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That is the inspired comment on iron; "it breaks in pieces", it bruises, and shall we
object to or attempt to correct the language of Holy Writ, without coming under the
charge of yielding feigned obedience? Iron is mentioned in the Psalms five times.
Apart from Psa. 2: iron is used of fetters and likened to affliction, and the bars of a
prison (Psa. 105: 18; 107: 10, 16; 149: 8). Iron is introduced into the Scriptures as
one of the attempts of the line of Cain to alleviate the curse that had come on the earth
(Gen. 4: 22). Egypt is likened to "an iron furnace" (Deut. 4: 20), and no tool made of
iron was permitted to fashion the stones used in building an altar (Deut. 27: 5), and a
heaven above and an earth beneath likened to iron, was a disciplinary judgment
(Lev. 26: 19; Deut. 28: 23). Several times we read of the "chariots of iron"
employed by the Canaanites (Josh. 17: 16, 18; Judges 1: 19; 4: 3, 13). The question
of Jeremiah "shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?" (Jer. 15: 12) is answered in
the Millennium. The rod of iron will do this. The devouring great iron teeth of the Beast,
the down treading feet of iron and clay of the image will be met and more than met by
the rule of the rod of IRON. The Hebrew word raa to break, is used in Psa. 2: 9;
Jer. 15: 12, and its equivalent Chaldaic word in Dan. 2: 40. These are facts which no
amount of special pleading can set aside. Again let us note the testimony of Psa. 110::
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine
enemies Thy footstool. The LORD shall send the ROD OF THY STRENGTH out of
Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies" (Psa. 110: 1, 2).
Blessing Radiates from Jerusalem
If the words "The LORD said unto My Lord" undoubtedly refer to Christ
(Matt. 22: 44), then the objection that the proximity of "the Lord" and "His Anointed"
rules out Christ from Psa. 2: is shown to be invalid. Here the Lord is seen ruling not in
a world of universal peace, but "out of Zion" and "in the midst" of enemies. At the same
time, and at the very same period in which many of the nations will yield feigned
obedience, we read:
"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psa. 110: 3 A.V.).
"Thy people offer themselves willingly (margin, are freewill offerings)" (Psa. 110: 3 R.V.).
Here we have inspired comparison. The nations yielding feigned obedience; Israel, at
last, offering willing obedience. This leads on to another feature associated with the fact
namely that the blessing of this Millennial kingdom and afterwards is first of all focused
in Jerusalem as a radiating centre, and from that centre light and truth will be spread until
the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth, as the waters cover the sea.
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain",
that is the first statement.
"For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the
sea" (Isa. 11: 9),
that is the sequel. The answer to the rebellion of the kings of the earth is found in
Psa. 2: 6,