1. All loyal subjects pray for their king, and most certainly citizens of
Zion have good cause to pray for the Prince of Peace. In times of conflict
loving subjects redouble their pleas, and surely in the sorrows of our Lord his
church could not but be in earnest. All the Saviour’s days were days of
trouble, and he also made them days of prayer; the church joins her
intercession with her Lord, and pleads that he may be heard in his cries and
tears. The agony in the garden was especially a gloomy hour; he knew that his
Father heard him always, yet in that troublous hour no reply came until three
times he had fallen on his face in the garden; then sufficient strength was
given in answer to prayer, and he rose a victor from the conflict. On the cross
also his prayer was not unheard, for in Psalm 22 he tells us, “thou hast
heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” The name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Or, as some read it,
“set thee in a high place.” By the
name is meant the revealed character and Word of God; we are not to worship
“the unknown God,” but we
should seek to know the covenant God of Jacob, who has been pleased to reveal
his name and attributes to his people. The glorious power of God defended and preserved
the Lord Jesus through the battle of his life and death, and exalted him above
all his enemies. His warfare is now accomplished in his own proper person, but
in his mystical body, the church, he is still beset with dangers; the name of
the God of Israel is still the defense of the faithful. The name God ofJacob is suggestive; Jacob had his day of trouble, he wrestled, was heard,
was defended, and in due time was set on high, and his God is our God still.
The whole verse is a very fitting benediction to be pronounced by a gracious
heart over a child, a friend, or a minister, in prospect of trial; it includes
both temporal and spiritual protection, and directs the mind to the great
Source of all good. How delightful to believe that our Heavenly Father has
pronounced it upon our favored heads!
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