Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v23150

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 105 lines

23157
 * The psalmist complains of the miseries of the church. (1-7)
 Its former prosperity and present desolation. (8-16) A prayer
 for mercy. (17-19)

 #1-7 He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd
 of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his
 love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his
 converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his
 people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not
 right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will
 try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is
 displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears,
 and their enemies in triumph. There is no salvation but from
 God's favour; there is no conversion to God but by his own
 grace.

23164
 #8-16 The church is represented as a vine and a vineyard. The
 root of this vine is Christ, the branches are believers. The
 church is like a vine, needing support, but spreading and
 fruitful. If a vine do not bring forth fruit, no tree is so
 worthless. And are not we planted as in a well-cultivated
 garden, with every means of being fruitful in works of
 righteousness? But the useless leaves of profession, and the
 empty boughs of notions and forms, abound far more than real
 piety. It was wasted and ruined. There was a good reason for
 this change in God's way toward them. And it is well or ill with
 us, according as we are under God's smiles or frowns. When we
 consider the state of the purest part of the visible church, we
 cannot wonder that it is visited with sharp corrections. They
 request that God would help the vine. Lord, it is formed by
 thyself, and for thyself, therefore it may, with humble
 confidence, be committed to thyself.

23173
 #17-19 The Messiah, the Protector and Saviour of the church, is
 the Man of God's right hand; he is the Arm of the Lord, for all
 power is given to him. In him is our strength, by which we are
 enabled to persevere to the end. The vine, therefore, cannot be
 ruined, nor can any fruitful branch perish; but the unfruitful
 will be cut off and cast into the fire. The end of our
 redemption is, that we should serve Him who hath redeemed us,
 and not go back to our old sins.
23176
 * God is praised for what he has done for his people. (1-7)
 Their obligations to him. (8-16)

 #1-7 All the worship we can render to the Lord is beneath his
 excellences, and our obligations to him, especially in our
 redemption from sin and wrath. What God had done on Israel's
 behalf, was kept in remembrance by public solemnities. To make a
 deliverance appear more gracious, more glorious, it is good to
 observe all that makes the trouble we are delivered from appear
 more grievous. We ought never to forget the base and ruinous
 drudgery to which Satan, our oppressor, brought us. But when, in
 distress of conscience, we are led to cry for deliverance, the
 Lord answers our prayers, and sets us at liberty. Convictions of
 sin, and trials by affliction, prove his regard to his people.
 If the Jews, on their solemn feast-days, were thus to call to
 mind their redemption out of Egypt, much more ought we, on the
 Christian sabbath, to call to mind a more glorious redemption,
 wrought out for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, from worse bondage.

23183
 #8-16 We cannot look for too little from the creature, nor too
 much from the Creator. We may have enough from God, if we pray
 for it in faith. All the wickedness of the world is owing to
 man's wilfulness. People are not religious, because they will
 not be so. God is not the Author of their sin, he leaves them to
 the lusts of their own hearts, and the counsels of their own
 heads; if they do not well, the blame must be upon themselves.
 The Lord is unwilling that any should perish. What enemies
 sinners are to themselves! It is sin that makes our troubles
 long, and our salvation slow. Upon the same conditions of faith
 and obedience, do Christians hold those spiritual and eternal
 good things, which the pleasant fields and fertile hills of
 Canaan showed forth. Christ is the Bread of life; he is the Rock
 of salvation, and his promises are as honey to pious minds. But
 those who reject him as their Lord and Master, must also lose
 him as their Saviour and their reward.
23192
 * An exhortation to judges. (1-5) The doom of evil rulers. (6-8)

 #1-5 Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public
 good. Magistrates are the ministers of God's providence, for
 keeping up order and peace, and particularly in punishing
 evil-doers, and protecting those that do well. Good princes and
 good judges, who mean well, are under Divine direction; and bad
 ones, who mean ill, are under Divine restraint. The authority of
 God is to be submitted to, in those governors whom his
 providence places over us. But when justice is turned from what
 is right, no good can be expected. The evil actions of public
 persons are public mischiefs.

23197
 #6-8 It is hard for men to have honour put upon them, and not to
 be proud of it. But all the rulers of the earth shall die, and
 all their honour shall be laid in the dust. God governs the
 world. There is a righteous God to whom we may go, and on whom
 we may depend. This also has respect to the kingdom of the
 Messiah. Considering the state of affairs in the world, we have
 need to pray that the Lord Jesus would speedily rule over all
 nations, in truth, righteousness, and peace.