David exclaim when he sat before the Lord, "Who am I, O Lord God, and
what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a
small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy
_servant's house for a great while yet to come_." It is a pity men will
not take and interpret the Bible by the rules of common sense.

David at this time was king over all the Tribes and was at peace, and
settled and prospered. But God told him that "He would appoint a place
for _My people Israel_, and will plant them that they may dwell in a
place of their own and move no more." This promise was to Israel. If
the promises of the multitudinous seed were to be fulfilled to Israel,
then it would be necessary to find them another place, for Palestine
wouldn't hold them. So God has planted them. God never promised to find
the Jews another country; Palestine is specially reserved for them. They
have been without country, king, or government. In the year 725 B.C. the
Jews and Israelites were separated, and since that time they have never
been united. But the day is coming, says the prophet, when they shall
dwell together and appoint one head over them. The Israelites are only
to return to Palestine representatively (Jer. iii. 14).

When Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jews captive, he took the king, Zedekiah,
with him, and destroyed all his family, and all the real royal seed of
David. Zedekiah died in Babylon. He placed upon the throne of David,
Gedaliah. Now Gedaliah was not of the seed royal: but God was displeased
and permitted the crown to go to others. Ezekiel was taken captive to
Babylon in the reign of Jehoiachim, the father of Zedekiah. The prophecy
of the text was written in Babylon, and refers to Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel
calls the "wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, iniquity shall
have an end. Thus saith the Lord God, Remove the diadem and take off the
crown, this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him
that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no
more until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it to Him."

Now all this is plain if we keep in mind that Zedekiah was the last
prince of the House of David that ever reigned in Palestine. God removed
the diadem. But in the course of time a lawful heir of the seed of David
shall appear, and the throne and the seed will be established again in
Jerusalem. It is to this end Providence i