Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26050

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 10KB | 176 lines

26050
 #15-18 The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord
 will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use
 her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is
 spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This
 directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God.
 When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all
 in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and
 hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory.
 Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use
 riches as his stewards.
26054
 * The desolation of the land. (1-12) A few shall be preserved.
 (13-15) God's kingdom advanced by his judgments. (16-23)

 #1-12 All whose treasures and happiness are laid up on earth,
 will soon be brought to want and misery. It is good to apply to
 ourselves what the Scripture says of the vanity and vexation of
 spirit which attend all things here below. Sin has turned the
 earth upside down; the earth is become quite different to man,
 from what it was when God first made it to be his habitation. It
 is, at the best, like a flower, which withers in the hands of
 those that please themselves with it, and lay it in their
 bosoms. The world we live in is a world of disappointment, a
 vale of tears; the children of men in it are but of few days,
 and full of trouble, See the power of God's curse, how it makes
 all empty, and lays waste all ranks and conditions. Sin brings
 these calamities upon the earth; it is polluted by the sins of
 men, therefore it is made desolate by God's judgments. Carnal
 joy will soon be at end, and the end of it is heaviness. God has
 many ways to embitter wine and strong drink to those who love
 them; distemper of body, anguish of mind, and the ruin of the
 estate, will make strong drink bitter, and the delights of sense
 tasteless. Let men learn to mourn for sin, and rejoice in God;
 then no man, no event, can take their joy from them.

26066
 #13-15 There shall be a remnant preserved from the general ruin,
 and it shall be a devout and pious remnant. These few are
 dispersed; like the gleanings of the olive tree, hid under the
 leaves. The Lord knows those that are his; the world does not.
 When the mirth of carnal worldlings ceases, the joy of the
 saints is as lively as ever, because the covenant of grace, the
 fountain of their comforts, and the foundation of their hopes,
 never fails. Those who rejoice in the Lord can rejoice in
 tribulation, and by faith may triumph when all about them are in
 tears. They encourage their fellow-sufferers to do likewise,
 even those who are in the furnace of affliction. Or, in the
 valleys, low, dark, miry places. In every fire, even the
 hottest, in every place, even the remotest, let us keep up our
 good thoughts of God. If none of these trials move us, then we
 glorify the Lord in the fires.

26069
 #16-23 Believers may be driven into the uttermost parts of the
 earth; but they are singing, not sighing. Here is terror to
 sinners; the prophet laments the miseries he saw breaking in
 like a torrent; and the small number of believers. He foresees
 that sin would abound. The meaning is plain, that evil pursues
 sinners. Unsteady, uncertain are all these things. Worldly men
 think to dwell in the earth as in a palace, as in a castle; but
 it shall be removed like a cottage, like a lodge put up for the
 night. It shall fall and not rise again; but there shall be new
 heavens and a new earth, in which shall dwell nothing but
 righteousness. Sin is a burden to the whole creation; it is a
 heavy burden, under which it groans now, and will sink at last.
 The high ones, that are puffed up with their grandeur, that
 think themselves out of the reach of danger, God will visit for
 their pride and cruelty. Let us judge nothing before the time,
 though some shall be visited. None in this world should be
 secure, though their condition be ever so prosperous; nor need
 any despair, though their condition be ever so deplorable. God
 will be glorified in all this. But the mystery of Providence is
 not yet finished. The ruin of the Redeemer's enemies must make
 way for his kingdom, and then the Sun of Righteousness will
 appear in full glory. Happy are those who take warning by the
 sentence against others; every impenitent sinner will sink under
 his transgression, and rise no more, while believers enjoy
 everlasting bliss.
26077
 * A song of praise. (1-5) A declaration of the gospel blessings.
 (6-8) The destruction of the enemies of Christ's church. (9-12)

 #1-5 However this might show the deliverance of the Jews out of
 captivity, it looked further, to the praises that should be
 offered up to God for Christ's victories over our spiritual
 enemies, and the comforts he has provided for all believers.
 True faith simply credits the Lord's testimony, and relies on
 his truth to perform his promises. As God weakens the strong who
 are proud and secure, so he strengthens the weak that are
 humble, and stay themselves upon him. God protects his people in
 all weathers. The Lord shelters those who trust in him from the
 insolence of oppressors. Their insolence is but the noise of
 strangers; it is like the heat of the sun scorching in the
 middle of the day; but where is it when the sun is set? The Lord
 ever was, and ever will be, the Refuge of distressed believers.
 Having provided them a shelter, he teaches them to flee unto it.

26082
 #6-8 The kind reception of repentant sinners, is often in the
 New Testament likened to a feast. The guests invited are all
 people, Gentiles as well as Jews. There is that in the gospel
 which strengthens and makes glad the heart, and is fit for those
 who are under convictions of sin, and mourning for it. There is
 a veil spread over all nations, for all sat in darkness. But
 this veil the Lord will destroy, by the light of his gospel
 shining in the world, and the power of his Spirit opening men's
 eyes to receive it. He will raise those to spiritual life who
 were long dead in trespasses and sins. Christ will himself, in
 his resurrection, triumph over death. Grief shall be banished;
 there shall be perfect and endless joy. Those that mourn for sin
 shall be comforted. Those who suffer for Christ shall have
 consolations. But in the joys of heaven, and not short of them,
 will fully be brought to pass this saying, God shall wipe away
 all tears. The hope of this should now do away over-sorrow, all
 weeping that hinders sowing. Sometimes, in this world God takes
 away the reproach of his people from among men; however, it will
 be done fully at the great day. Let us patiently bear sorrow and
 shame now; both will be done away shortly.

26085
 #9-12 With joy and praise will those entertain the glad tidings
 of the Redeemer, who looked for him; and with a triumphant song
 will glorified saints enter into the joy of their Lord. And it
 is not in vain to wait for him; for the mercy comes at last,
 with abundant recompence for the delay. The hands once stretched
 out upon the cross, to make way for our salvation, will at
 length be stretched forth to destroy all impenitent sinners.
 Moab is here put for all adversaries of God's people; they shall
 all be trodden down or threshed. God shall bring down the pride
 of the enemies by one humbling judgment after another. This
 destruction of Moab is typical of Christ's victory, and the
 pulling down of Satan's strong holds. Therefore, beloved
 brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the
 work of the Lord; for your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
26089
 * The Divine mercies encourage to confidence in God. (1-4) His
 judgments. (5-11) His people exhorted to wait upon Him. (12-19)
 Deliverance promised. (20,21)

 #1-4 "That day," seems to mean when the New Testament Babylon
 shall be levelled with the ground. The unchangeable promise and
 covenant of the Lord are the walls of the church of God. The
 gates of this city shall be open. Let sinners then be encouraged
 to join to the Lord. Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect
 peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of
 conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Trust in the Lord
 for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever. Whatever
 we trust to the world for, it will last only for a moment; but
 those who trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall
 receive from him, strength that will carry them to that
 blessedness which is for ever. Let us then acknowledge him in
 all our ways, and rely on him in all trials.

26093
 #5-11 The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of
 obedience and holy conversation. And it is their happiness that
 God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be
 our comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him
 in the darkest and most discouraging times. Our troubles must
 never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of
 affliction, with our souls must we desire him; and this we must
 wait and pray to him for. We make nothing of our religion,
 whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of
 it. Though we come ever so early, we shall find God ready to
 receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach
 righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches.
 But sinners walk contrary to him. They will go on in their evil
 ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws
 they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly
 feel, what now they will not believe, that it is a fearful thing
 to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the
 evil of sin; but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon
 their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have mercy upon
 them.