In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David [shall be] as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
Ver. 8. In that day shall the Lord defend, &c.] Prosequitur eandem sententiam, saith Calvin. He proceeds in the former argument to assure the feeble Jews (as Sanballat, that proud haughty scorner, called them, Nehemiah 4:2 Pro 21:24) of safety and protection. God will bless the righteous; with favour will he compass them as with a shield, Psalms 5:12. Now there is no coming at the body but through the shield, if well handled; no coming at the saints but through God's own sides, as I may say. He beareth his people as on eagles' wings, Exo 19:4 Deuteronomy 32:11. Now the eagle carries her young upon her wings (and not between her talons, as other birds do), so that they cannot be shot but through the body of the old one. Oh the dignity and safety of a saint! Well might Moses sing, "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places," Deuteronomy 33:29. Let all that would be safe indeed, as in a tower of brass or town of war, labour to be found written among the living in Jerusalem, Isaiah 4:3, to be of the Church of the firstborn which are enrolled in heaven, Hebrews 12:23, like as in Jerusalem were records kept of the names of all the citizens, Psalms 48:3. Get under God's wing, and nothing can annoy thee. As if he be angry, where shall a man shelter? Brass and iron can fence him against a bullet or a sword; but if he be cast into a furnace of fire, it would help to torment him; if into a pit of water, to sink him. Now "our God is a consuming fire," Hebrews 12:29, and his breath a stream of brimstone, Isaiah 30:33. To run from him to other refuge is but for a man to run his head into a barrel of gunpowder for a shelter against the force of a fire kindled over him.
And he that is feeble among them] So that he cannot stand, but stagger (as the word importeth), as did Miles Cobelite, a Christian soldier, sore wounded, so that he reeled like a drunken man, and fell down many times, for want of strength. This man, drawing nigh to Amurath, the third King of the Turks, as he was viewing the dead bodies after a bloody fight, making as if he would have craved his life of him, suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his belly with a short dagger which he had under his soldier's coat; of which wound that great king and conqueror presently died.
Shall be as David] Who was a mighty man of valour (as Hushai told Absalom, and bid him beware, 2Sa 17:8), and had such a band of worthies about him as were not to be matched, 2 Samuel 23:8. These had a house by themselves to dwell and exercise feats of arms; as Lyra gathereth out of Nehemiah 3:16, where mention is made of the house of the mighty. The Maccabees, slighted as abjects, did greater exploits and got greater victories than David had done; and the condition of this poor people was to be shortly after (sc. under the preaching of Christ's gospel) far better and happier than ever it had been under the rich and flourishing kingdom of David; for then they should be able to say, God's grace is sufficient for me; his strength is made perfect in my weakness. I will glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I can do all things, suffer all things, through Christ, that strengtheneth me. The weak shall say, I am strong, Joel 3:10. And, indeed, how can they be otherwise, that have a mighty strong God, Isaiah 9:6; a strong word, the Lord's own arm, the power of God to salvation, Rom 1:16 Acts 20:32; a strong spirit, 2 Timothy 1:7; strong consolations, Hebrews 6:18; strong armour, both offensive and defensive, Ephesians 6:18; and the name of the Lord as a strong tower, whereunto the righteous run and are safe, and where, waiting upon the Lord, they renew their strength, they mount up with wings as eagles, or rather as angels, Pro 18:10 Isaiah 40:31 .
For the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them] i.e. As Christ, the angel of God's presence, and that went before the people in the wilderness. Such were those of the blood royal, and that succeeded David in the government; but especially such were the apostles, Christ's mighties, who should be endued with so many graces in majesty, authority, strength, and truth, that men should receive them, Cornelius-like, as so many angels of God, yea, even as Christ Jesus, Galatians 4:14 .