the Holy Land. Such an
assembling, however, is meant, as is connected with the full enjoyment
of salvation, and in which the Congregation truly manifests itself in a
close unity, as a kingdom of priests. In the passage, Zeph. iii. 19,
which is founded upon the one under review, we find "I save" instead of
"I assemble." Of such a description, the assembling under Zerubbabel
was not; compare Nehem. ix. 36, 37. It can therefore come into notice
only as a prelude to the true assembling.--"The Fem. sing, of the
Partic.," says _Hitzig_, "must be understood collectively; and it is
not several subjects, but predicates of the same subject, viz., of the
whole of Israel, [Pg 453] which are thereby designated." The "halting,"
which is a condition of bodily helplessness and weakness, occurs also
in Ps. xxxv. 15, and xxxviii. 18, as a designation of adversity and
misery.--The expression, "to make a remnant," forms the contrast to
total annihilation. While these words show that a limit will be put to
the _diminution_, the following words predict a vast _increase_. In the
words, "In Mount Zion," the contrast with iii. 12 appears once more at
the close of the section. As regards [Hebrew: mlK ihvh], compare Ps.
xciii. 1. It does not refer to the constant government of the Lord, but
to a new and glorious manifestation of it--as it were to a new
ascension to the throne. The expression, "From henceforth," refers to
the _ideal_ present. In spirit, the prophet is in that time when the
Lord is just entering upon His government. The words, "The Lord
reigneth ... for ever," are thus beautifully illustrated by _Calvin_:
"Micah does not here mention the descendants of David, but Jehovah
Himself; not as if he wished thereby to exclude that dominion of David,
but in order to show that God would make it manifest that He was the
author of that dominion, yea, that He Himself held all the power. For,
although God governed the ancient people by the hand of David, and by
the hand of Josiah and Hezekiah, _yet there was, as it were, a shadow
placed between, so that God's government was then perceived darkly
only._ The prophet, therefore, here expresses, that there would be some
difference betwixt that shadowy government, and the future new dominion
which He was openly to set up by the advent of the Messiah. And this
was truly and solidly fulfilled in Christ's person. For although Christ
was the true seed of David, yet He was also, at the same time, Jehovah,