Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25650

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 152 lines

25653
 #10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first
 meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our
 thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies
 of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of
 God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking
 of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections
 on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down,
 either by the grace of God convincing them of the evil of pride,
 or by the providence of God depriving them of all the things
 they were proud of. The day of the Lord shall be upon those
 things in which they put their confidence. Those who will not be
 reasoned out of their sins, sooner or later shall be frightened
 out of them. Covetous men make money their god; but the time
 will come when they will feel it as much their burden. This
 whole passage may be applied to the case of an awakened sinner,
 ready to leave all that his soul may be saved. The Jews were
 prone to rely on their heathen neighbours; but they are here
 called upon to cease from depending on mortal man. We are all
 prone to the same sin. Then let not man be your fear, let not
 him be your hope; but let your hope be in the Lord your God. Let
 us make this our great concern.
25666
 * The calamities about to come upon the land. (1-9) The
 wickedness of the people. (10-15) The distress of the proud,
 luxurious women of Zion. (16-26)

 #1-9 God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support.
 The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their
 words and works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at
 his holy temple. If men do not stay themselves upon God, he will
 soon remove all other supports, and then they must sink. Christ
 is the Bread of life and the Water of life; if he be our Stay,
 we shall find that is a good part not to be taken away, #Joh
 6:27|. Here note, 1. That the condition of sinners is
 exceedingly woeful. 2. It is the soul that is damaged by sin. 3.
 Whatever evil befalls sinners, be sure that they bring it on
 themselves.

25675
 #10-15 The rule was certain; however there might be national
 prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and
 ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant
 encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners
 to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show
 his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the
 wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is
 sinful to disregard the necessities of the poor, how odious and
 wicked a part do they act, who bring men into poverty, and then
 oppress them!

25681
 #16-26 The prophet reproves and warns the daughters of Zion of
 the sufferings coming upon them. Let them know that God notices
 the folly and vanity of proud women, even of their dress. The
 punishments threatened answered the sin. Loathsome diseases
 often are the just punishment of pride. It is not material to
 ask what sort of ornaments they wore; many of these things, if
 they had not been in fashion, would have been ridiculed then as
 now. Their fashions differed much from those of our times, but
 human nature is the same. Wasting time and money, to the neglect
 of piety, charity, and even of justice, displease the Lord. Many
 professors at the present day, seem to think there is no harm in
 worldly finery; but were it not a great evil, would the Holy
 Spirit have taught the prophet to expose it so fully? The Jews
 being overcome, Jerusalem would be levelled with the ground;
 which is represented under the idea of a desolate female seated
 upon the earth. And when the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem,
 they struck a medal, on which was represented a woman sitting on
 the ground in a posture of grief. If sin be harboured within the
 walls, lamentation and mourning are near the gates.
25692
 * The havoc occasioned by war. (1) The times of the Messiah.
 (2-6)

 #1 This first verse belongs to the third chapter. When the
 troubles should come upon the land, as the unmarried state was
 deemed reproachful among the Jews, these women would act
 contrary to common usage, and seek husbands for themselves.

25693
 #2-6 Not only the setting forth Christ's kingdom in the times of
 the apostles, but its enlargement by gathering the dispersed
 Jews into the church, is foretold. Christ is called the Branch
 of the Lord, being planted by his power, and flourishing to his
 praise. The gospel is the fruit of the Branch of the Lord; all
 the graces and comforts of the gospel spring from Christ. It is
 called the fruit of the earth, because it sprang up in this
 world, and was suited for the present state. It will be good
 evidence that we are distinguished from those merely called
 Israel, if we are brought to see all beauty in Christ, and
 holiness. As a type of this blessed day, Jerusalem should again
 flourish as a branch, and be blessed with the fruits of the
 earth. God will keep for himself a holy seed. When most of those
 that have a place and a name in Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be
 cut off by their unbelief, some shall be left. Those only that
 are holy shall be left, when the Son of man shall gather out of
 his kingdom every thing which offends. By the judgment of God's
 providence, sinners were destroyed and consumed; but by the
 Spirit of grace they are reformed and converted. The Spirit
 herein acts as a Spirit of judgment, enlightening the mind,
 convincing the conscience; also as a Spirit of burning,
 quickening and strengthening the affections, and making men
 zealously affected in a good work. An ardent love to Christ and
 souls, and zeal against sin, will carry men on with resolution
 in endeavours to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Every
 affliction serves believers as a furnace, to purify them from
 dross; and the convincing, enlightening, and powerful influences
 of the Holy Spirit, gradually root out their lusts, and render
 them holy as He is holy. God will protect his church, and all
 that belong to it. Gospel truths and ordinances are the glory of
 the church. Grace in the soul is the glory of it; and those that
 have it are kept by the power of God. But only those who are
 weary will seek rest; only those who are convinced that a storm
 is approaching, will look for shelter. Affected with a deep
 sense of the Divine displeasure, to which we are exposed by sin,
 let us at once have recourse to Jesus Christ, and thankfully
 accept the refuge he affords.
25698
 * The state and conduct of the Jewish nation. (1-7) The
 judgments which would come. (8-23) The executioners of these
 judgments. (24-30)

 #1-7 Christ is God's beloved Son, and our beloved Saviour. The
 care of the Lord over the church of Israel, is described by the
 management of a vineyard. The advantages of our situation will
 be brought into the account another day. He planted it with the
 choicest vines; gave them a most excellent law, instituted
 proper ordinances. The temple was a tower, where God gave tokens
 of his presence. He set up his altar, to which the sacrifices
 should be brought; all the means of grace are denoted thereby.
 God expects fruit from those that enjoy privileges. Good
 purposes and good beginnings are good things, but not enough;
 there must be vineyard fruit; thoughts and affections, words and
 actions, agreeable to the Spirit. It brought forth bad fruit.
 Wild grapes are the fruits of the corrupt nature. Where grace
 does not work, corruption will. But the wickedness of those that
 profess religion, and enjoy the means of grace, must be upon the
 sinners themselves. They shall no longer be a peculiar people.
 When errors and vice go without check or control, the vineyard
 is unpruned; then it will soon be grown over with thorns. This
 is often shown in the departure of God's Spirit from those who
 have long striven against him, and the removal of his gospel
 from places which have long been a reproach to it. The
 explanation is given. It is sad with a soul, when, instead of
 the grapes of humility, meekness, love, patience, and contempt
 of the world, for which God looks, there are the wild grapes of
 pride, passion, discontent, and malice, and contempt of God;
 instead of the grapes of praying and praising, the wild grapes
 of cursing and swearing. Let us bring forth fruit with patience,
 that in the end we may obtain everlasting life.