60. The promise here bursts forth unexpectedly like the sun from the
dark clouds. With all her forgetfulness of God, God still remembers her;
showing that her redemption is altogether of grace. Contrast "I will
remember," with "thou hast not remembered"
(Eze 16:22, 43);
also "My covenant," with "Thy covenant"
(Eze 16:61;
Ps 106:45);
then the effect produced on her is
(Eze 16:63)
"that thou mayest remember." God's promise was one of promise
and of grace. The law, in its letter, was Israel's
(thy) covenant, and in this restricted view was long subsequent
(Ga 3:17).
Israel interpreted it as a covenant of works, which she while boasting
of, failed to fulfil, and so fell under its condemnation
(2Co 3:3, 6).
The law, in its spirit, contains the germ of the Gospel; the New
Testament is the full development of the Old, the husk of the outer
form being laid aside when the inner spirit was fulfilled in Messiah.
God's covenant with Israel, in the person of Abraham, was the reason
why, notwithstanding all her guilt, mercy was, and is, in store for
her. Therefore the heathen or Gentile nations must come to her for
blessings, not she to them.
everlasting covenant--
(Eze 37:26;
2Sa 23:5;
Isa 55:3).
The temporary forms of the law were to be laid aside, that in its
permanent and "everlasting" spirit it might be established
(Jer 31:31-37; 32:40; 50:4, 5;
Heb 8:8-13).
JFB.
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