Josiah’s reign was a happy experience for the remnant of the people still in the land. The faith of the King caused the lamp of David to shine brightly for a season (1 Kings 11:3636And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:36)); but it will not shine again until the appearing in glory of “great David’s greater Son,” Twenty five centuries have passed away, but the promised One has not yet come, and Israel’s sorrows continue and deepen. A few years of chaos followed the death of Josiah, and then the remnant of the people were swept out of the land by Nebuchadnezzar. Josiah was the last king worthy of the title. Three sons and a grandson succeeded him—mere puppets of their Gentile masters. Later, the Herods masqueraded as kings in Jerusalem, and in a day that is still to come the Anti-Christ will take his seat there (Dan. 11:3636And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)); but the accomplishment of God’s purposes of love await the coming of Christ. “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion” (Psa. 2:66Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6)). Every attempt to reestablish the fallen nation prior to His return can only end in disaster, and intensify the sufferings of the people.
After his victory at Megiddo, Pharaoh-Necho took possession of the country. When he arrived in Jerusalem he found that the people had anointed Jehoahaz (otherwise, Shallum), Josiah’s second son to be their king. Necho deposed him, and carried him prisoner in chains to Egypt. Necho then installed Eliakim whose name he changed to Jehoiakim (2 Chron. 36:1-41Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. 2Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. (2 Chronicles 36:1‑4)). Eliakim means “God will raise up”; Jehoiakim means “Jehovah will raise up.” The reason for this change of name is not apparent, but it was at any rate an exercise of authority. The giving of names is a mark of lordship. Thus Nebuchadnezzar gave new names to Daniel and his three friends when he took them into his service (Dan. 1:77Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. (Daniel 1:7)); and he also changed Mattaniah into Zedekiah when he set him upon Judah’s tottering throne. What humiliating details! How low the chosen people had now fallen as the fruit of centuries of persistent transgression against Jehovah! The land which was intended to be the center of God’s ways in government was now at the mercy of rival gentile powers, and the heirs of David’s royal throne, who should have been the leaders of the nation in righteousness and blessing, were now objects of universal contempt. How degrading is sin! Pharaoh-Necho held the Holy land for a short time; then Nebuchadnezzar dispossessed him. Necho was not to be the head of the Gentiles, however ardently he may have desired it. He who sits upon the throne above does as He pleases in the affairs of men; happy would it be if all competitors for power would learn this lesson. Since the sorrowful days which followed the death of Josiah the land has been held by Persians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Turks, and now the British, and the despised seed of Abraham have sighed for it in vain. Oh that they would humble themselves before God, and own their many sins—their violation of the law, their murder of the prophets, their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah, and their persistent opposition to the testimony of the Holy Spirit! When this comes about, every blessing will be theirs, and peace and prosperity in the land of their desire.
Josiah’s sons were all wicked men, and we wonder why. His family was not large—only three names come before us in Scripture. Amongst earlier rulers in Israel we read that Gideon had seventy sons (Judges 8:3030And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. (Judges 8:30)); Jair had thirty (Judges 10:44And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. (Judges 10:4)); Abdon had forty (Judges 12:1414And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. (Judges 12:14)); and Rehoboam had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters (2 Chron. 11:2121And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) (2 Chronicles 11:21)). Such numbers are considerable; how could fatherly care be bestowed upon them all? But Josiah had but three sons and all wicked! Yet the father was a particularly godly man, and had deep reverence for the Word of God! Is it possible that Josiah’s public work, involving journeys into every corner of the land for the extirpation of evil led to neglect of the family? This is a question which should be carefully considered by all who feel called to a traveling ministry in this day. At the moment of writing I hear of a servant of Christ sailing for Africa and leaving a wife and six young children in Scotland. No servant of Christ has right to judge another; but such facts do raise questions in our minds. Children are a great responsibility entrusted to us by God. It was never His original intention that our children should be brought up by others.
We learn more about the evil ways of the sons of Josiah from the prophetical books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel than from the historical books of the Kings and the Chronicles. Concerning Shallum we read in Jeremiah 22:10-1210Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country. 11For thus saith the Lord touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more: 12But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more. (Jeremiah 22:10‑12), “Weep ye not for the dead (that is, Josiah), neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away (that is, Shallum), for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.” This suggests that something worse than mere deportation was in store for Josiah’s worthless successor. Jehoiachim, a few years later, went into easy captivity, but no such portion awaited Shallum. Possibly Necho inflicted upon him what he would have liked to inflict upon the man who opposed his march to Carchemish. Shallum’s short reign was cruel according to Ezekiel 19:1-41Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. 3And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. 4The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. (Ezekiel 19:1‑4).
