THE KING’S BUSINESS
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fading flower of his glorious beauty” (v. 1). >“Jehovah of hosts” Himself shall be the “crown of glory,” and “diadem of beauty” (cf. Luke 2:32). But Jehovah is to be other things-too, He is to be “for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment,” and also “for strength to them that turneth the battle at the gate” (cf. ch. 26:4; Zech. 2:4, 5; 1 Cor. 1:30). It is to the remnant that Jehovah is to T>e a crown of glory and diadem of beauty (cf. ch. 10:20, 21; 11:16; 37:31, 32; Rom. 11:5, 6 ). “In that day” He is -also to be “for strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate” (cf. Deut. 20:4; Ps. 18:32- 34; 27:1). We can have Him for “a spirit of judgment” and for strength today (James 1:5, 6 ; 2 Tim. 1:7; Eph. 6:10). vs. 7, 8 . “But they (these) also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way (gone astray); and priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.” The “these also” refers to the people of Jerusalem. They also as well as Ephraim have “erred through wine,” and “through strong drink” had “gone astray.” The prevailing sin of drunken ness had reached even God’s representa tives, “the priest and the prophet” (cf. ch. 56:10-12; Micah 2:11). The priests were especially inexcusable because of the plain directions in the law of which they were custodians regarding this very mat ter (Lev. 10:9,10; Ez. 44:21). They were “reeling” through strong drink, they were “swallowed up of wine,” they were “gone astray through strong drink.” The result was they utterly failed in their official acts. They not only staggered with their feet, but they “staggered in vision,” and they not only stumbled with their feet but they “stumbled in judgment.” Wine and strong drink confuse the spiritual con ceptions. and rob men of judgment. The religious teacher who indulges in them is
regarding those who hear His words but do them not (Matt. 7:26, 27). These words, taken in their historical setting are deeply significant in these times of destruction and devastation and desolation that are sweeping over Europe and other parts of the world. Whatever the human instru mentalities may be through which this awful destruction and desolation is wrought, and however great may be the guilt that lies at the door of those who are responsible for the present appalling war, the real source of the war is because the various nations have “not obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God.” Something far more important than some new instru ment to destroy the submarines is neces sary to bring an end to this war, viz., national repentance on the part of all lands involved, including our own. The chaplet of pride” was to be “trodden under foot.” Just so all earthly pride will eventually be trodden under foot. Two figures are used in verse 4 to describe the fall of Samaria: “a fading flower,” and “the first ripe fig” whfch a man greedily eats as soon as he gets it into his hand. vs. 5, 6 . “In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His.people, (:) and for a spirit of judg ment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle at the gate.” In the midst of the awful desolation of his own time, when every crown of pride and all the glorious beauty is a fading flower, the prophet looks for ward to “ t h a t d a y ” (i.e., the day of the Lord’s return and manifestation). So in the midst of present sin, and judgment for sin, in the midst of the awful desolation of this most appalling of all wars, we should look forward, both for comfort in our hearts, and encouragement in our work, to our Lord’s coming again (Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12-14, R.V.). “In that day” (i.e., the day of our Lord’s return), “a crown of glory” will take the place of “the crown of pride” (v. 1 ), and “a dia dem of beauty” will take the place of the
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