This hallelujah, or song of praise, calls on heaven and earth and all things therein, to join in celebrating the glory of the Lord. And it challenges this praise from Israel, whose horn or majesty has been exalted, to whom “the first dominion,” as another Scripture expresses it, has now come. The Lord Himself, however, is above all this millennial earth and heaven, in His own proper glory. His name alone is excellent. (See Psa. 8.)
All this joy of heaven and earth is much spoken of. The times of restitution and refreshing are felt throughout—“the presence of the Lord” becomes the exhilarating atmosphere everywhere. John, in spirit, heard all creatures in heaven, in seas, on earth, and under the earth, uttering their praise in prospect of this (Rev. 5). But I would observe, that all this joy of creation the Apostle hangs upon “the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8), and the prophets, upon the redemption of Israel (Isa. 44:23; 49:13; 55:12). For these distinct testimonies are according to the several ministries of apostles and prophets. In one place our Psalmist shortly connects the two, touching the chord where their harmonies lie—“when the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory” (Psa. 102:16).
May we not, upon this, say, that often, among the saints, there is wanting one to do this happy office of “the sweet singer” in Israel, thus to strike the true unisons. For the voices are not discordant, save in the unattuned ear. There may be real oneness in the spirit of our minds, where there are divers judgments and thoughts “eating” and “not eating,” if both “to the Lord,” is real oneness, in the esteem of the Spirit of God, though in man’s judgment it may be discordance and separation (Rom. 14). But this only as we pass.
NOTE—The supremacy of “the Word” in the operations of what is called nature is declared, as in 2 Peter 3:5-7. (See Psa. 147:15,18; 148:8.)