(Continued-Chapter V-The Noonday Radiance of Messianic Glory)

This passage states that Israel's future ruler is to be of themselves yet He will do what no mortal has ever done--draw near unto God. If He were simply a man, He could not come into God's presence. After saying that this one will approach Him, God adds, by way of emphasis, "who hath had boldness (surety of his heart) to approach unto me? saith the Lord." No man in his present sinful condition can approach God. But this one will approach Him. Therefore He is more than a man--He is the God-man.

This passage reiterates the promise found in Psalm 110, namely, that Messiah shall be both a King and a Priest. According to this forecast, He will not be a priest after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchizedek. Hence Jeremiah's statement is an echo of David's in Psalm 110.

In this chapter I have examined the principal messianic predictions of the period under review that relate to the nature and person of Messiah. We have seen that the prophets of this noonday period of messianic splendor did not change the general features of the messianic portrait which they inherited from the preceding centuries but simply brought out the features in a clearer and bolder manner. Our knowledge concerning Him may be summed up as follows: He is to be born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem. He will mount the throne of David and be recognized as the "Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace." He will be a King-priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jerusalem will be called the throne of God, because He is God who sits there and reigns over the nations. When He mounts the throne, He lifts the curse and restores the primitive order. Glorious will be His reign.