In those days, &c.— Verily in those days ten men, &c. Christians are sometimes called by the name of Jews, or confessors of the true religion, as being those to whom the promises made to the fathers of the Jewish nation chiefly belong. In this sense the word is to be taken here. The sense of the passage, therefore, is, that the heathen shall apply themselves to the Christian pastors and ministers for instruction, in order to qualify themselves for being admitted into the church. The skirt of the garment, is that mentioned Numbers 15:38. Deuteronomy 22:12.Matthew 9:20. This distinguished the Jews from other nations, and is therefore mentioned here with singular propriety; so that the address which these strangers were to make may be thus interpreted in the letter, and with a view to the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. "We have understood how miraculously God hath restored you to your country, rebuilt your temple, and either reconciled your enemies to you, or subdued them; and hence we are convinced that the God who foretold and wrought these things is the true God." See Psalms 126:2. Calmet, and Grotius.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, God keepeth not his anger for ever, if we will return unto him. He is always gracious towards the penitent.
1. He will be jealous for Zion with great jealousy, concerned to vindicate her honour, and avenge her wrongs; and therefore with great fury shall his vengeance light on her enemies.
2. He will return to Zion; he speaks of it as already done: and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, manifesting his gracious presence to them at the temple, and meeting them in his ordinances; and this was most eminently fulfilled, when the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among them.
3. He will work a glorious change on the place and people. Jerusalem shall be a city of truth, eminent for integrity and honesty; the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, where he condescends to take up his abode, the holy mountain, cleared from all idolatry, and pure before God. The church of Christ is the pillar and ground of truth; in it all truth of doctrine and uprightness of conversation are found; and on the heart of every living member thereof there is written, Holiness to the Lord.
4. He will give them long life, peace, and prosperity. No disease shall sweep them off, nor war spread its ravages among them; but in the streets shall vigorous old age appear; and, though time has impaired much of nature's strength, the staff shall still support the hoary head; while the rising generation, numerous and healthful, shall in youthful exercises mix in the streets, secure from fear of evil. In the church are found fathers in Christ, young men and children, a multitude of converts, each adorning their place and station, and ripening for glory.
5. He will save the dispersed of Israel from Babylon and Egypt, and bring them back to their own land; and, better than all their other mercies, he will take all that will believe again into the covenant, and engage their hearts unto himself. They shall be my people; returning to him, he will enable them to be so, by his preventing and converting grace; and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness, faithful to all his promises. And this seems to have regard to all the faithful Israel of God, whom he will receive into the arms of his love; by his grace engage in his service; and, through the infinite merit and intercession of Jesus, God will be their God, to bless, preserve, and keep them, their portion and exceeding great reward.
6. However incredible this may seem, and marvellous, with God all things are possible; and therefore, strange as it is, it will be found true, for all the faithful. If we can believe, we shall see the salvation of God.
2nd, We have,
1. The great encouragements given to the people who, attentive to the voice of God's prophets, laboured zealously to further the work of the temple; for they who are faithful to him, may expect comfort from him. They had laboured under many difficulties during the time when God's house was neglected; there was no hire for man or beasts, trade was dead, and the produce of the earth so little, that few hands were needed to reap and gather it. Their enemies on every side made inroads upon them, and robbers in their own country made travelling dangerous, and no man's property was secure: and an evil spirit of dissension and strife was sown among themselves, so that every one seemed set against his neighbour; but now God will change his manner of acting towards them. Their ground shall produce abundantly; and, enriched with all manner of store, they shall possess their good things undisturbed. Instead of that reproach which they had suffered among the heathen, now God will save them in so distinguished a manner, that all who beheld them would acknowledge them to be the blessed of the Lord; and their example and labours would make them a blessing to all around them. As surely as he had threatened to punish their fathers, and had done it as they had seen, so surely now will he do well unto his returning Israel. They may, therefore, confidently hope to see the fulfilment of all his promises, and should neither fear the multitude of their enemies, nor the difficulties in their way; but be strong in the assurance of divine support; and this is the powerful argument to engage all believers to work out their own salvation, because it is God who worketh in them to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2. Their duty is set before them; the same which the prophets had inculcated upon their disobedient fathers of old. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour, in simplicity, putting away falsehood, deceit, and all prevarication; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: let justice be impartially administered, and seek to heal all differences. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour, not entertain an ill wish, nor harbour an ill surmise against any of them; and love no false oath, but abhor and discountenance every thing which may lead thereunto: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord, and therefore we should hate them also.
3rdly, They had put a question to their prophet, chap. Zechariah 7:3 concerning their public fasts, and it is here fully answered.
1. A happy period is put to their public fasts, and they shall be turned into days of rejoicing. For now, when God will restore Jerusalem, and rear up again his temple, the memory of those melancholy scenes of desolations, on account of which those fasts were instituted, shall be lost in the joy and gladness arising from their present happy estate. Therefore love truth and peace; let this be the grateful return that you make for the divine mercies bestowed upon you.
2. God promises to enlarge them abundantly with multitudes of proselytes; or this has rather a more immediate reference to the times of the Gospel, when the Gentiles should come into the church of Christ. The inhabitants of many cities, among whom the apostles and others preached, shall become obedient to the faith, and solicitous for the salvation of others; each shall say to his neighbour, Come, and let us go speedily to pray before the Lord; no longer lying down in their former state of blindness and guilt, but, without delay, seeking the Lord of Hosts, while yet he may be found; and in fervent and importunate prayer, the language of every truly converted soul, eager to obtain mercy and acceptance before him: I will go also, shall one say to another, glad to join the happy company, and hasting to the courts of Zion. Multitudes out of all nations shall assemble for this blessed purpose and then the name of the Jew shall be no longer hated or despised; but ten men out of all languages, many converted by the preaching of the apostles and other ministers of Christ, shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, the first preachers of the Gospel being chiefly of that nation, saying, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you; the divine Redeemer being of the stock of Israel after the flesh, to whom it was promised of old that the gathering of the people should be, and to whom the ministers of truth desire to lead the souls that are under their care. Note; (1.) Every truly converted soul will delight in seeking the Lord for all the blessings and privileges of the Gospel. (2.) They who have themselves tasted that the Lord is gracious, cannot but be solicitous that others should come and partake of their mercies. (3.) A gracious purpose should be executed speedily; delays are dangerous.