Concerning Jehoiakim a great deal is recorded in the prophetical books. Three sins in particular are laid to his charge. (1) Oppression of the people. Pharaoh Necho laid upon Judah a heavy war indemnity, which Jehoiakim was obliged to raise. “Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it into Pharaoh Necho” (2 Kings 23:3535And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh. (2 Kings 23:35)). As if this was not enough for the suffering people to bear, Jehoiakim compelled them to build palaces for himself without wages. Evil as the people were, Jehovah resented this tyrannical cruelty. “Woe unto him,” said He in His indignation. Jehovah loves to see a shepherd leading the flock, but Jehoiakim was a wolf, ravaging the sheep. The contrast between this monster and his father is divinely noted in Jeremiah 22:13-1713Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; 14That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? 16He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord. 17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. (Jeremiah 22:13‑17), “He judged the cause of the poor and needy: then it was well with him: was not this to know Me? saith Jehovah? The remnant of Israel might well mourn the loss of Josiah when his callous son thus held them in bondage. The moral grandeur of Israel and of David’s royal house had departed; but Jehoiakim would still affect material splendor. Let God’s saints today beware of attempting to keep up outward appearances when spiritual power has gone. God wants reality at all times.
(2) Jehoiakim not only oppressed the people, but he persecuted to the death those who witnessed against his deeds. He chased the faithful prophet Urijah into Egypt, fetched him back with an armed force, and put him to death (Jer. 26:20-2320And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: 21And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; 22And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. 23And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. (Jeremiah 26:20‑23)). He would have treated Jeremiah in the same way had not the princes resisted him. “When He maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble” (Psa. 9:1212When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. (Psalm 9:12)). (3) in addition to all the foregoing, Jehoiakim wickedly threw into the fire Jeremiah’s manuscript containing the words of God. Even his unholy companions were shocked but their pleading was in vain (Jer. 36). When we recall Josiah’s great reverence for the Word of God the behavior of his son appears the more terrible. The whole nation mourned when Josiah died; but Jehovah decreed that there should be no mourning for Jehoiakim. When Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, he bound Jehoiakim “in fetters, to carry him to Babylon” (2 Chron. 36:66Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. (2 Chronicles 36:6)). But he never went to Babylon, for Jehovah had said some time before “concerning the son of Josiah King of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying Ah, my brother! or Ah, sister! they shall not lament for him, saving, Ah, lord! or his glory! He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates, of Jerusalem” (Jer. 22:18-1918Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! 19He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 22:18‑19)). Thus did the indignant God of Israel express His abhorrence of this infamous son of a godly father.
Concerning Zedekiah, the last of the lion’s whelps (Ezek. 19:5-95Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. 6And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. 7And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. 8Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. 9And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 19:5‑9)), the youngest of Josiah’s sons. He succeeded his nephew Jehoiachin, who, after an evil reign of one hundred days, was carried into captivity in Babylon (2 Chron. 36:9-109Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 10And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 36:9‑10)). His short reign was so bad that Jehovah said that no man of his seed should ever sit upon the throne of David (Jer. 22:24-3024As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; 25And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. 27But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. 28Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. 30Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah. (Jeremiah 22:24‑30)). When speaking of these vile occupants of Israel’s throne the Holy Spirit said, “Oh earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of Jehovah.” He would have the rulers of every nation and in every age understand how hateful to God are the unrighteous ways of those, who, as His responsible stewards rule over the children of men. Zedekiah profited nothing by the calamities which befell his predecessors. He was Israel’s last hope. He was “a spreading vine of low stature” (Ezek. 17:66And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. (Ezekiel 17:6)). A very humiliating figure of speech indeed! But there might still have been crumbs of blessing for the unhappy people had he walked humbly with God. After his overthrow Jeremiah said of him “The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among: the nations” (Lam. 4:2020The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. (Lamentations 4:20)). Poor creature though he was, he counted for something with the people that were still in the land. With Zedekiah’s downfall Israel’s hopes were extinguished until the coming in power of the Lord Jesus. Zedekiah was a weak character, easily influenced by his courtiers and even by women. His outstanding sin was his violation of his oath of fealty to his overlord Nebuchadnezzar. The Chaldean “made him swear by God, but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel” (2 Chron. 36:1313And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. (2 Chronicles 36:13)). Nebuchadnezzar thought to secure him by making him swear by the sacred name; but the sequel proved that. Jehovah’s name was less to the Jew than to the Gentile! “Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Ex. 20:77Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)). Had he been true to his covenant, Zedekiah’s kingdom, poor and despicable though it was, might have stood (Ezek. 17:1414That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand. (Ezekiel 17:14)); but now, “As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.” Again, “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, as I live, surely Mine oath that he hath despised, and My covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head” (Ezek. 17:16-1916As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: 18Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. 19Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. (Ezekiel 17:16‑19)).
