“They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted
up as an ensign upon his land.” Zech. 9:16.
Here we see the dignity of the Lord’s people.
They are ‘stones,’ precious stones, set in the ‘crown’ of the King of kings.
For such is the infinite goodness of God, that he not only spares, but pardons
and justifies them. In his righteousness they are exalted. They are not only
saved but ennobled. With kings are they upon the throne. They are naturally in
a low estate, and are viler than the earth; but he raiseth the poor out of the
dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the little dunghill. And though the world
knoweth them not, and they are little and low in their own eyes, and it doth
not yet appear what they shall be, yet now are they the sons of God; and since
they have been precious in his sight, they have been honourable; and he calls
them his jewels, and a peculiar treasure unto him. And all those who in his
light see light, view them in the same way. They remember the time that they
began to honour them that fear the Lord; when they took hold of the skirt of
him that is a Jew; when they prayed to see the good of his chosen. Then they
seemed to regard them as more than human beings; and while, above all things,
they desired communion with them, they felt unworthy of their presence and
notice. And though, since then, they have found that they are not already
perfect, yet they know that they are the excellent of the earth, and that they
are more excellent than their neighbors. There is often more real virtue in
their failings than in the very devotion of others: ‘The gleaning of the grapes
of Ephraim are better than the vintage of Abi-ezer.’
Here is also their exhibition; these stones of a
crown are ‘lifted up.’ They are not to be concealed. Our Saviour compares them
to a city set, not in a valley, but on a hill which cannot be hid; and to a
candle placed, not under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light
to all that are in the house. And when he calls them by his grace, he says to
the ‘prisoners,’ ‘Go forth; and to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves:
they shall feed in the ways, and
their pasture shall be on all high places.’
Christians need not be concealed; every thing in their religion will bear
examination, and challenges the eye of all, whether infidels, philosophers,
politicians, or moralists. They ought not to be concealed; every thing in their
religion is adapted to do good, but for this purpose it must be known. They
cannot be concealed; their principles must operate; the sun cannot shine
without showing itself. Here is also their utility; these stones of a crown are
to be lifted up ‘as an ensign upon his land.’ An oriflamme suspended over the
royal tent; and designed to attract and aggregate followers to the cause in
which he is engaged. Thus the Saviour himself is spoken of: ‘In that day there
shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it
shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.’ But what Christ is,
Christians are, subordinately indeed, yet really. Hence their calling, to hold
forth the word of life. They are placed and displayed to reprove and convince,
and excite and encourage others to seek and serve God. They are witnesses for
him. They are trophies of the power and greatness and riches of his grace. They
proclaim what he is able and willing to do. And saved by him, they are employed
for him; and ‘whether they eat or drink, or whatever they do, they do all to
the glory of God.’”
-From Morning Exercises; for Every Day in
the Year, by Reverend William Jay
1769-1853 (Sprinkle Publications;
Harrisonburg, Virginia), 1998—
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