THE PRINCE OF PEACE 319
And in connection with that covenant, too, there was the shedding of the blood of the animals and birds which Abram was commanded to slay l which, as well as the blood-shedding on Sinai, and indeed of all the blood of the sacrifices which were " on Jewish altars slain," pointed to the great sacrifice " of nobler name," and to the much more precious blood which alone secures to sinful man God s covenanted blessings.
The antitypical ratification of the covenant, therefore (whatever the primary reference of these words in Zechariah), took place when Israel s Messiah, Jesus, appeared as the " minister of the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers." 2
" This is My blood of the new covenant," He said, when about to lay down His life a ransom for many ; and since the great sacrifice on the cross, all the promises of God, " how many soever," or whatever they may be, whether made to Israel nationally, or intended for all men generally ratified as they now are in His own precious blood, have become, so to say, doubly sure and certain , for " in Him is the Yea, and in Him the Amen, to the glory of God by us." 3
But to return to our prophecy. Because of the ever lasting covenant-relationship which exists between Him and His people, sealed and ratified with blood, " / have sent forth" God says, " thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water"
The perfect tense of the verb nn?B> (shillachti) " I have sent forth," or " released " is prophetic of what God intends to do, there being many instances in the prophetic Scriptures where the perfect is used for the future. With the eternal, unchangeable God, His promises, however distant be the set time of their fulfilment, are already as good as accomplished.
The description " prisoners " in a " pit," or " dungeon," " wherein is no water," primarily describes, figuratively, Israel s condition in captivity, out of which God, in virtue of His covenant promise, will deliver them.
It reminds us of the description of Jacob, when given
1 Gen. xv. 9, 10. 2 Rom. xv. 8, 9. * 2 Cor. i. 20.
