Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v09400

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 165 lines

09405
 #27-31 At last the time drew nigh that Israel must die. Israel,
 a prince with God, had power over the Angel, and prevailed, yet
 must die. Joseph supplied him with bread, that he might not die
 by famine, but that did not secure him from dying by age or
 sickness. He died by degrees; his candle gradually burnt down to
 the socket, so that he saw the time drawing nigh. It is an
 advantage to see the approach of death, before we feel it, that
 we may be quickened to do, with all our might, what our hands
 find to do. However, death is not far from any of us. Jacob's
 care, as he saw the day approach, was about his burial; not the
 pomp of it, but he would be buried in Canaan, because it was the
 land of promise. It was a type of heaven, that better country,
 which he declared plainly he expected, #Heb 11:14|. Nothing will
 better help to make a death-bed easy, than the certain prospect
 of rest in the heavenly Canaan after death. When this was done,
 Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head, worshipping God, as it
 is explained, see #Heb 11:21|, giving God thanks for all his
 favours; in feebleness thus supporting himself, expressing his
 willingness to leave the world. Even those who lived on Joseph's
 provision, and Jacob who was so dear to him, must die. But
 Christ Jesus gives us the true bread, that we may eat and live
 for ever. To Him let us come and yield ourselves, and when we
 draw near to death, he who supported us through life, will meet
 us and assure us of everlasting salvation.
09410
 * Joseph visits his dying father. (1-7) Jacob blesses Joseph's
 sons. (8-22)

 #1-7 The death-beds of believers, with the prayers and counsels
 of dying persons, are suited to make serious impressions upon
 the young, the gay, and the prosperous: we shall do well to take
 children on such occasions, when it can be done properly. If the
 Lord please, it is very desirable to bear our dying testimony to
 his truth, to his faithfulness, and the pleasantness of his
 ways. And one would wish so to live, as to give energy and
 weight to our dying exhortations. All true believers are blessed
 at their death, but all do not depart equally full of spiritual
 consolations. Jacob adopted Joseph's two sons. Let them not
 succeed their father, in his power and grandeur in Egypt; but
 let them succeed in the inheritance of the promise made to
 Abraham. Thus the aged dying patriarch teaches these young
 persons to take their lot with the people of God. He appoints
 each of them to be the head of a tribe. Those are worthy of
 double honour, who, through God's grace, break through the
 temptations of worldly wealth and preferment, to embrace
 religion in disgrace and poverty. Jacob will have Ephraim and
 Manasseh to know, that it is better to be low, and in the
 church, than high, and out of it.

09417
 #8-22 The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says,
 They are my sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath
 showed me thy seed. Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see
 them coming from God's hand. He not only prevents our fears, but
 exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence
 had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had
 known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his
 troubles. Now he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed
 from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ, the Angel of the
 covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from misery and
 dangers, by the Divine power, coming through the ransom of the
 blood of Christ, in Scripture are often called redemption. In
 blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing
 to support his first-born, and would have removed his father's
 hands. But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial
 affection to one more than the other; but from a spirit of
 prophecy, and by the Divine counsel. God, in bestowing blessings
 upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts,
 graces, and comforts, and more of the good things of this life.
 He often gives most to those that are least likely. He chooses
 the weak things of the world; he raises the poor out of the
 dust. Grace observes not the order of nature, nor does God
 prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred, but as it
 pleases him. How poor are they who have no riches but those of
 this world! How miserable is a death-bed to those who have no
 well-grounded hope of good, but dreadful apprehensions of evil,
 and nothing but evil for ever!
09432
 * Jacob calls his sons to bless them. (1,2) Reuben, Simeon,
 Levi. (3-7) Judah. (8-12) Zebulun, Issachar, Dan. (13-18) Gad,
 Asher, Naphtali. (19-21) Joseph and Benjamin. (22-27) Jacob's
 charge respecting his burial, His death. (28-33)

 #1,2 All Jacob's sons were living. His calling them together was
 a precept for them to unite in love, not to mingle with the
 Egyptians; and foretold that they should not be separated, as
 Abraham's sons and Isaac's were, but should all make one people.
 We are not to consider this address as the expression of private
 feelings of affection, resentment, or partiality; but as the
 language of the Holy Ghost, declaring the purpose of God
 respecting the character, circumstances, and situation of the
 tribes which descended from the sons of Jacob, and which may be
 traced in their histories.

