The Man-child who is to "rule all nations with a rod of iron" embraces both Christ and the Church ; the interval from His ascension to that of hers not being looked upon as time, and both taken as one event, of which His was the first-fruits."
The portion of the Church is to reign over the nations in His heavenly glory, when the earth will be brought into ordered subjection in the "administration of the fullness of times"-the millennial kingdom.
" Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?" says the apostle. This is, then, the portion of the Church. But she has a sweeter portion than that of judging the nations,-she has the Bridegroom Himself as her heart's portion-" the Bright and Morning Star."
When Christ asks for the heathen, according to the second psalm, He will have the Church safely in the glory, and she will be joint-heir with Him, the bride of the Lamb.
Many passages might be cited in the Old Testament which show that where Christ is spoken of, there the Church is included as seen in Him. She herself is never spoken of. She was hidden in God's own. counsels. This is "the mystery" (Eph. 5:32) which, until it was revealed by Paul, was "kept secret"-"was not made known"-"hid in God." (See Rom..16:25 ; Eph. 3:5-9; Col. 1:26.)
Thus, to resume, when passages only true of Him are imported into the New Testament, we find them applied to the Church-as, for instance, this second psalm.
We may compare, with this thought in our minds, Isaiah 49:6, where it applies to Christ only, with Acts 13:47, appropriated by Paul in the New Testament for the Church.
Also Isaiah 1. 8,9, where Christ is before the mind of the Spirit, with Rom. 8:33, 34, which is the portion of the saints. Comp. also Is. 49:8 with 2 Cor. 6:2; and Eph. 6:13-17 with Is. 59:17, etc.
This will help us in understanding these " unsearchable riches of Christ."
How sweet, then, that when we read of Him in the Old Testament, we find the Church's portion, as united to Him, bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh, by the Spirit sent down at Pentecost!