Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 6 · Section 12
VERSE 11.
In that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, &c.
THis general Promise is pregnant, and contains many particular branches within it.
Hoc omne Metaphoricè de roguo Christi & Ecclesia è gentibus collectâ, intelligendum esse, testatur Iacobus, Act. 15.16. Glassius in Philolog.1 The Lord promiseth, that he will build up the Tabernacle of David which is fallen.
2 He will close up the breaches thereof.
3 He will raise up his ruines.
4 He will build it as in the dayes of old.
5 Here is the Time when all these glorious things shall bee accomplished, and that is, In illo die, In that day, viz. in that glorious day of the Gospel, when Christ the Son of righteousness should come into the world. In that day of Salvation, in that day of Light and Grace, when the substance should come, and the shadowes be gone, in those glorious Gospel-times should this glorious restauration and reparation of the house of David come by Christ; Or, in that day (say some) of Israels deep distresse and sad Captivity, will I arise, and raise them out of the dust.
That Christ should come in the flesh, the Prophets had assured them, but of the punctual day, and year when he should come, they were uncertain; and therefore the Prophets made diligent search as farre as they might with sobriety into this Mystery, 1 Pet. 1.11. this made them speak so modestly and generally, In that day, or in that time (for it is an usual Hebraism to put a day indefinitly for time, as Hos. 2.21. Ioel 3.1.) which was fore-told by the Prophets, Gen. 49.10. Isa. 11.1. Dan. 9.24. and appointed by God when the fulnesse of time should come, Gal. 4.4. then would the Lord raise up the Tabernacle of David which was fallen, q. d. In the dayes of the Messiah I will restore the Kingdom of David, and make that which was before a temporal and mutable Kingdome, to become a Spiritual and eternal Kingdom; and let this Rule be remembred once for all,Promissio liberationis spiritualis constat Allegoriâ perpetuâ, quâ liberatio illa significatur per beneficia corporalia. Piscator. That these promises of temporal blessings must be understood Spiritually; they must not be taken literally for the setting up of any earthly, external, pompous Kingdome in the Posterity of David, such a one as the Iewes look for, Acts 1.6. and the Millenarians fancy to themselves, who take this Text in the Letter for building of fine Houses, and plenty of Corn and Wine, and delighting themselves with the Quintessence of the Creature; whereas it is usual with the Prophets in the Old Testament, to shadow forth Spiritual blessings by Temporal things; and this the Lord did the better to work upon the Iewes, who were a carnal, rude, rugged people, and not so easily wrought upon by Spiritual blessings, as by Temporal and visible ones; so that as the Legal threatnings were usually of Temporal Judgements (though they comprehended Spiritual ones also) Deut. 28.16, 17, 18, &c. so the Promises under the Law were usually of Temporal blessings, though they included Spiritual ones also. But the Gospel proclaims Spiritual mercies, which are more noble and divine for though peace and plenty are the Concomitants of the Gospel, yet these are poor uncertaine things, compared with Covenant-Mercies, which are called sure Mercies, Isa. 55.3. Besides, Christs Kingdome is not of this world, his Kingdome is not meat and drink, Rom. 14.17. but it is a Spiritual kingdome, and so must be taken here. This Kingdome Christ will restore when he shall gather his Church out of Iewes and Gentiles, in which Church there shall bee greater glory, than ever David or Solomon had, though in respect of outward splendor it be lesse, yet in respect of inward glory, it shall excel, Hag. 2.9.
Let us take the Text in the Letter, and see what absurdities will follow.
1 If you take this building of the Tabernacle of David, for a restoring of the Kingdome of Israel to its former pomp and power, and for the subduing of Edom, and other Nations by the Sword, and that they should never be rooted out of their owne Land, &c. See how all these things are contradicted. For,
1 When they returned out of Babylonish Captivity they had indeed a Kingdome, but it was a poor, torn, contemptible one.
2 They were so farre from reigning over Edom, and the other Nations, that they were Tributary a long time to the Medes and Persians, to the Aegyptians and Syrians, and at last were brought under the Roman yoke, Herod the Asclonite tyrannizing over them, even when Christ was born, and at last for rejecting Christ, and Crucifying the Lord of Glory, their City and Temple was destroyed, and themselves despersed like Vagabonds over the whole World, and so have continued this sixteen hundred years; so that literally this Text was never yet fulfilled, nor ever will be, whatever vaine men may fancy.