09434
 #3-7 Reuben was the first-born; but by gross sin, he forfeited
 the birthright. The character of Reuben is, that he was unstable
 as water. Men do not thrive, because they do not fix. Reuben's
 sin left a lasting infamy upon his family. Let us never do evil,
 then we need not fear being told of it. Simeon and Levi were
 passionate and revengeful. The murder of the Shechemites is a
 proof of this. Jacob protested against that barbarous act. Our
 soul is our honour; by its powers we are distinguished from, and
 raised above, the beasts that perish. We ought, from our hearts,
 to abhor all bloody and mischievous men. Cursed be their anger.
 Jacob does not curse their persons, but their lusts. I will
 divide them. The sentence as it respects Levi was turned into a
 blessing. This tribe performed an acceptable service in their
 zeal against the worshippers of the golden calf, #Ex 32|. Being
 set apart to God as priests, they were in that character
 scattered through the nation of Israel.

09439
 #8-12 Judah's name signifies praise. God was praised for him,
 chap. #29:35|, praised by him, and praised in him; therefore his
 brethren shall praise him. Judah should be a strong and
 courageous tribe. Judah is compared, not to a lion raging and
 ranging, but to a lion enjoying the satisfaction of his power
 and success, without creating vexation to others; this is to be
 truly great. Judah should be the royal tribe, the tribe from
 which Messiah the Prince should come. Shiloh, that promised Seed
 in whom the earth should be blessed, "that peaceable and
 prosperous One," or "Saviour," he shall come of Judah. Thus
 dying Jacob at a great distance saw Christ's day, and it was his
 comfort and support on his death-bed. Till Christ's coming,
 Judah possessed authority, but after his crucifixion this was
 shortened, and according to what Christ foretold, Jerusalem was
 destroyed, and all the poor harassed remnant of Jews were
 confounded together. Much which is here said concerning Judah,
 is to be applied to our Lord Jesus. In him there is plenty of
 all which is nourishing and refreshing to the soul, and which
 maintains and cheers the Divine life in it. He is the true Vine;
 wine is the appointed symbol of his blood, which is drink
 indeed, as shed for sinners, and applied in faith; and all the
 blessings of his gospel are wine and milk, without money and
 without price, to which every thirsty soul is welcome. #Isa
 55:1|.

09444
 #13-18 Concerning Zebulun: if prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a
 haven of ships, be sure Providence will so plant him. God
 appoints the bounds of our habitation. It is our wisdom and duty
 to accommodate ourselves to our lot, and to improve it; if
 Zebulun dwell at the haven of the sea, let him be for a haven
 of ships. Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was
 pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects, but pleasant
 fruits to recompense his toils. Let us, with an eye of faith,
 see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be
 pleasant; this will make our present services easy. Dan should,
 by art, and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his
 enemies, like a serpent biting the heel of the traveller. Jacob,
 almost spent, and ready to faint, relieves himself with those
 words, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!" The salvation
 he waited for was Christ, the promised Seed; now that he was
 going to be gathered to his people, he breathes after Him to
 whom the gathering of the people shall be. He declared plainly
 that he sought heaven, the better country, #Heb 11:13,14|. Now
 he is going to enjoy the salvation, he comforts himself that he
 had waited for the salvation. Christ, as our way to heaven, is
 to be waited on; and heaven, as our rest in Christ, is to be
 waited for. It is the comfort of a dying saint thus to have
 waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have
 what he has been waiting for.