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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp 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 the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name. |
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 Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem 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 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
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| 5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. |
God rejoice over thee – Jehovah will rejoice over the restored land of Israel. R1389:1
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| 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that are Jehovah's remembrancers, take ye no rest, |
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 him no rest, 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 Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy grain to be food for thine enemies; and foreigners shall not drink thy new wine, for which thou hast labored: |
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| 9 but they that have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Jehovah; and they that have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my Holy. |
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| 10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up an ensign for 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 Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense 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 shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken. |
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