Loquitur de instauratione Spirituali, quâ electi Israelitae per praedicationem Evangelii Colligendi fuerent in ovile Christi. Piscat.But let us take the words in a Spiritual sense, in reference to Christ, who hath indeed repaired the ruines of the House of David, by sending his Apostles to preach the Gospel thorow the world, and to gather Iewes and Gentiles into the unity of his Church, and so erecting to himself an everlasting Kingdome, according to that of the Angel Gabriel, Luke 1.32, 33. He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the most high, and he shall sit upon the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever. These words are an excellent Comment upon the text, The Lord shall give him the throne of his father David; that is, Christ shall have a Spiritual Kingdome over his Church, whereof Davids worldly Kingdome was a Type; and he shall be a Spiritual King over the spiritual house of Iacob for ever. Thus you see it is a Spiritual raising up of the decayed Tabernacle of Iacob, and not any Temporal one that is here spoken of; and this Spiritual sense St. Iames confirms in the fore-mentioned place, Acts 15.7, 13. to 17. where he proves the conversion of the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel from this very text in Amos; and this will better appear when we come to ver. 12. Now whether shall we beleeve Saint Iames, who saith that this text in Amos relates to Christ, and to the conversion and vocation of the Gentiles, See him confuted in the end of the Book.unto the faith of Christ; or else the Iewes and Millenarians, who dream (as Dr. Homes doth) of a Saviour that shall reign in a Corporal, visible manner here on earth, in external glory and felicity with the Saints a thousand years.
I will raise up the Tabernacle of David which is fallen.
By the Tabernacle of David is meant the House or Kingdom of David, Tabernaculum David regnum Messiae & ecclesiae denotat, quo utut humile est pii proteguntur. Glassius. Sucea, tegumentum, Tabernaculum, tentorium, à Sacach, Velavit, operuit, texit.which was a Type of the Church, which is Christs spiritual kingdom. It is here called a Tent, or Tabernacle, because of that mean and low condition which Davids family was now in; it was not now a Palace, but a poor flitting Tent, or Tabernacle, and that a fallen one too, full of ruptures and ruines; which intimates the sad desolation which had been made in Davids family. His Kingdom which was sometimes potent and flourishing, now was become like a poor ruinous Cottage, for all was out of order both in Church and State when Christ came.
1 The ten Tribes fell off from the house of David to Ieroboam, and from the true Worship of God to worship Calves.
2 The Syrians and the Philistines made inrodes upon them.
3 The Assyrians made havock of Israel, and carried the ten Tribes into Captivity; and the Babylonians fell upon Iudah, and carried them Captive into Babylon, and the Romans fell upon them again after they came out of Babylon, and scattered them over the whole world; Israel never returned againe out of the Assyrian Captivity, only some few gleanings joyned themselves to Iudah when they returned out of Babylon and came to Ierusalem; and though Iudah did return after and seventy years were expired, yet Tyrants did so tear and shatter them (as appears by the Books of the Maccabees) that there was no splendor, no glory, nor scarce the face of a Kingdom amongst them, Amos 5.2. at last came Herod the Tyrant, who rooted up Davids stock, and settled the Crown upon his owne head. Besides, when Christ came, he found the Church pestered with false Prophets, swarming with Scribes and Pharisees, and such as taught for Doctrines the Precepts of men. Thus what with the cruelty of Tyrants on the one hand, and the corruptions of false teachers on the other hand; the Tabernacle of David was sadly fallen.
