Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25900

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 121 lines

25910
 #24-27 Let those that make themselves a yoke and a burden to
 God's people, see what they are to expect. Let those that are
 the called according to God's purpose, comfort themselves, that
 whatever God has purposed, it shall stand. The Lord of hosts has
 purposed to break the Assyrian's yoke; his hand is stretched out
 to execute this purpose; who has power to turn it back? By such
 dispensations of providence, the Almighty shows in the most
 convincing manner, that sin is hateful in his sight.

25914
 #28-32 Assurance is given of the destruction of the Philistines
 and their power, by famine and war. Hezekiah would be more
 terrible to them than Uzziah had been. Instead of rejoicing,
 there would be lamentation, for the whole land would be ruined.
 Such destruction will come upon the proud and rebellious, but
 the Lord founded Zion for a refuge to poor sinners, who flee
 from the wrath to come, and trust in his mercy through Christ
 Jesus. Let us tell all around of our comforts and security, and
 exhort them to seek the same refuge and salvation.
25919
 * The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites.

 - This prophecy coming to pass within three years, would confirm
 the prophet's mission, and the belief in all his other
 prophecies. Concerning Moab it is foretold, 1. That their chief
 cities should be surprised by the enemy. Great changes, and very
 dismal ones, may be made in a very little time. 2. The Moabites
 would have recourse to their idols for relief. Ungodly men, when
 in trouble, have no comforter. But they are seldom brought by
 their terrors to approach our forgiving God with true sorrow and
 believing prayer. 3. There should be the cries of grief through
 the land. It is poor relief to have many fellow-sufferers,
 fellow-mourners. 4. The courage of their soldiers should fail.
 God can easily deprive a nation of that on which it most
 depended for strength and defence. 5. These calamities should
 cause grief in the neighbouring parts. Though enemies to Israel,
 yet as our fellow-creatures, it should be grievous to see them
 in such distress. In ver. #6-9|, the prophet describes the woeful
 lamentations heard through the country of Moab, when it became a
 prey to the Assyrian army. The country should be plundered. And
 famine is usually the sad effect of war. Those who are eager to
 get abundance of this world, and to lay up what they have
 gotten, little consider how soon it may be all taken from them.
 While we warn our enemies to escape from ruin, let us pray for
 them, that they may seek and find forgiveness of their sins.
25928
 * Moab is exhorted to yield obedience. (1-5) The pride and the
 judgments of Moab. (6-14)

 #1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he
 does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to
 pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by
 righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be
 applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send
 him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice.
 When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the
 Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ,
 shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be
 snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield
 to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every
 thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel.
 Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves,
 must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said
 concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much
 higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by
 subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours,
 but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace
 of conscience and eternal life.

25933
 #6-14 Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More
 souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also,
 the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek
 to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall
 not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields
 and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading
 army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into
 heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in
 earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The
 prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant
 country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are
 unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can
 and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is
 very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine
 wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning.
 There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and
 devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed
 time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the
 wicked shall perish.
25942
 * Syria and Israel threatened. (1-11) The woe of Israel's
 enemies. (12-14)

 #1-11 Sin desolates cities. It is strange that great conquerors
 should take pride in being enemies to mankind; but it is better
 that flocks should lie down there, than that they should harbour
 any in open rebellion against God and holiness. The strong holds
 of Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, will be brought to
 ruin. Those who are partakers in sin, are justly made partakers
 in ruin. The people had, by sins, made themselves ripe for ruin;
 and their glory was as quickly cut down and taken away by the
 enemy, as the corn is out of the field by the husbandman. Mercy
 is reserved in the midst of judgment, for a remnant. But very
 few shall be marked to be saved. Only here and there one was
 left behind. But they shall be a remnant made holy. The few that
 are saved were awakened to return to God. They shall acknowledge
 his hand in all events; they shall give him the glory due to his
 name. To bring us to this, is the design of his providence, as
 he is our Maker; and the work of his grace, as he is the Holy
 One of Israel. They shall look off from their idols, the
 creatures of their own fancy. We have reason to account those
 afflictions happy, which part between us and our sins. The God
 of our salvation is the Rock of our strength; and our
 forgetfulness and unmindfulness of him are at the bottom of all
 sin. The pleasant plants, and shoots from a foreign soil, are
 expressions for strange and idolatrous worship, and the vile
 practices connected therewith. Diligence would be used to
 promote the growth of these strange slips, but all in vain. See
 the evil and danger of sin, and its certain consequences.