1 (A Song of degrees of David.)

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Yahweh.

David in spirit foretells the setting up of certain thrones of judgment in Jerusalem. His words are :

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into The House of Yahweh. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, Ο Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together :whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Yahweh, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of Yahweh.

For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. (Psalm cxxii. 1-5.)

Since David did not in his lifetime have the opportunity to enter any Temple in Jerusalem, the above testimonies must refer to events then and still future. To stand within the gates of the one, will then be to go into the other. It is the place whither the tribes of the Lord go up : that is to say, it is the place whither all nations, once estranged from God, but now reconciled, go up from year to year to worship.

They are no longer Gentiles, unknown and unrecognised by the Deity, but are admitted into His family. Concerning this time we read:

Sing and rejoice, Ο daughter of Zion : for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Yahweh. AND MANY NATIONS SHALL BE JOINED UNTO YAHWEH IN THAT DAY, AND SHALL PE MY PEOPLE : and I Will dwell in the midst of thee. And Yahweh shall inherit Judah, his portion, in the Holy Land and shall choose Jerusalem again.

At that time they shall call Jerusalem THE THRONE OF YAHWEH : and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Yahweh το JERUSALEM : neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Zee. 11. 10-12 ; Jer. in. 17).

These verses, taken in connection with the Psalmabove quoted, indicate the establishment of a new administration at JERUSALEM operative throughout all the earth,

" for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem" (Isa. 2: 3.)

With David, then, we also may look for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Psalm 122 and in view of the specifications in Ezekiel we may understand how this prophecy will be fulfilled when the Temple is co-extensive with the ancient city of Jerusalem.

Bro Henry Sulley

5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Since Jerusalem is to be the centre for dispensing justice for all the earth, suitable provision must there be made for the thrones of judgment to which a reference is made in these prophecies.

The preparation of the occupants of the "Thrones of the House of David," commenced in the initial phase with a fulfilment of the promise of a son to David (in

2nd Sam. 7. 12, 14, 16 ; Isa. 9. 6-7) when the Son of God was born to Mary. Thus we read :

Mary, thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High : and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David :

And He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever ; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1. 30-33.)

But the " Throne of the Lord" comprises many seats of jurisdiction. The amplified aspect of it may be gathered from the words of Jesus to His disciples:

Verily I say unto you, ye which have followed Me, In the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne oj His glory (Matt. xxv. 31 : Acts 111. 21 : xv. 16) ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matt. xix. 28.)

Also from His last message to the ecclesia, thus :

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev. 111. 21.)

These testimonies indicate that when the throne of David is restored to Jerusalem there will be co-rulers, and many will be required for judicial purposes in an administration which is to extend throughout the world.

The buildings composing the circle band are strikingly fitted for judicial use. In fact, their peculiar construction points to such a use. Each double entrance, or porch, gives access to a space about twenty-two feet wide, which will serve for approach to the judgment seats all round the house.

Then the avenues on either side of the house (the place left) form a necessary and convenient means of communication between all parts of the house. There will be at least three hundred and eighty-nine positions where the judges may sit upon the " Thrones of the House of David " within the porches, between the cherubim, before the Most Holy, which we shall see later is the most likely place for the judge to be seated.

Bro Henry Sulley 5.2.1.