Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26150

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 135 lines

26152
 * Judgements on Jerusalem and on its enemies. (1-8) The
 senselessness and hypocrisy of the Jews. (9-16) The conversion
 of the Gentiles, and future blessings for the Jews. (17-24)

 #1-8 Ariel may signify the altar of burnt-offerings. Let
 Jerusalem know that outward religious services will not make men
 free from judgements. Hypocrites never can please God, nor make
 their peace with him. God had often and long, by a host of
 angels, encamped round about Jerusalem for protection and
 deliverance; but now he fought against it. Proud looks and proud
 language shall be brought down by humbling providences. The
 destruction of Jerusalem's enemies is foretold. The army of
 Sennacherib went as a dream; and thus the multitudes, that
 through successive ages fight against God's altar and worship,
 shall fall. Speedily will sinners awake from their soothing
 dreams in the pains of hell.

26160
 #9-16 The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for
 lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said
 that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged
 their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man,
 learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple
 heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth
 and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if
 the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of
 it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is
 lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they
 are thinking of a thousand foolish things. They worship the God
 of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only
 formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with
 custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of
 mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden,
 are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God,
 so severely blamed. And those who make religion no more than a
 pretence, to serve a turn, deceive themselves. And as those that
 quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from
 him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse
 conduct shall be entirely done away.

26168
 #17-24 The wonderful change here foretold, may refer to the
 affairs of Judah, though it looks further. When a great harvest
 of souls was gathered to Christ from among the Gentiles, then
 the wilderness was turned into a fruitful field; and the Jewish
 church, that had long been a fruitful field, became as a
 deserted forest. Those who, when in trouble, can truly rejoice
 in God, shall soon have cause greatly to rejoice in him. The
 grace of meekness contributes to the increase of our holy joy.
 The enemies who were powerful shall become mean and weak. To
 complete the repose of God's people, the scorners at home shall
 be cut off by judgements. All are apt to speak unadvisedly, and
 to mistake what they hear, but it is very unfair to make a man
 an offender for a word. They did all they could to bring those
 into trouble who told them of their faults. But He that redeemed
 Abraham out of his snares and troubles, will redeem those who
 are, by faith, his true seed, out of theirs. It will be the
 greatest comfort to godly parents to see their children renewed
 creatures, the work of God's grace. May those who now err in
 spirit, and murmur against the truth, come to understanding, and
 learn true doctrine. The Spirit of truth shall set right their
 mistakes, and lead them into all truth. This should encourage us
 to pray for those that have erred, and are deceived. All who
 murmured at the truths of God, as hard sayings, shall learn and
 be aware what God designed in all. See the change religion
 produces in the hearts of men, and the peace and pleasure of a
 humble and devout spirit.
26176
 * The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7) Judgements
 in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (8-18) God's
 mercies to his church. (19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army,
 and of all God's enemies. (27-33)

 #1-7 It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when
 troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for
 succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we
 avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by
 making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for
 the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been
 prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in
 their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took
 much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to
 a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to
 follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of
 ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little
 from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in
 humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet
 submission to his will.

26183
 #8-18 The Jews were the only professing people God then had in
 the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the
 light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them
 in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without
 fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be
 driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of
 Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of
 his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that
 they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they
 despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety.
 Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel.
 Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty;
 that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must
 be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own
 minds, and relying upon God. They think themselves wiser than
 God; but the project by which they thought to save themselves
 was their ruin. Only here and there one shall escape, as a
 warning to others. If men will not repent, turn to God, and seek
 happiness in his favour and service, their desires will but
 hasten their ruin. Those who make God alone their confidence,
 will have comfort. God ever waits to be gracious to all that
 come to him by faith in Christ, and happy are those who wait for
 him.

26194
 #19-26 God's people will soon arrive at the Zion above, and then
 they will weep no more for ever. Even now they would have more
 comfort, as well as holiness, if they were more constant in
 prayer. A famine of bread is not so great a judgment as a famine
 of the word of God. There are right-hand and left-hand errors;
 the tempter is busy courting us into by-paths. It is happy if,
 by the counsels of a faithful minister or friend, or the checks
 of conscience, and the strivings of God the Spirit, we are set
 right when doubting, and prevented from going wrong. They shall
 be cured of their idolatry. To all true penitents sin becomes
 very hateful. This is shown daily in the conversion of souls, by
 the power of Divine grace, to the fear and love of God. Abundant
 means of grace, with the influences of the Holy Spirit, would be
 extended to places destitute of them. The effect of this should
 be comfort and joy to the people of God. Light, that is,
 knowledge, shall increase. This is the light which the gospel
 brought into the world, and which proclaims healing to the
 broken-hearted.