When Nebuchadnezzar discovered that his pledged vassal was negotiating with Egypt with reference to a revolt (Ezek. 17:1515But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? (Ezekiel 17:15)), he turned all his forces against him, and so completed the ruin of Judah and Jerusalem. If Zedekiah really felt that he should be free from the domination of Babylon, he should have sought help from God; instead, he treacherously turned to Egypt. Egypt, typically, represents the world as that from which God has delivered His people in grace, to seek its help in anything is a grievous offense in His sight. Let us remember this. Judgment fell first upon Judah; then, a few years later, upon Egypt also. Jehovah considered that wages were due to Nebuchadnezzar for his service in destroying Tire. That opulent commercial city did not yield rich spoil to its captors, much treasure having been carried away to the west in Tyrian ships. The wealth of Egypt, including the silver and gold carried thither by Necho from Jerusalem, was Jehovah’s recompense to the instrument of His righteous judgments (Ezek. 29:1818Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: (Ezekiel 29:18)).
It is interesting to note that both Assyria and Egypt, Israel’s two vain hopes at various times, fell under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar; but Israel, Assyria, and Egypt are all to be blessed together at the last, so gracious is our God (Isa. 19:18-2518In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. 19In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. 20And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. 21And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. 22And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:18‑25)). Meanwhile, it is sheer wickedness for the Jews to clamor for possession of Palestine. They have no claim whatever to the land. The God against whom they have sinned has definitely given the vineyard unto others (Mark 12:99What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. (Mark 12:9)). This will be reversed when the people bow humbly at the feet of their long-rejected Messiah. Pardon and blessing, with full possession of the land from the Nile to the Euphrates will then become their portion forever (Gen. 15:1818In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18)).
The following reprint of an article of mine which appeared in “The Witness,” June 1942, may interest our present readers:
The Coveted, But Missing Diadem
The downfall of the petty Jewish State two thousand five hundred years ago, was doubtless a small matter in the eyes of the politicians of that day. It would scarcely have made front-page news in the press of any country. For many years Judah had been tributary to Assyria, Egypt and Babylon, and the last occupant of the throne was a very despicable character. Yet the downfall of Judah was an event of the greatest possible importance in the history of the Earth. It meant the suspension for ages of the Creator’s gracious purpose for all nations.
Jerusalem and its people had a place in the mind of God never accorded to others. David’s throne was “the throne of Jehovah” (1 Chron. 29-23). It was meant to be the divine seat of government and blessing for the whole earth. The years of David’s rule, followed by Solomon’s forty years of peace and glory furnish a picture of what Jehovah desired. But the evil of the royal house, and the idolatries of the people made it impossible for God to go through with His gracious purpose.
While David’s throne stood, however feeble and contemptible might be its occupants, it was still “the throne of Jehovah.” The last king, Zedekiah, brought on the ruin by his perfidy.
Nebuchadnezzar “made him swear by God” (2 Chron. 36:1313And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. (2 Chronicles 36:13)), but he despised the oath by “breaking the covenant” (Ezek. 17:17-1817Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: 18Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. (Ezekiel 17:17‑18)). Nothing was sacred in his eyes. Now note these words of Jehovah to him “And thou profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, at the time of the iniquity of the end. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: his shall not be the same (or, what is, shall be no more). Exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high, I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is, and I will give it Him” (Ezek. 21:25-2725And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, 26Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 27I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:25‑27)). Ever since that day David’s throne has lain in the dust, and the diadem of rulership over the nations has been removed (Psa. 79:27-32).
No one has held the world-scepter since the overthrow of the throne of Jehovah in Jerusalem, and the removal of the diadem from the head of David’s unworthy heir. A limited measure of supremacy was granted to Nebuchadnezzar, and that only for a time. Babylon’s evil led to the subjugation of that Empire to another. “After thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” Others followed as allowed by God. But of no man yet has it been true, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth...Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him all nations shall serve Him” (Psa. 72:8-118He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (Psalm 72:8‑11)).
Aspirants for world-dominion have never been lacking, and some have achieved for a time a measure of success. But against all such persons there stands the solemn sentence of Ezekiel 21 “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it.” He who sets his mind upon universal sway courts ruin for himself, and for all who are associated with him.
At the present fearful juncture in the world’s history many are peering into the future anxiously. The word of God to Zedekiah answers all questions. God has One in His mind, once born in grace of David’s royal line, for whom worldwide rule is purposed. Convulsion must follow convulsion until He appears. Mark the words, “until He come whose right it is.” How often, when partaking of the Lord’s Supper, have the words, “till He come” delighted our hearts! In Ezekiel 21 we have another “till He come.” In 1 Corinthians 11:2626For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26), our removal to the Father’s house on high is in view; in Ezekiel 21 the adjustment of all earth’s disorders, and the firm establishment of blessing from pole to pole. David’s Heir—He who suffered for our salvation—will yet take up the diadem which many here coveted, but could not obtain; and from Jehovah’s long-loved center in Zion He will ride for His glory, and for the good of all creation.
“Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.”