And thus the house of David say in its ruines (being shrunk from David the King, to Ioseph the Carpenter) till Christ the Son of David came who repaired the breaches, and fulfilled the Prophesies. Then in that day, and at that time when all seemed to be gone, and all Human help failed, the Lord who loves to be seen in the Mount, sent the Messiah to raise up this Tabernacle of David which was fallen, and make it more illustrious than ever; yet not in Temporals, but which is more glorious and divine, in Spirituals; inlarging the Churches dominion over all Nations, Matth. 28.19. and changing that earthly Kingdom of David, into a Spiritual and everlasting Kingdom, according to that promise; 2 Sam. 7.16.
Q. But why is this restauration of all by Christ called, the raising up of the Tabernacle of David?
A. For two reasons; 1. Because the Kingdom of David was Typical, as David himself was a Type of Christ, so his Temporal Kingdom typified and prefigured Christs Spiritual Kingdom. 2. Christ was the Son of David according to the flesh, now the Kingdom was promised to David and his Seed for ever, Psal. 72.17. hence Christ is so oft called, David, Ier. 30.9. Ezek. 34.23. & 37.14. Hos. 3.5.
And I will close up the Breaches thereof.
…adar, sepsit, so Job 19.8. Lam. 3.7.I will make up the gaps of the Tabernacle of David, or hedge and wall up the breaches of it, by causing the Gospel to be preached over all the World, which will quickly close up all the ruptures, and make up all the ruines which Sin and Satan hath made; and chase away all those Traditions of men which false Prophets had brought into the Church of God. This began to bee accomplisht when Christ began to preach, and his Apostles after him, as when Paul and Barnabas preaching to the Gentiles converted them, Acts 15.7, &c. and it is daily accomplishing by the inlargement of the Church, but a more full accomplishment hereof will be when the Iewes and Gentiles shall be called, and united together under Christ their Head.
And I will raise up his ruines.
All its Batteries and Breakings, all its Rubbish and Ruines shall be repaired by Christ still. Wee see (as hath been shewed before) how low the house of David was sunk; it was like a poor Tent or Cottage, ruinous and full of breaches, and to a carnal eye irrecoverable and past hope.
And I will build it as in the dayes of old.
When it was in its most flourishing and prosperous condition, in those purer times of David, and the beginning of Solomons reign, when they were free from Superstition and Idolatry, serving the Lord in simplicity and singleness of heart.
The summe of all is this; In that day of Jacobs deep distress, I will raise up my Evangelical Church, which is the Tabernacle of the true and glorious Son of David, the Messias of the World, even upon the ruines of the Iewish Church, which I will repair, and so make up the Spiritual breaches thereof, as that both Jewes and Gentiles shall make up one Church, which shall be made as Spiritually compleat as ever the Temple was materially of old.
OBSERVATIONS.
1 Modesty and Sobriety becomes us, especially when we treat of divine Mysteries.
We must not be wise above that which is written,Cum silet Scriptura, praestat foreign, quàm temerè quicquam statuere. nor curiously pry into the secrets of the Almighty; and therefore great is the folly of many in our times, that take upon them to tell the day, the year, and almost the hour (so divinely inspired are they, at least in their owne conceits) when Babylon shall fall, and the Iewes be called. One sayes, Antichrist shall fall One thousand six hundred thirty nine, another One thousand six hundred forty three, another One thousand six hundred and fifty, another One thousand six hundred fifty five, so Clavis Apocalyptica, many One thousand six hundred sixty six; only Sir Henry Vane wiser than all the rest (at least opinionatively) tells us flatly, that the walls of this Iericho shall fall flat before Jesus the true Ioshua, four hundred and forty years hence, viz. In the year Two thousand, then comes the seventh part of time which shall be the true Sabbath. Wisely done Sir Henry, to set so long a time that you may be dead and rotten before it come, when others that have set shorter times have lived to be laught at to their faces; the folly of these men hath been made known to all. It were well if men would learn of the Prophet here to keep to generals. In that day, and at that time, and not point at particulars to their owne shame. Secret things belong to the Lord, there is enough revealed to exercise our parts and studies, though we should live Methusalems dayes.
