And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory [shall be] a defence.
Ver. 5. And the Lord will create.] For the safeguard and security of his peculiar people thus purified unto himself, Tit 2:14 and that they may serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all and every day of their lives. Luk 1:74-75 God, rather than fail, will "create," as he did of old in Egypt and the wilderness, "a cloud by day, a flaming fire by night"; against heat, a "tabernacle"; against storm and rain, a "covert"; anything, everything that heart can wish or need require: dux erit et defensor, lux erit et consolator. He will be to all his "a sun and a shield; he will give grace and glory," &c. Psa 84:11 Son 2:3
Upon every dwelling place.] Upon every private house, and place of his people's abode: their walls are continually before him. Isa 49:16 He loveth to look upon their habitations, and will hedge them about. Job 1:10
And upon her assemblies.] Or, Meeting places for God's services. Howbeit this is to be taken cum exceptione crucis: with the exception of the cross, the poor Protestants in France have not only been disturbed, but destroyed, at their church assemblies, by the Duke of Guise and other Popish persecutors. But the godly in such a case "glorify God in the very fire," and bear fruit in such a tempest by God's defence and benediction.
A cloud and smoke.] Or, A smokey cloud, alluding to that cloudy pillar Exodus 13:21 ; Exo 14:19 which was a cloud by day and a fire by night to Israel: so is Christ a cooling refreshment to his own in the scorching day of temptation or trouble, and a comfortable lamp of light to direct and protect them through the wilderness of this world. The cloud was spread over them for a covering, Psa 105:39 and sometimes came between them and their enemies behind them; Exo 14:19 and this was done in Egypt, where was no rain: how then was there a cloud? God "created it."
For upon all the glory.] Israel is called "God's glory"; Isa 46:13 the "house of his glory"; Isa 60:7 "a crown of glory"; Isa 62:3 a "throne of glory"; Jer 14:21 God's ornament; the beauty of his ornament, and that set in majesty; Eze 7:20 his royal "diadem"; Isa 62:3 his "jewels," Mal 3:17 which he wears, as great men do their jewels, to make him glorious in the eyes of men; they are the signet on his right hand. Isa 49:5
Shall be a covering] As the cloud covered the tabernacle, and as the rams' skins covered the ark from the violence of wind and weather; so will Christ the Church.