The Prospect of the Godly.
xxxiii. 17. Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.
The literal application of this prophecy is generally supposed to have reference to the deliverance of the Jews from the Assyrian army. They would then have the joy of seeing Hezekiah in his goodly apparel, and, freed from the presence of the invader, would be left at liberty to enjoy their own pleasant and goodly land. The deliverance was accomplished (2 Chron. xxxii. 21). But there is another application of the text—to the beatific vision of the King of kings in the heavenly land. Let us then consider—
I. The glorious prospect before the children of God. “Thine eyes,” &c. The prospect respects—1. The vision of Christ. Christ is king. Of Him Melchisedec, David, and Solomon were types (Ps. ii. 6, &c.; John xviii. 36; Heb. ii. 9; Rev. i. 5; 1 Tim. vi. 10). Patriarchs and prophets saw Him in human form. The Jews saw Him in His humiliation, as “a man of sorrows,” &c. The apostles and disciples saw Him in His risen glory. John saw Him in the vision of Patmos (Rev. i. 13, &c.). Hereafter all His people shall see Him “in His beauty,” in all His regal splendour and magnificence. They shall see Him clearly, fully, eternally. 2. The vision of heaven. “The land,” &c. Of heaven Canaan was a type. It was a land of beauty and abundance; of freedom, after the slavery of Egypt; of triumph, after warfare; of rest, after the toils of the desert. Its crowning distinction was the Temple, which God filled with His presence and glory. But heaven is all temple.
II. The certainty of its realisation. “Thine eyes shall,” &c. 1. This was contemplated by Christ in our redemption. He designed our emancipation from the dominion of sin, our deliverance from this present evil world, and also our elevation to His glorious kingdom (Heb. ii. 10; John xvii. 24). 2. This is repeatedly the subject of the Divine promises (Luke xxii. 29, xii. 32; John xiv. 2, 3, &c.). 3. To this tends the work of grace in all its influence on the soul. See what our calling is (1 Pet. v. 10); to what we are begotten (1 Pet. i. 3, 4); why we are sanctified (Rev. iii. 4). 4. A goodly number are now enjoying the fulfilment of these promises (Rev. vii. 9, 14). 5. The glory and joy of Christ would not be complete without the eternal salvation of His people (Isa. liii. 11).
III. The preparation necessary for its enjoyment. Nothing is necessary in the way of merit, price, or self-righteousness. But if we would see the King, we must make Him the object of our believing, affectionate regard now. If we would see “the land,” &c., we must seek and labour for its attainment (Heb. xi. 16, iv. 10).—Jabez Burns, D.D.: Pulpit Cyclopædia, vol. ii. pp. 154–157).