17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand. Other
countries, which in the former verse were symbolically referred to as “high hills,” gloried in their chariots
of war; but Zion, though far more lowly, was stronger than they, for the
omnipotence of God was to her as two myriads of chariots. The original is
grandly expressive: “the
war-chariots of Elohim are myriads, a thousand thousands.” The marginal reading of our Bibles, “even many thousands,” is far
more correct than the rendering even thousands of angels. It is not easy
to see where our venerable translators found these “angels,” for they are not in the text; however, as it is a blessing to
entertain them unawares, we are glad to meet with them in English, even though
the Hebrew knows them not; and the more so because it cannot be doubted that
they constitute a right noble squadron of the myriad hosts of God. We read in Deuteronomy 33:2 of the Lord’s coming “with ten thousands of saints,” or holy
ones, and in Hebrews 12:22 we find upon Mount Zion “an innumerable company of angels.” The Lord is amongthem, as in Sinai, in the holy place, or, “it is a Sinai in holiness.” Where
God is, there is holiness. The displays of his glory may not be so terrible
under the new covenant as under the old; but they are even more marvelous if
seen by the spiritual eye. Sinai has no excellency of glory beyond Zion; but
the rather it pales its lights of law before the noontide splendors of Zion’s
grace and truth. How joyful was it to a pious Hebrew to know that God was as
truly with his people in the tabernacle and temple as amid the terrors of the
Mount of Horeb; but it is even more heart-cheering to us to be assured that the
Lord abides in his church, and has chosen it to be his rest forever. May we be
zealous for the maintenance of holiness in the spiritual house which God
condescends to occupy; let a sense of his presence consume, as with flames of
fire, every false way. The presence of God is the strength of the church; all
power is ours when God is ours. Twenty thousand chariots will bear the Gospel
to the ends of the earth. Providence is on our side, and it “has servants everywhere.”
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