Homilist Zechariah 2:10-13 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, see, I come, and I will dwell in the middle of you, said the LORD.… The words point to the bright periods when messiah's kingdom shall so extend as to embrace "many nations." Three remarks are suggested concerning this joy. I. It is RIGHTEOUS. It is not only Divinely authorised, but commanded. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion." Often we are informed by religious teachers that joy is a privilege, but seldom told that joy is a duty. It is as truly a sin against heaven to be spiritually gloomy and sad, as to be socially false and dishonest. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion." Similar commands are found elsewhere on the pages of Holy Writ. "Break forth into joy, sing together" (Isaiah 52:9). "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion" (Isaiah 12:6). Gratitude is joy; and ought not gratitude to fill every soul? Admiration is joy; and ought not every soul to be filled with admiration of the Divine excellence? Love is joy; and ought we not to love all creatures with the love of benevolence, and the Creater with the love of adoration? II. It is REASONABLE. But here are reasons suggested for this joy. What are they? 1. The presence of God. "Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." The highest happiness of an intelligent creature, is the presence of the object it supremely loves. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy." 2. The increase of the good. "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day." Is not this a good reason for joy — to see the clouds of error in the human sky breaking, dissolving, vanishing, and the Sun of Truth rising, spreading, and penetrating the whole earth with its lifegiving beams? Is not this a sublime reason for lifegiving joy — "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord," as the branches are joined to the roots of the tree, as the members of the body are joined to the head? 3. The restoration of the Jews. "For the Lord shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again." III. It is REVERENTIAL. "Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation." "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." The profoundest emotions of the Soul are always mute. Superficial feelings are noisy and chattering. The shallow stream rattles amongst the hills. The deep river rolls by unheard. Deep joy is silent as the stars. It is so with the godly soul. In the presence of the supremely beautiful, it is filled with a joy that cannot speak. If we are loyal subjects of the great spiritual empire, we might well be happy. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. |
    |