionS, since there wi14 be no more war any where; hence
it follows: and none shall make them afraid; the ene-
mies of God's people will be no more, neither Turk
nor pope, eastern or western antichrist, beast or,false
prophet; wherefore, in those days of the Messiah, Ju-
dab shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, even
all t, he spiritual Israel of God,.Jews and Gentile.s ;there
shall be none to hurt in the holy mountain of the
Lord, or any violence and oppression, wasting and de-
struction, any where; see Jer. xxiii. 5. In. xi. 9. and
Ix. 18: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts .hath. spoken
it; w,ho speaks nothing but truth, and who i.s able and
faithful to perform what he has spoken; and therefore
all this may be depended on.
Ver. 5. For all people will walk every one in the name
of his god, &c.] Till those times come before de-
scribed; when many nations and people shall flock to
the church, and there shall be such general peace and
tranquillity as here promised; till then the nations of
the earth shall retain their former religion, and the
profession of it, with constancy, till they are otherwise
instructed, as Aben Ezra; or till the Messiah shall
turn them into the right way, as Kimchi; till that time
comes, the Pagans will worship their idols, and con-
tinue in the idolatry of their ancestors; the Papists will
retain their image-worship, and hold to their lord god
the pope, as they carl him; the Mahometans will
cleave to their prophet, and walk according to the
rules he has left them to observe. Jarchi's note is,
"they shall go to destruction because of their ido-
"In, try;" with which he says the Targum agrees,
which is," all nations shall go according to the idols
"they have worshipped ;" or, as the king of Spain's
Bible," they shall be guilty or condemned because
"they have worshipped idols :" and we will walk in the
nameof the Lord our God for. ever and ever; both. in the
mean while, and when those happy times shall come,
and so through all generations as long as the world
stands. This is the language of those that know the
Lord, believe in him, and sincerely serve him; who de-
termine in the strength of divine grace to continue in
their profession of faith of him, in his worship arid ser-
vice, in his ways, truths, and ordinances, whatever
others,do; and indeed are the more ani'mated to it,
when they observe how constant and steadfast idola-
ters, Pagans, Papists, and Mahometans, are in their
false worship, both in the profession and practice of it.
The Targum is," we will -trust in the Word of the
"Lord our God for ever and ever ;" in Christ the es-
sentiai Word; and so the phrase is expressive of faith,
and a profession of faith. in him; and of constant .at-
tendance upon his word .and ordinances.
Vet: 6. In that day, saith the-Lord, will I assemble
her that halteth, &c.] The Jews or ISraelites so de-
scribed; no, t from tho halting of Jacob their father, as
Abarbinel thinks; nor because of their halting between
two opinionS, worshipping .both the true God and
idols, as in the times of Elijah; for this will not suit
with the Jews in their present state; but because they
were like lame and maimed sheep, to which the allu-
sion is; or because they were guilty of sins, which
are sometimes expressed by halting, Jer. xx. 10.
Psal. xxxviii. 1G, 17. The word signifies such that
go side-way, and not uprightly; and fitly describes
such who deviate from the ways of God, and walk not
according to the divine word: now in that day or time
before referred to, the last days of the Gospel dispen-.
sation, the Lord will convert the Jews; or heal these
lame and maimed ones, so Jarchi interprets the word;
Or will gather them by his spirit and grace to the Mes-
siah, and assemble them into his church, and among
his people, and.bring them into the sheep-fold, under
the care of the one Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ:
and I will gather her. that is driven out; out of the land.
of Israel, and scattered among the nations of the
world; even driven out by' the Lord himself, because
of their transgressions against him; see Jer. xvi. 15.
and xxiv. 9: and her that J have afflicted ; with various
calamities, with famine and sword, with captivity and
poverty; the Targum adds," for the sins of my peo-
"pie ;" the Israelites for their idolatry, and the Jews
for the rejection of the Messi0,h, and other sins.
Ver. 7. And I will make her that halted a remnant,
&c.] That is, make a reserve of her, and not utterly
cut her off for her halting or sinning; that the.re may
be a seed, a posterity descending from her, that shall.
serve the Lord, and appear to be a remnant according
to the election of grace; which will be the persons
called and gathered in the latter day: and her that was
cast afar off a strong nation; Kimchi.thinks this refers
to the ten tribes that were carried far off into Media
and other parts, 2 Kings xvii. 6, who shall now be a
mighty and numerous .people; and especially shall be
strong in a spiritual sense in the Lord, and in the power
of his might, in Christ and his grace, and in thefaith
of him; see Isa. lx. 22. Zech.- xii. 8: and the Lordshall
reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even t or
ever; that is, ChriSt, who is Jehovah our righteousness,
shall reign over the converted Jews and Israelites in the
church of God, often signified by Mount .Zion; where
they shall be assembled, and shall acknowledge him
as their King, and be subject to his word and ordi-
nances, and never more depart from him; nor will his
government over them ever cease more, Luke i. 32, 33.
This shews that this prophecy refers not to the tint
times of the Gospel; for then the Jews 'would not have
him to reign over them; but to times yet to come,' the
last days of the Gospel dispensation.
Ver. 8. And thou, 0 tower of the flock, &c.] The
words Migdal Eder are left by some untranslated, and


{q} T. Hieros. Beracot, c. 2. fol. 5. 1.
{r} Ib. col. 3.
{s} Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 16. 4.