The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee
Honour done to the Church
A promise like this is made to the Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:9); and it is intended to be--
1.
A mortification to the proud oppressors of the Church.
2. An exaltation to the poor, oppressed ones of the Church.
3. And this is the honour that shall be done them: they shall have an opportunity of doing good to those who have done evil to them, and saving those alive that have afflicted and despised them. It is a pleasure to a good man, and he accounts it an honour, to show mercy to those with whom he has found no mercy. (M. Henry.)
The city of the Lord
The city of the Lord
1. He hath built it for the honour of His majesty.
2. It bears His name.
3. He hath fortified it with impregnable walls and bulwarks.
4. He hath beautified it with the graces of His spirit.
5. He hath replenished it with the blessings of His goodness.
6. He hath felicitated it with His gracious presence.
7. It is the city wherein reside the peculiar people of God, who are the beloved of the Lord, on whom His eyes and His heart are continually fixed.
8. He esteems it above all the kingdoms and empires of the world. (R. Macculloch.)
An ideal city
That city is truly great and honourable, it is strong, it is rich, it is safe, it is beautiful, it is the most desirable place that can be to live in, which is the city of the Lord, which He owns, in which He dwells, in which religion is uppermost. (M. Henry.)