Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26250

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 112 lines

26252
 #15-24 The true believer watches against all occasions of sin.
 The Divine power will keep him safe, and his faith in that power
 will keep him easy. He shall want nothing needful for him. Every
 blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all that ask with
 humble, believing prayer; and the believer is safe in time and
 for ever. Those that walk uprightly shall not only have bread
 given, and their water sure, but they shall, by faith, see the
 King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of holiness. The
 remembrance of the terror they were in, shall add to the
 pleasure of their deliverance. It is desirable to be quiet in
 our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and
 in every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had
 no large river running by it, but the presence and power of God
 make up all wants. We have all in God, all we need, or can
 desire. By faith we take Christ for our Prince and Saviour; he
 reigns over his redeemed people. All that refuse to have Him to
 reign over them, make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is
 taken away in mercy, when the fruit of it is the taking away of
 sin. If iniquity be taken away, we have little reason to
 complain of outward affliction. This last verse leads our
 thoughts, not only to the most glorious state of the gospel
 church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can
 enter. He that blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our
 souls.
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 * God's vengeance against the enemies of his church. (1-8) Their
 desolation. (9-17)

 #1-8 Here is a prophecy of the wars of the Lord, all which are
 both righteous and successful. All nations are concerned. And as
 they have all had the benefit of his patience, so all must
 expect to feel his resentment. The description of bloodshed
 suggests tremendous ideas of the Divine judgments. Idumea here
 denotes the nations at enmity with the church; also the kingdom
 of antichrist. Our thoughts cannot reach the horrors of that
 awful season, to those found opposing the church of Christ.
 There is a time fixed in the Divine counsels for the deliverance
 of the church, and the destruction of her enemies. We must
 patiently wait till then, and judge nothing before the time.
 Through Christ, mercy is exercised to every believer,
 consistently with justice, and his name is glorified.

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 #9-17 Those who aim to ruin the church, can never do that, but
 will ruin themselves. What dismal changes sin can make! It turns
 a fruitful land into barrenness, a crowded city into a
 wilderness. Let us compare all we discover in the book of the
 Lord, with the dealings of providence around us, that we may be
 more diligent in seeking the kingdom of God and his
 righteousness. What the mouth of the Lord has commanded, his
 Spirit will perform. And let us observe how the evidences of the
 truth continually increase, as one prophecy after another is
 fulfilled, until these awful scenes bring in more happy days. As
 Israel was a figure of the Christian church, so the Edomites,
 their bitter enemies, represent the enemies of the kingdom of
 Christ. God's Jerusalem may be laid in ruins for a time, but the
 enemies of the church shall be desolate for ever.
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 * The flourishing state of Christ's kingdom. (1-4) The
 privileges of his people. (5-10)

 #1-4 Judea was prosperous in the days of Hezekiah, but the
 kingdom of Christ is the great subject intended. Converting
 grace makes the soul that was a wilderness, to rejoice with joy
 and singing, and to blossom abundantly. The feeble and
 faint-hearted are encouraged. This is the design of the gospel.
 Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it, the stronger
 we are, both for doing and suffering; and he that says to us, Be
 strong, has laid help for us upon One who is mighty. Assurance
 is given of the approach of Messiah, to take vengeance on the
 powers of darkness, to recompense with abundant comforts those
 that mourn in Zion; He will come and save. He will come again at
 the end of time, to punish those who have troubled his people;
 and to give those who were troubled such rest as will be a full
 reward for all their troubles.

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 #5-10 When Christ shall come to set up his kingdom in the world,
 then wonders, great wonders, shall be wrought on men's souls. By
 the word and Spirit of Christ, the spiritually blind were
 enlightened; and those deaf to the calls of God were made to
 hear them readily. Those unable to do any thing good, by Divine
 grace were made active therein. Those that knew not how to speak
 of God or to God, had their lips opened to show forth his
 praise. When the Holy Ghost came upon the Gentiles that heard
 the word, then were the fountains of life opened. Most of the
 earth is still a desert; neither means of grace, spiritual
 worshippers, nor fruits of holiness, are to be found in it. But
 the way of religion and godliness shall be laid open. The way of
 holiness is the way of God's commandment; it is the good old
 way. And the way to heaven is a plain way. Those knowing but
 little, and unlearned, shall be kept from missing the road. It
 shall be a safe way; nothing can do them any real hurt. Christ,
 the way to God, shall be clearly made known; and the way of a
 believer's duty shall be plainly marked out. Let us then go
 forward cheerfully, assured that the end of this way shall be
 everlasting joy, and rest for the soul. Those who by faith are
 made citizens of the gospel Zion, rejoice in Christ Jesus; and
 their sorrows and sighs are made to flee away by Divine
 consolations. Thus these prophecies conclude. Our joyful hopes
 and prospects of eternal life should swallow up all the sorrows
 and all the joys of this present time. But of what avail is it
 to admire the excellence of God's word, unless we can call its
 precious promises our own? Do we love God, not only as our
 Creator, but because he gave his only Son to die for us? And are
 we walking in the ways of holiness? Let us try ourselves by such
 plain questions, rather than spend time on things that may be
 curious and amusing, but are unprofitable.
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 * See #2Ki 18:17-37|, and the commentary thereon.