The captivity did not purify Israel. The returned captives deny the love and despise the judgment of the Lord. See Ch. 1:2; 2:17.
The unclean spirit went out; but the house was not the Lord’s.
But there is a remnant, informal, spiritual, remembered now, to be distinguished hereafter.
They are exhorted to hold by the word. They are promised the judgment of the evil, and a new dispensation. They are not promised present recovery of David’s throne or deliverance from the Gentiles.
So the Reformation in Christendom: the unclean spirit went out; but the house was not the Lord’s.
Apostles contemplate an informal remnant, promise judgment and a new thing, but hold out no present recovery. See 2 Tim., 2 Peter, Jude, Revelation 2, 3.
Malachi’s remnant were found by Jesus as Malachi left them. (See Luke 1;2) So will the coming of the Lord find the saints as left by the apostles in the epistles.
In the Land
Joshua 3;4;5
Safe in the Promised Land!
Past judgment and the grave;
We’re one with Him, at God’s right hand,
Who came the lost to save.
The wilderness is past,
The Jordan’s depths are o’er,
Within the land our lot is cast,
To go abroad no more.
The Lord hath set us free,
Destroyed the power of hell.
Tis life and joy and peace to be
Where God Himself doth dwell.
The ark went on before;
Christ rose from out the dead,
And sin shall sunder nevermore
The members from the Head.
With “old corn of the land”
Doth God His people feed,
His wondrous grace we understand,
His Bread is food indeed.
Thou, Lord, hast set us free
From every claim of earth;
We eat and drink and live by Thee,
Thou Food of priceless worth!
The angels cannot share
The mystery divine;
They have their bliss in being where
We breathe and move as THINE.
Thy life, O Son of God;
Thy peace, Most Holy One;
Thy Father’s house, Thine own abode,
Are all, through grace, our own.
O vast eternal love!
O grace beyond degree!
The Church below, the Church above,
Is one, O Christ, with Thee.