The literal application of this text was supposed to have reference to the deliverance of the nation of Israel from the Assyrian army.
Then they would have the joy of seeing King Hezekiah in all his royal apparel, and freed from the enemy.
The deliverance was accomplished (2 Chron. 32:21),when God sent an angel into the camp of the king of Assyria.
But there is also a spiritual application to this text as well. I believe it to be prophetic of the vision we shall behold of the King of Kings in all His beauty.
(1) Let’s consider what the child of God has to look forward to.
(A) "Thine Eyes" shall behold Christ as King
(a) Of Him, Melchesedic, David and Solomon were but types. (Psalms 2:6) God said, "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion."
(John 18:36) Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."
(b) (Heb. 2:9) "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, who for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man."
(B) The patriarch’s and prophets of old saw Him in human form (Josh 5).
(a) The Jews saw Him in His humiliation, as "A Man OF Sorrows"
(b) The disciples and apostles, saw Him in His risen glory.
(c) John saw Him in the vision on the Isle of Patmos. (Rev. 1:13-16).
(d) Hereafter, when Jesus comes all His people shall see Him " In all His Beauty".
In all of His royalty, all of His power, all of majesty, we shall see Him clearly and eternally.
(2) "Thine Eyes Shall See Heaven" "The Land That IS Very Far Off"
(A) Of Heaven, Canaan was a type.A land of abundance and great beauty.
(a) A land where they could enjoy freedom after the slavery of Egypt.
(b) A land of triumph after all the warfare.
(c) A land of rest after the toils and struggles of the desert.
(B) The crowning distinction of Canaan was the Temple, which God had filled with His presence and glory.
(C) But Heaven is all Temple, His presence is everywhere.
(a) (Rev.21:23) "And the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
(3) The Certainty of It’s Realization. "Thine Eyes Shall Behold The Land That Is Very Far Off."
(a) This was the purpose of Christ in our redemption.
This was no after thought on the part of our Saviour, He designed our freedom from the dominion of sin, our deliverance from this present world.
(1) He also prayed in (John 17:24) "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory which thou hast given Me; for thou lovedest Me before the foundation of the world."
(Ill.) (From Moody’s Anecdotes & Illustrations pg. 132)
Many years ago there lived a bedridden saint, and a Christian lady who visited her found her always cheerful. This visitor had a friend of great wealth who constantly looked on the gloomy side of life, and was always cast down although she professed to be a Christian. She thought it would do her lady friend some good to take her to see this bedridden saint, so she took her to this house. She lived in a five story house, when they got to the first floor the lady lifted her skirt tail and said, "how dark and filthy it is!" "It’s better higher up," said her friend. They got to to the next floor, and again it was no better:; the lady complained again, but her friend replied, "Its better higher up." At last they got to the fifth story, and when they went into the sickroom , there was a nice carpet on the floor, there were flowering plants in the window, and little birds singing. And there they found this bedridden saint--one of those God is polishing for His kingdom-- just beaming with joy. The lady said to her, It must be very hard for you to lie here." She smiled, and
said, "It’s Better Higher Up." Yes! And when things go against us here in this life, let us remember that "It’s Better Higher Up."
(b) My eyes are set on better things
This World Is Not My Home
I’m Just a Passing through
My Treasures Are Laid Up Somewhere Beyond the Blue
The Angels Beckon Me From Heaven’s Open Door
And I Can’t Feel At Home In this World Anymore.