2 That the Church of God in this life may be brought to a very low condition.
It may seem like a poor little Tent, or tattered Cottage, full of breaches and ruines, Isa. 1.8. so that it is scarcely visible, and yet be a true Church, 1 King. 19, 20. as the Moon is the Moon and in Heaven still,De visibilit Eccles. cons…le Cameronem, in Mat. 18.19. p. 244. though it lye hid for a time under the Clouds from our sight.
3 After deep humiliation comes great consolation.
Never any so deeply humbled as Christ, and never any more highly exalted, Phil. 2.6. to 12. after this people had for many years been sifted, and tossed, and captivated, and the family of David brought to the dust, and no Human help appearing, but they lay like dry bones scatt…red up and down, yet now doth the Lord appear, and raise up the Tabernacle of David that was fallen, by sending the Messiah that little Branch, or Sprig, out of the stock or contemptible stump of Iesse, that was hewn down and cut off, Isa. 11.1. when mans help fails, then God appears; our extremity is his opportunity, Cum duplicantur lateres, venit Moses. In the Mount will the Lord be seen. Christ came not here till all seemed to bee lost and laid on heaps, he still reserves his holy hand for a dead lift, and delights to help those that are forsaken of their hopes, Deut. 32.36. Psal. 10.14. & 22.11. when this goodly Family was sunk so low as from David the King, to Ioseph the Carpenter, so that there was neither King nor Prince left, then Christ appears and raiseth it up; when the Scepter was departed from Iudah, See more in my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.9. p. 182. & p. 456.then Shilo comes, Gen. 49.10. when all was here in confusion both in Church and State, then comes the Messiah, that Horn of Salvation, and the glory of his people Israel.
4 The Churches comforts are hid in Christ.
It is he that makes up our breaches, raiseth us out of our ruines, and restores comfort to Sion, and to her Mourners. All our comforts, and all our fresh Springs are in him; our Election, Vocation, Justification, Sanctification, Salvation, come all from this Fountain, Ephes. 1.3. to 15. He is Bread to strengthen us, Wine to comfort us, Water to wash us; a King to defend us, a Prophet to teach us, a Priest to intercede for us.In my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.15. p. 270. In a word, he is All in All unto us, as I have shewed elsewhere.
5 The Old Testament is the Word of God, and abides in New Testament times.
Iames the Apostle when he would prove the calling of the Gentiles he goes to the Old Testament, the written Word of God,In my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.15. p. 261, &c. and from thence proves it; now had it not been Authentical, the Apostles allegation had been invalid. But of this at large elsewhere.
6 Gospel priviledges are glorious priviledges.
The Church was glorious of old in Davids time, when men went by troops to the House of God, and fled as the Clouds, and flockt as the Doves unto their windows. But the Spiritual glory of the Church in the dayes of the Gospel is farre more glorious than in the dayes of Israel of old. They had but the shadow, we have the substance; they saw Christ but darkly in Types and Figures, but we see him with open face. Hence the glory of the latter Temple is said to be greater than the glory of the former, Hag. 2.9. But how can that be, since the glory of the first Temple was farre more excellent for building than the latter? insomuch that the ancient now wept to see how farre short it came of the former. I, but the glory of this latter House (though inferiour for structure) yet shall be greater than the glory of the former, because Christ the Messiah should personally appear there; and from thence should the Gospel of peace goe forth into all the world, which should work a true and blessed tranquillity in the hearts of all beleevers. Hence Iohn the Baptist is preferred before the Old Testament Prophets, both in dignity and doctrine; and New Testament Ministers (who publish the whole Gospel) are preferred before him, Mat. 11.11. Let us then bless the Lord for Gospel-priviledges, keeping them in purity and simplicity, for though in Old Testament-times God allowed them Musick in publick Services, with Altars, Holy Vestments, &c. yet Christ their substance being come, these shadowes are gone, and now Christ will demand, Who required these things at your hands? See an excellent Ser. of Mr. Pools, on John. 4.24.In vain is all such Will-worship, the Worship that Christ calls for now, is a worship in spirit and in truth.