2 Or, 'May they have rest that love thee.' It is a prayer rather than a prophecy; but in the prayer there is involved the idea that the prayer will certainly be answered. Jerusalem was the representative of the Church of God. A prayer for its prosperity was a prayer for the church—it was equivalent to 'Thy kingdom come.' It is one of the great duties of man to promote the kingdom of God; and in doing so he is bringing upon himself the divine blessing.—P.

7 Peace^k be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

k Is.2.4; 9.7; 54.13; 66.12. Jn.16.33.

8 For^l my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

l Ps.16.3; 119.63, with Je.29.7. Phi.2.4.

9 Becauseⁿ of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

n Ne.2.10. Ps.26.8; 51.18; 132.7-9; 137.5,6; 84.1,2,10. Is.62.1,6,7.

Notes

Ver. 1. I was glad. There is clearly but a single speaker in ver. 1, 8, 9, and this is the Prince of peace, who alone has power to grant true peace to his church. Jn. 14. 27. C.

Ver. 6. Pray. Intercession forms, at present, the great work of Christ in heaven, He. 7. 25; and if Christ be in us the hope of glory, Col. 1. 27, his power and presence will chiefly appear in the concurrence of our spirit with his. C.

Ver. 8. For my brethren. Can Christ ever call sinners brethren? The mystery is solved by their 'being born again of water and of the Spirit,' and therefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren. He. 2. 11, 12. C.

Reflections.—They who love God himself cannot but delight to draw near unto him in the ordinances of his worship; cannot but love his church, and be earnestly concerned in prayer and in practice for her real welfare. From regard to the saints, who are therein begotten and nourished up to eternal life, and especially from regard to the honour of her God, they will constantly seek her good.