Clerical World Numbers 24:17-19 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob… I. CHRIST'S PREDICTED HUMAN ANCESTRY. "Out of Jacob," &c. He was the "Lord from heaven"; but He came through the lowly door of human birth. 1. His ancestry was chosen by God. That there was a fitness we cannot doubt; what it consisted in we do not know. 2. Its destinies were guided by God with a view to this great consummation. This explains many a dark passage in Israel's history. So when we can view God's leading of us from the result, all will be clear. 3. It was a lowly ancestry. Contrast with the great ancient powers. 4. It was by no means a pure and worthy ancestry. The clean came out of an unclean. Endless hope for man in that. II. THE TWOFOLD REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST'S REIGN. 1. A Star. In its guidance. (1) Universal and impartial. For all under the heavens. (2) Abiding. No earthly power or malice can quench its light. (3) Leads in the darkness. Burns the brighter the greater the darkness. (4) Unobtrusive. You must watch and follow. 2. A Sceptre. (1) Strong to protect His friends. (2) Powerful to crush His foes. (Clerical World.) Parallel Verses KJV: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. |
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