V. 12.— Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. The Apostle here confirms his assertion by a quotation from Psalms 22 :, which he applies to Christ. Indeed, it is evident that this Psalm is descriptive of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory which should follow. If it has any relation to David, it is very remote. In the passage quoted by the Apostle, Christ expressly calls His people brethren. Through Him they are all adopted into God’ s family, and are even now the sons of God. 1 John iii. 2. This, like other mysteries of the kingdom of God, was represented in His dealings with Israel, concerning whom He says,— "Israel is my son, even my firstborn,” Exodus 4:22, in reference to which the Apostle writes,— “ To whom pertaineth the adoption.” Romans 9:4. God promised to Abraham a numerous posterity, to be a God to Him and to his seed after Him, and to give them the land of Canaan. These promises were all limited to that branch of the family from which Christ was to spring; for one great object which God had in view, was to manifest His faithfulness in the promise, that all the families of the earth should be blessed in the seed of Abraham. It was therefore necessary that this family should be kept distinct; and therefore was the middle- wall of partition set up between it and all other families. Isaac, as being the progenitor of Christ, was the child of promise, Galatians 4:23; and for the same reason Jacob was beloved and Esau hated, Abraham had seven sons besides Isaac, but they had no part in the covenant. The Apostle teaches us that the promise, “ I will be a God to thee and to thy seed,” does not refer to Abraham's posterity in general, but to one of his descendants, namely, Christ. Galatians 3:16. Now, the Jewish dispensation was a model of the kingdom of God; and, as only they that are Christ’ s are Abraham’ s seed and heirs according to the promise, Galatians 3:29, so the first covenant was exclusively made with that branch of the family from which Christ was to spring. That family alone, of all the families of the earth, was acknowledged of God as His people. He dwelt among them. He showed His Word unto Jacob, His statutes and His judgments unto Israel, while He suffered all the other families of the earth to walk in their own ways. The carnal relation of Israel to Christ was a shadow of the spiritual relation of the true Israel to their glorious Head; and the carnal blessings in earthly places, with which Israel after the flesh was blessed, were a figure for the time then present of the spiritual blessings bestowed on the true Israel. When our Lord was informed that His mother and His brethren stood without desiring to speak with Him, He replied,— "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” He knew, or acknowledged no man after the flesh; but "stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:49-50. Hence we learn, that those whom Christ is not ashamed to call brethren are the members of His Church. The children of the new covenant, who are all taught of God, have all heard and learned of the Father; are delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. These alone are the brethren of Christ whom He is not ashamed to acknowledge. Thy name.— The name of God is the expression of his character. One man is distinguished from another by his name. Jesus declared the name of God to His brethren, John 17:26, by manifesting His own character. God proclaimed His name before Moses. Exodus 33:19. He was alone, no man was to be seen throughout the mount, Exodus 34:3; and when he came down, Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone, so that Aaron and the children of Israel were afraid to come nigh him. Exodus 34:30. This transaction is explained by the Apostle, when he says,— " We all, with open face,” or, perhaps rather, in an unveiled face, " beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. A view of God’ s character has a transforming influence. Here we see through a glass darkly; but hereafter we shall see Him as He is, and shall be satisfied when we awake with His likeness. Psalms 17:15. 1 John 3:2. In the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee.— Jesus sang praises to God in the midst of the great assembly in the temple, which was typical of the Church. He is still present in the Churches of the saints; and through His brethren, and in the midst of them, He still praises His Father.