future, is suppressed by
the same affliction which is immediately impending, by the look to the
rod of chastisement by the world's power with its treachery, its policy
feigning love and concealing hatred, with which the Lord is to visit
His people, and the floods of which, like a new flood, are, according
to ver. 15, to overflow the whole earth. Compare the very similar
transition from triumphant hope to lamentation over the misery of the
future more immediately at hand, in Hab. iii. 16.

In ver. 21, ff. the promise breaks forth anew. Ver. 21: [Pg 151] "_And
it shall come to pass in that day: the Lord shall visit the host of the
height in the height, and the kings of the earth upon the earth._ Ver.
22. _And they are all of them gathered together as prisoners in the
pit, and are shut up in the prison, and after many days they are
visited._ Ver. 23. _And the moon blusheth, and the sun is ashamed, for
the Lord of hosts reigneth on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before
His ancients is glory._"

In ver. 21 the destruction of the world's power is announced. The
"kings of the earth" form the explanation of the "host of the height."
It is very common to represent rulers under the image of stars; compare
Numb. xxiv. 17; Rev. vi. 13, viii. 10; Is. xiv. 12, xxxiv. 4, 5,
compared with ver. 12. [Hebrew: mrvM] is used in reference to the great
ones of the earth in ver. 4, and in chap. xxvi. 5, also. The
explanation by evil heavenly powers has no Old Testament analogies in
its favour.--In ver. 22, the words: "And after many days they are
visited," intimates that the time will appear very long to Zion, until
the visitation takes place. "Many days," or "a long time," viz., after
the beginning of their raging, which was to continue for a series of
centuries, until Christ at length spoke: "Be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world." The visitation consists in their being gathered
together.--In ver. 23, the words: "The Lord reigneth," contain an
allusion to the formula used in proclaiming the accession of earthly
kings to the throne, and point to an impending new and glorious
manifestation of the government of the Lord,--as it were, a new
accession to the throne; compare remarks on Ps. xciii. 1; Rev. xix. 6.
The "ancients" are the _ideal_ representatives of the Church; compare
remarks on Rev. iv. 4. Before them is glory, inasmuch as the Lord
imparts to them of His glory.

In chap. xxv. 1-5, the Lord is praised on account of the glor