THE PRINCE OF PEACE 331
Another aspect of this positive " Salvation " which Jehovah shall then bestow upon His people, is brought before us in the second half of this verse. In contrast to their enemies, who are likened to " sling stones," which shall then be contemptuously trodden under foot, saved Israel shall be "\T3 "oaK, abhnei-nezer " stones of a crown " (or jewels set in a consecrated crown), 1 lifted on high over His land which reminds us of Isa. Ixii., where we read that after " Zion s righteousness shall go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth," so that " the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory" then " Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" We note the expression in this verse, " over His land," which reminds us of the unique relationship in which Jehovah stands to the land, as well as to the people of Israel. " The land is Mine," 2 He said of Palestine in a very special sense, though the whole earth belongs to Him ; and this, as Pusey observes, " was laid down as the title-deed to its whole tenure." He appointed it in His sovereign right, and with a gracious purpose in view, as the inheritance of the seed of Abraham ; but the ownership remains vested in Him. It is called also " Immanuets Land" 3 because the theocratic King-Messiah is the true heir to it, not only by reason of His being the true Son of Abraham, and Son of David, to whom the land was promised, but because He is the Son of God, to Whom it, in a special sense, belongs.
For a long time Israel has been banished from their possession on account of sin, and Jerusalem and Palestine are being trodden down of the Gentiles ; but the counsel of Jehovah, both as regards the land and the people, standeth for ever, the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance ; and when the covenant relations between God
1 The primary meaning of the masculine noun i?}, nezer, is separation, or con secration. Then it is used also of the sign of consecration as, for instance, the long hair of the " Nazarite," and the crown of the king, or priest. The word is first found in Ex. xxix. 6, where it is used of the " holy crown " which the high priest was to wear over the " mitre."
2 Lev. xxv. 23. s Isa. viii. 8
