Zechariah 10:8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. I. THE PERSONS. "The redeemed." Redeemed in consequence of God's everlasting love towards them; for had they not been loved of the Father, they would never have been given to Christ, in order to be redeemed by Him. Redeemed from the law's curse; and from all iniquity; from the wrath to come. II. THE PROMISE. "I will gather them." This implies that the redeemed are by nature in a scattered state, or in a state of alienation from God. How universal is the departure. "We have turned everyone to his own way," which is a sinful way, a God-dishonouring, and a soul-distressing way. The gathering work is accomplished in regeneration, at which time they are gathered to Christ for life and salvation: they are gathered or folded together in Church fellowship; and shall by and by be gathered as wheat into the garner. III. THE MEAN TO BE MADE USE OF. I will hiss for them"; i.e., I will call for them; make the peculiar sound which they will heed, as a shepherd does to call his sheep around him. Shepherds used a whistle. The Redeemer called for His people, by the prophets of old; by John the Baptist; He Called them Himself when He was here upon earth. He called them by His apostles; He calls them now by His ministers. (S. Barnard.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. |
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