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| 1 For Zion's sake I am not silent, And for Jerusalem's sake I do not rest, Till her righteousness go out as brightness, And her salvation, as a torch that burneth. |
For Zion's sake – The typical Zion is the Jewish nation; and the antitypical Zion is the glorified Christ. Thus the blessings of the Church, on the spirit plane, will have their counterpart on the earthly plane with the Ancient Worthies. R4913:3
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| 2 And nations have seen thy righteousness, And all kings thine honour, And He is giving to thee a new name, That the mouth of Jehovah doth define. |
A new name – "She shall be called, "Jehovah our Righteousness or the Righteousness of Jehovah." (Jer. 33:16) R4913:3
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| 3 And thou hast been a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, And a diadem of royalty in the hand of thy God, |
Crown of glory – Each jewel will be placed in its particular setting by Jehovah. "God hath set the members in the body." (1 Cor. 12:18) R4913:6; HG607:1
Royal diadem – A lamp. R1389:1
A beautiful ornament in the divine hand. R4913:3; CR333:2
Our Lord Jesus was the first setting in this great diadem, followed by his members. R4913:6
The "crown" and "diadem" express practically the same thought, the repetition making the sentiment doubly impressive. A diadem is a crown. HG606:6
Set in the gold of the divine nature. OV424:4
Hand of thy God – The Church, in the hand of our God, is to be exhibited to angels and to men as a marvelous piece of workmanship. OV424:4; R4914:1; CR333:2; HG606:6
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| 4 It is not said of thee any more, 'Forsaken!' And of thy land it is not said any more, 'Desolate,' For to thee is cried, 'My delight [is] in her,' And to thy land, 'Married,' For Jehovah hath delighted in thee, And thy land is married. |
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| 5 For a young man doth marry a virgin, Thy Builders do marry thee, With the joy of a bridegroom over a bride, Rejoice over thee doth thy God. |
God rejoice over thee – Jehovah will rejoice over the restored land of Israel. R1389:1
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| 6 'On thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen, All the day, and all the night, Continually, they are not silent.' O ye remembrancers of Jehovah, Keep not silence for yourselves, |
I have set watchmen – Prophets and others--God's care. R1795:6
We examine with close scrutiny the words and communications of the brethren who labor among us, for God hath set them as watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. (Words fitly spoken, commanding our attention and respect--Editor.) R309:1, 6*
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| 7 And give not silence to Him, Till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem A praise in the earth. |
Jerusalem – The heavenly and the earthly. R309:1*
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| 8 Sworn hath Jehovah by His right hand, Even by the arm of His strength: 'I give not thy corn any more [as] food for thine enemies, Nor do sons of a stranger drink thy new wine, For which thou hast laboured. |
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| 9 For, those gathering it do eat it, and have praised Jehovah, And those collecting it do drink it in My holy courts.' |
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| 10 Pass ye on, pass on through the gates, Prepare ye the way of the people, Raise up, raise up the highway, clear it from stones, Lift up an ensign over the peoples. |
Through the gates – In the Millennial Kingdom the gates of faithful obedience will be clearly seen and easily accessible to all. R1771:5
Prepare ye – Ye: the true Church. B31; R1771:3
Preparations for the incoming age. No provision for the proud, haughty, self-conscious, but all for the humble-minded. R5218:5; E240
Cast up the highway – "And an highway shall be there." (Isa. 35:8) A215-218; R1055:3, E240
Not a "narrow way" of sacrifice, for the day of sacrifice will be past. E240
That highway will lead to the perfection of human nature. R860:4
The mountain of difficulty shall be leveled and the valleys of despair and discouragement shall be filled up. R1772:6
The Millennial King's highway will have an upward grade. R1772:5, R1771:5
Gather out the stones – The stumbling stones, error, temptation. etc. A217; R1248:2, R860:2, R3673:5, R2610:2, R542:4*
None of the licensed (or unlicensed) evils of the present day will find a place under the glorious reign of righteousness. R1248:2, R1520:6
Lift up a standard – The true standard--the "cross of Christ," the "Ransom." R3673:5
The truth. A217
Pointing to the outcome of God's plan. B31
Time, talent, money, should be spent in lifting up the truth. R1029:4
The Vow represents a very high standard of Christian living. R4266:1
For the people – "We are made a spectacle unto the world." (1 Cor. 4:9) Q744:T, F231
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| 11 Lo, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth: 'Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Lo, thy salvation hath come,' Lo, his hire [is] with him, and his wage before him. |
Salvation cometh – Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and that of Zech. 9:9 when he rode into Jerusalem upon the ass. (Matt. 21:5) R3850:6
With the second advent of the Lord. F664
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| 12 And they have cried to them, 'People of the Holy One, Redeemed of Jehovah,' Yea, to thee is called, 'Sought out one, a city not forsaken!' |
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