Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v09100

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 112 lines

09108
 * Joseph preferred by Potiphar. (1-6) Joseph resists temptation.
 (7-12) Joseph is falsely accused by his mistress. (13-18) He is
 cast into prison, God is with him there. (19-23)

 #1-6 Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and
 ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They
 may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they
 cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us
 from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in
 dungeons; but they cannot shut us out from communion with God,
 from the throne of grace, or take from us the blessings of
 salvation. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the
 house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we
 do prosperous. Good men are the blessings of the place where
 they live; good servants may be so, though mean and lightly
 esteemed. The prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for
 the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the
 sake of one good servant in it.

09114
 #7-12 Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both
 to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires
 constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We
 have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes
 infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and
 reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife
 showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he
 found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the
 frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his
 principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more
 than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to
 resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great
 an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three
 children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might
 most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose
 favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if
 he slighted her, and made her his enemy. The time and place
 favoured the temptation. To all this was added frequent,
 constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled Joseph to
 overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both
 to God and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as
 justice and gratitude, not in any thing to wrong those who place
 trust in us, how secretly soever it may be done. He would not
 offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1. He
 considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God,
 who professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was
 to which he was tempted. Others might look upon it as a small
 matter; but Joseph did not so think of it. Call sin by its own
 name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this nature always be
 looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3.
 Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against
 God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and
 his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. The
 grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the temptation, by
 avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the
 temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we
 mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare,
 and as a roe from the hunter.

09120
 #13-18 Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to make him a
 guilty man, endeavoured to be avenged on him. Those that have
 broken the bonds of modesty, will never be held by the bonds of
 truth. It is no new thing for the best of men to be falsely
 accused of the worst of crimes, by those who themselves are the
 worst of criminals. It is well there is a day of discovery
 coming, in which all shall appear in their true characters.

09126
 #19-23 Joseph's master believed the accusation. Potiphar, it is
 likely, chose that prison, because it was the worst; but God
 designed to open the way to Joseph's honour. Joseph was owned
 and righted by his God. He was away from all his friends and
 relations; he had none to help or comfort him; but the Lord was
 with Joseph, and showed him mercy. Those that have a good
 conscience in a prison, have a good God there. God gave him
 favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison; he trusted him
 to manage the affairs of the prison. A good man will do good
 wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and
 banishment. Let us not forget, through Joseph, to look unto
 Jesus, who suffered being tempted, yet without sin; who was
 slandered, and persecuted, and imprisoned, but without cause;
 who by the cross ascended to the throne. May we be enabled to
 follow the same path in submitting and in suffering, to the same
 place of glory.
09131
 * The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams
 interpreted by Joseph. (1-19) The ingratitude of the chief
 butler. (20-23)

 #1-19 It was not so much the prison that made the butler and
 baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden
 the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be
 concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is
 often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also
 learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good
 reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever
 it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to
 ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his
 advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not
 Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And
 thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing
 otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message
 prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect
 upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the
 wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states
 his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we
 should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of
 others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not
 upbraid others with their guilt.