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No.12.
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."
pp. 155 - 159
The principle, that a movement toward the goal of the ages is followed by a rupture
and a gap, which in its turn is followed by another movement in the nature of `fullness' or
pleroma, has now been established. The cataclysm of Gen. 1: 2 is succeeded by the
six-day creation which in its turn ends with the expulsion of man from the garden and his
ultimate return to the dust from which he was taken. This lesser creation, with its
stretched out heaven, the firmament, is the first of a series of fullnesses that pave the way
for the advent of Him in Whom "All the fullness" dwells.
The reader will be familiar with the words: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness
thereof", but may not be aware that in addition to these, there are several passages which
read "and all that is therein", these two must be included in the references to the great
`fullness'. In most cases, the A.V. gives a marginal note to guide the student, but no
theory that involves the number of references should be built without personal
investigation of the original.
This conception of `fullness' is not limited to the earth, for the sea, the world and the
land are also included. In some instances the `earth' is limited to the land of Israel, as for
example the reference in Deut. 33: 16 where we read of the precious things of the
`earth' and by the fact that the Hebrew eretz is used, we might assume that this passage
refers to the wide `earth'. A glance at the context however will show that eretz is here
used in its more restricted sense for it occurs in verse 13 "Blessed of the Lord be His
land" and the whole chapter is devoted to `the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God
blessed the children of Israel'. In nearly ever case, however, what is said of the `land' of
Israel is but a type and shadow of what shall one day be true of the earth.
No such limitation however is attached to Psa. 24: 1, 2 for we read not only that the
earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, but `the world, and all they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods'.
Expositors and commentators have given scant attention to these words, and many
appear to have looked at them and `passed by on the other side'. There is more here
however than at first appears. In Psa. 136: we read:
"To Him that by wisdom, made the heavens:
For His mercy endureth for ever.
To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters;
For His mercy endureth for ever" (Psa. 136: 5, 6).
That the creation of the six days is in view, the subsequent references to `great lights',
`the sun to rule by day and the moon and stars to rule by night', make clear.