mercies are, elsewhere also,
mentioned in reference to the eternal dominion promised to David for
his family; comp. Ps. lxxxix. 2, 50. With the epithet, "constant,"
these interpreters do not know what to do. Apart from the promise of
the eternal dominion of his house, no constant mercies can, in the case
of David, be pointed out which would be equally bestowed upon the
people, and upon him. Moreover, [Hebrew: namniM] distinctly points back
to 2 Sam. vii. Ver. 4 forms, according to this explanation, "a
historical reminiscence, most unsuitable in the flow of a prophetic
discourse" (_Umbreit_). But what in itself is quite conclusive is the
circumstance, that the first David could not by any possibility be
designated as the _witness_ of the Gentile nations. It indeed sounds
rather _naive_ that _Knobel_, after having endeavoured to explain
[Hebrew: ed] of the "opening up of the law," feels himself obliged to
add: "The word does not, however, occur anywhere else in this
signification." Nor could David, without farther limitation, be
designated as "the prince and lawgiver of the _peoples_;" and that so
much the more [Pg 351] that, in ver. 5, there is an invitation to the
Gentile world, and that, in ver. 4, too, the Gentile world, in the
widest sense, is to be thought of.

After the promise, there follows, in vers. 6-13, the admonition to
repentance based upon it. Repent ye, for the Kingdom of heaven is at
hand, vers. 6, 7. Do not doubt that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand,
because it does not seem probable to you. For the counsels of God go
beyond all the thoughts of men; and, therefore. He and His work must
not be judged by a human measure, vers. 8, 9. With Him, word and deed
are inseparably connected, vers. 10, 11. This will be manifested in
your redemption and glorification, vers. 12, 13.

[Footnote 1: _Vitringa_ already remarked in opposition to it: "This
exposition is rather far fetched, and is the weakest of all that can be
advanced. I add, that the constancy of the promises given to David does
not appear, if we exclude the Kingdom of the Messiah. But are any other
promises of constant and eternal blessings, such as are here promised,
to be thought of?"]

THE PROPHECY--CHAP. LXI. 1-3.

As in chaps. xlix. and l., so here, the Servant of God is introduced as
speaking, and announces to the Church what a glorious office the Lord
had bestowed upon Him, namely, to deliver them from the mi