THE RIGHTEOUS CITY
‘[Jerusalem] shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.’
I. All God’s promises are at the same time fulfilled by the true man, the Son of Man, the pure sprout of David.—He will be a King, in whom we have perfect protection from all destructive agencies, for He will help us from sin, procuring and executing on earth justice and righteousness for all mankind. As we all together inherited sin and death from Adam, so Jesus by His righteousness has brought justification of life for all men, if we would now only take it with joy.
II. Jerusalem will itself bear the King’s name, as he was called in Jeremiah 23:6: Jehovah our Righteousness, i.e., that Jehovah bestows on us the righteousness, which is the bond, which at the same time unites us to the citizens of His celestial city. This is explained by the union of the Church with Christ (see Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:12; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 4:25; Ephesians 6:23-24; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24) so that what belongs to Him is communicated to her. Thus, by virtue of her mystical union with Christ, and by the imputation of His merits, and the infusion of His Spirit, the Name of the Church may be said to be ‘The Lord our Righteousness’; she hides herself in Him, and is seen by God as in Him; she is clothed with Christ the Sun of righteousness (see Revelation 12:1) and is accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
Illustrations
(1) ‘It is important to note the change of Israel into Jerusalem, this being founded in the connection of the chapter. While the general object of the prophet, as is seen in Ephesians 1:14, is to show that the comforting prophecy given in former times still holds good, notwithstanding the comfortless circumstances in which Jerusalem then was, being sorely pressed by the Chaldeans, yet he cannot avoid somewhat modifying the prophecy in accordance with the present occasion. This occasion, according to Ephesians 1:4, is the sight of the houses thrown down in defence. In view of this mournful spectacle he had in Ephesians 1:6-7 to promise healing of wounds, rebuilding of the city. He has also here the city of Jerusalem especially in view, though he does not by any means forget Israel but, on the contrary, diligently sets forth its share in the promise given to Judah (Ephesians 1:14). Hence the alteration to Jerusalem. With this it is also connected that the last clause states the name which Jerusalem will bear as a significant symbolical inscription.’
(2) ‘What a sublime gift is Hope, which founds itself on the Divine Word, penetrates the dark shadows of our immediate environment, and throws itself forward into the future, which it renders lustrous with roseate beauty! We need such hope at this time. Abroad and at home there are matters enough to fill the stoutest hearts with fear. But we look for the new heavens and earth, in which dwelleth righteousness; and amongst those glorious events which must soon begin to take place, may we not give a place to a literal fulfilment of the sweet words of this chapter?’