Devotional Readings, M'Cheyne Bible Reading Notes

Yesterday’s Readings

The Book of Ezekiel ends with a description of the land of Israel.

Perhaps the exact meaning is unclear but it is certainly large.

Ezekiel 48:29  This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 48:35  It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

Gill writes…

and the name of the city from that day shall be, the Lord is there; the Gospel church has other names, as Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Lord our righteousness, Hephzibah and Beulah, a city not forsaken, Heb 12:22, but here it is called “Jehovah Shammah”, the Lord is there, or dwells there; which is to be understood of his presence in it; not in a general way, as he is in all places, and with all his creatures, continually, constantly, and everywhere working in a providential manner; but of his gracious presence in a special way and manner: in this sense Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, are in the Gospel church, and will be more manifestly in the latter day; Jehovah the Father, as the Father of Christ, blessing them with all spiritual blessings in him; granting them his presence in him, and communion with him, through him; as their Father providing all good things for them, and as the God of all grace unto them: Jehovah the Son, as the master of the family taking care of it, as a son in his own house, and the first born among his brethren; as the prophet in the midst of his church, teaching and instructing; as the high priest in the midst of the golden candlesticks, lighting and trimming them; as the King in Zion, to rule and govern, protect and defend it; showing himself in all the glories of his person, and the riches of his grace, according to his promise, Mat 28:20. Jehovah the Spirit is here to qualify men with gifts for the ministry, to apply the word, and make it useful; as a Spirit of grace and supplication, and to help the Lord’s people in the exercise of grace, and discharge of duty; and to be their comforter and remembrancer. Jehovah here does and will display his glorious perfections; his power in the preservation of his saints; his wisdom in the guidance and direction of them; his truth and faithfulness in the performance of promises to them; his purity and holiness in the sanctification of them; his love, grace, and mercy, in the large discoveries made unto them; in short, he will appear all glorious to them, and will be the glory in the midst of them, Psa 46:5, Zec 2:5 the date from whence this will commence is “that day”; either from the beginning of the Gospel dispensation, that famous day made by the rising of the sun of righteousness; or from the day and date of Christ’s promise of his presence, Mat 28:20 or from the time the Gospel church state was set up; or from the day this city will be rebuilt and restored, the Lord will more visibly and manifestly grant his presence to the inhabitants of it, and never more depart from them; see Isa 42:12, The Targum is,

“the name of the city which is separated from the day, the Lord will cause his Shechaniah to dwell there.”

The Jews (d) produce this place to show that Jerusalem is called Jehovah, and say, do not read Shammah, “there”, but Shemah, “its name”; and the Socinians from hence would disprove the incommunicableness of the name Jehovah to a creature, but without effect; since this city is not called simply Jehovah, but with an additional epithet; and this is to be understood, not in a divided, but compound sense, as the altar in Exo 17:15, and the mount in Gen 22:14.

Btw the Psalm that follows is a wonder express of our God. The LORD who is there.

O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

Psa 104:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Psa 104:2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Psa 104:3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Psa 104:5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Psa 104:6  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

Psa 104:7  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

Psa 104:8  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Psa 104:9  Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Psa 104:10  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

Psa 104:11  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

Psa 104:12  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

Psa 104:13  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

Psa 104:14  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

Psa 104:16  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Psa 104:17  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

Psa 104:18  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Psa 104:19  He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

Psa 104:20  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Psa 104:21  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

Psa 104:22  The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Psa 104:23  Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

Psa 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psa 104:25  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Psa 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Psa 104:27  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

Psa 104:28  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Psa 104:29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Psa 104:30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Psa 104:31  The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Psa 104:32  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

Psa 104:33  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Psa 104:34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Psa 104:35  Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

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