Thy name is 'the Angel of the Lord,' or the 'Angel Jehovah' (Gen.
be fastened to the cross. These eyes are to weep at the grave of Lazarus and over Jerusalem. That body which now lies in a stony cradle, is soon to lie in a stony tomb. And yet all these things link themselves with His Godhead. The Son of the living God is here; and Jesus of Nazareth is He,—the very Christ of God.
3. Thou art the Angel of the Covenant
Thy name is 'the Angel of the Lord,' or the 'Angel Jehovah' (Gen. 16:7, 13, 18:1, 2, 17, 48:16; Judg. 6:11–24), or the Angel of the Covenant (Mal. 3:7). Thou art He to whom the name Jehovah appertains; Jehovah, and Jehovah's Messenger; the Sent of the Father (John 6:44), His true Siloam (John 9:7), His covenant Angel, to do His redeeming work on earth among the sons of men.
All Israel's history is full of this Angel and His doings; every Jew knew His name in connection with God's interpositions of grace and power; every Jew connected that mysterious messenger with Messiah. Angel He was; yet more than angel in the excellency of His power and in the greatness of His love. 'The Angel of His presence saved them' (Isa. 63:9), is the story of many a chapter in Israel's annals. Oftentimes, when things were at their worst, out from the presence of the Lord this Angel came, and wrought salvation by His mighty power. 'The arm of the Lord awoke, and put on strength;' and Israel recognised in this the interposition of their own Messiah, of Him who was afflicted in all their affliction, who had again and again said, How shall I give thee up, O Israel? how shall I deliver thee up, O Ephraim?—of Him who, looking back upon His own gracious dealings with the ever-murmuring, ever-rebelling nation in ages past, uttered these words of love, perhaps the warmest, truest, tenderest words of love ever breathed from human lips: 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen doth gather her chickens under her wings; and ye would not!' Yes; and while uttering these words of love, the Angel of the Covenant wept,—wept because they would not be saved, because they would not be blest! 'Not willing that any should perish, but that