Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper… I. THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST. "A King" (Numbers 24:17; Psalm 2:6; Psalm 45:1; Isaiah 32:1; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:38; John 18:37; Revelation 17:14). There are three things we look for in a King. 1. Supreme power (Ephesians 1:21; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:9; Colossians 1:18). 2. Legislative authority. (1) Christ s authority to govern all arises out of His being the proprietor of all (John 1:10; Colossians 1:16). (2) His legislative authority is still more confirmed by virtue of His redeeming acts: He has bought us with a price, and redeemed us to God by His blood. 3. Righteous administration; or the exercise of certain qualities essential to good government. (1) In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; He knows all His subjects — is acquainted with their infinitely diversified necessities. And such is His immaculate purity, that it is impossible for Him to enact any laws that will not subserve the interests of His creatures. (2) His justice is equal to His wisdom; justice and judgment are the habitation of His seat. (3) He is so merciful as to be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." II. THE NATURE OF HIS REIGN. "A King shall reign," &c. 1. The reign of Christ is spiritual (Luke 17:20; Romans 14:17). 2. The reign of Christ is benevolent. Look at the Alexanders, or Caesars, or mighty chiefs of antiquity, marching at the head of vast armies, while every battle of these warriors is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood. How violent their operations! how cruel and sanguinary their triumphs! Oh, how unlike the means used by the Lord Jesus to subdue the world to the obedience of Himself! (Isaiah 42:2.) 3. The reign of Christ is equitable. It is founded on principles of justice, reason, and truth (Hebrews 1:8). The laws by which He governs are holy, just, and good: the obedience which He requires is not only right in itself, but essentially connected with human happiness. 4. The reign of Christ is perpetual. Earthly kingdoms have their rise, progress, perfection, declension, and ruin (Isaiah 9:7; Hebrews 1:8). III. THE PROSPERITY WITH WHICH THAT REIGN SHALL BE ATTENDED. The word "prosper" is always used in a favourable sense. To prosper as a king implies — 1. To have an increase of willing subjects. 2. To have adequate provision for the supply of all their wants. Our heavenly King possesses infinite treasures of grace and glory. 3. To secure their real happiness. Christ's subjects are all happy — by the indulgence of benevolent dispositions — by the conformity to righteous laws — by the practice of holy duties — by the anticipation of future felicities (Psalm 72:7, 8; Isaiah 11:4-9; Isaiah 52:9). 4. To subjugate or destroy His enemies (Psalm 2:9, 12; Isaiah 60:12). But as Christ came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved, He is employing means to conquer its prejudice, and slay its enmity.Observe — 1. If Christ shall reign and prosper, how great is the folly and madness of infidels, sceptics, and sinners of all descriptions, who attempt to prop the tottering throne of infidelity! 2. This subject should inspire the souls of Christ's devoted subjects with joy and gladness. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. |
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