THESE LAST two prophecies of Balaam are the most wonderful of all. They rise higher and higher in grandeur until Israel’s cup of blessing fairly overflows.
“As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.”
The lignaloes is a small shrub with a lovely fragrance and tells of the Lord’s delight in His people when they are humbled before Him and their offerings, all speaking of Christ, will go up to Him as a sweet savor. “Which the Lord hath planted.” God has provided for His praise and the praise of His beloved Son in the millennial scene; Jerusalem shall be “a praise in the earth” (Isa. 62:77And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isaiah 62:7)). The Psalms especially are filled with the notes of praise to God from His redeemed people in that coming day.
“And as cedar trees beside the waters.” The cedars speak of greatness and dignity, thus Israel’s superiority and power among the nations are set forth in this beautiful poetic language. Nor shall their glory fade away as it once did for they shall be as “cedars beside the waters,” planted there by the Lord Himself.
“He shall pour water out of his buckets.” Israel shall be the channel of blessing in the great outpouring of grace upon the cleansed earth in that day. How different a spirit will animate the Jew then for instead of gathering to himself, he will carry blessing for others wherever he goes. “His seed shall be in many waters.”
Israel shall be great in that day; “his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.” Yet in the midst of their exaltation the Lord will have His people ever to remember that it was through no might of their own, nor was there anything in them that drew down divine favor. It was in sovereign grace that He took them up; “God brought him forth out of Egypt.” Well it is for us to remember that only by grace have we been saved, and every blessing is a gift from God.
“He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up.” It is a picture of Israel at rest after victory. They will be conscious of their power and who will dare to disturb their peace?
God will pour out His Spirit upon His people, and their cup will overflow with spiritual blessings. But we believe these predictions tell of material prosperity as well. “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” (Isa. 35:11The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. (Isaiah 35:1)). All creation will be blessed but the fairest and most favored spot on earth will be the little land of Palestine, where Christ as Messiah and King shall reign over all. Jerusalem, “beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth,... the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:22Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)), will be the capital of His kingdom.
What scenes of coming glories are before us in these wonderful scriptures! And yet the joys and glories that belong to the child of God now surpass them all. May we not be discouraged through looking within at our poor selves, or at the evil and confusion all around us, but have faith to look up, to rest quietly in our Saviour’s love, while we wait for His coming.
ML-05/26/1974