Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25700

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 8KB | 133 lines

25705
 #8-23 Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth
 of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house
 and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they
 never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and
 while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces
 awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has
 many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their
 hearts upon the world, will justly be disappointed. Here is woe
 to those who dote upon the pleasures and the delights of sense.
 The use of music is lawful; but when it draws away the heart
 from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God's judgments have
 seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their
 pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so
 high, death will bring him low; ever so mean, death will bring
 him lower. The fruit of these judgments shall be, that God will
 be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he
 shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous
 punishment of proud men. Those are in a woeful condition who set
 up sin, and who exert themselves to gratify their base lusts.
 They are daring in sin, and walk after their own lusts; it is in
 scorn that they call God the Holy One of Israel. They confound
 and overthrow distinctions between good and evil. They prefer
 their own reasonings to Divine revelations; their own devices to
 the counsels and commands of God. They deem it prudent and
 politic to continue profitable sins, and to neglect self-denying
 duties. Also, how light soever men make of drunkenness, it is a
 sin which lays open to the wrath and curse of God. Their judges
 perverted justice. Every sin needs some other to conceal it.

25721
 #24-30 Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly. Sin
 weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the
 beauty, the blossoms of a people. When God's word is despised,
 and his law cast away, what can men expect but that God should
 utterly abandon them? When God comes forth in wrath, the hills
 tremble, fear seizes even great men. When God designs the ruin
 of a provoking people, he can find instruments to be employed in
 it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, and afterwards the Romans, to
 destroy the Jews. Those who would not hear the voice of God
 speaking by his prophets, shall hear the voice of their enemies
 roaring against them. Let the distressed look which way they
 will, all appears dismal. If God frowns upon us, how can any
 creature smile? Let us diligently seek the well-grounded
 assurance, that when all earthly helps and comforts shall fail,
 God himself will be the strength of our hearts, and our portion
 for ever.
25728
 * The vision which Isaiah beheld in the temple. (1-8) The Lord
 declares the blindness to come upon the Jewish nation, and the
 destruction which would follow. (9-13)

 #1-8 In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to
 view, even to the most holy place. The prophet, standing outside
 the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the mercy-seat,
 raised over the ark of the covenant, between the cherubim and
 seraphim, and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. See God
 upon his throne. This vision is explained, #Joh 12:41|, that
 Isaiah now saw Christ's glory, and spake of Him, which is a full
 proof that our Saviour is God. In Christ Jesus, God is seated on
 a throne of grace; and through him the way into the holiest is
 laid open. See God's temple, his church on earth, filled with
 his glory. His train, the skirts of his robes, filled the
 temple, the whole world, for it is all God's temple. And yet he
 dwells in every contrite heart. See the blessed attendants by
 whom his government is served. Above the throne stood the holy
 angels, called seraphim, which means "burners;" they burn in
 love to God, and zeal for his glory against sin. The seraphim
 showing their faces veiled, declares that they are ready to
 yield obedience to all God's commands, though they do not
 understand the secret reasons of his counsels, government, or
 promises. All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would
 be done away by one view of Christ in his glory. This awful
 vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a
 sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a
 Mediator between us and this holy God. A glimpse of heavenly
 glory is enough to convince us that all our righteousnesses are
 as filthy rags. Nor is there a man that would dare to speak to
 the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God,
 without discerning his glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ.
 The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet, of
 pardon, and acceptance in his work, through the atonement of
 Christ. Nothing is powerful to cleanse and comfort the soul, but
 what is taken from Christ's satisfaction and intercession. The
 taking away sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and
 comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching; and
 those shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a
 burden, and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. It
 is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God,
 and may therefore speak in his name, assured that he will bear
 them out.

25736
 #9-13 God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many
 hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it.
 God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness
 of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of
 it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful
 doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold
 fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the
 Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine
 mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful
 danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth,
 holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church;
 however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as
 unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the
 numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.
25741
 * Ahaz threatened by Israel and Syria; and is assured their
 attack would be in vain. (1-9) God gives a sure sign by the
 promise of the long-expected Messiah. (10-16) The folly and sin
 of seeking relief from Assyria are reproved. (17-25)

 #1-9 Ungodly men are often punished by others as bad as
 themselves. Being in great distress and confusion, the Jews gave
 up all for lost. They had made God their enemy, and knew not how
 to make him their friend. The prophet must teach them to despise
 their enemies, in faith and dependence on God. Ahaz, in fear,
 called them two powerful princes. No, says the prophet, they are
 but tails of smoking firebrands, burnt out already. The two
 kingdoms of Syria and Israel were nearly expiring. While God has
 work for the firebrands of the earth, they consume all before
 them; but when their work is fulfilled, they will be
 extinguished in smoke. That which Ahaz thought most formidable,
 is made the ground of their defeat; because they have taken evil
 counsel against thee; which is an offence to God. God scorns the
 scorners, and gives his word that the attempt should not
 succeed. Man purposes, but God disposes. It was folly for those
 to be trying to ruin their neighbours, who were themselves near
 to ruin. Isaiah must urge the Jews to rely on the assurances
 given them. Faith is absolutely necessary to quiet and compose
 the mind in trials.