hich the incarnation of the Logos is looked upon as the
highest consummation. It is true that the dwelling of God among His
people by means of the [Greek: pneuma Christou] must not be separated
from the personal manifestation of God in Christ, in whom dwelt the
fulness of the Godhead bodily, [Greek: somatikos]. The former stands to
the latter in the same relation, as does the river to the fountain; it
is the river of living water flowing forth from the body of Christ.
Both together form the true tabernacle of God among men, the new true
Ark of the Covenant; for the old things are the [Greek: skia ton
mellonton, to de soma Christou], Col. ii. 17; comp. Rev. xxi. 22:
[Greek: kai naon ouk eidon en aute. ho gar Kurios, ho Theos ho
pantokrator naos autes esti, kai to arnion]. The typical import of the
Ark of the Covenant is expressly declared in Heb. ix. 4, 5, and that
which was typified thereby is intimated in chap. iv. 16: [Greek:
proserchomtha de meta parhresias to throno tes charitos], where Christ
is designated as the true mercy-seat, as the true Ark of the Covenant.
Just as, formerly, God could be found over the Ark of the Covenant
only, by those from among his people who sought Him; so we have now,
through Christ, boldness and access with confidence in God (Eph. iii.
12); and it is only when offered in His name, in living union with Him,
that our prayers are acceptable, John xvi. 23. A consequence of that
highest realization of the idea of the kingdom of God, and, at the same
time, a sign that it has taken place, and a measure of the blessings
which Israel has to expect from its re-union with the Church of God, is
the gathering of the Gentiles into it, such as, by way of type and
prelude, took place even at the lower manifestations of the presence of
God among the people; compare, _e.g._, Josh. ix. 9: "And they (the
Gibeonites) said unto him: From a very far country thy servants are
come, because of the name ([Hebrew: lwM]) of Jehovah thy God, for we
have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt, [Pg 397] and
all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites," &c. In a manner
quite similar it is, in Zech. ii. 15 (11) also, connected with the
Lord's dwelling in Jerusalem: "And many nations shall be joined to the
Lord in that day; and they shall be my people; and I dwell in the midst
of thee."--[Hebrew: lwM ihvh lirvwliM] must be literally translated:
"On account of the name of the Lord (belonging) to Jerusalem,