Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26350

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 98 lines

26357
 #9-22 We have here Hezekiah's thanksgiving. It is well for us to
 remember the mercies we receive in sickness. Hezekiah records
 the condition he was in. He dwells upon this; I shall no more
 see the Lord. A good man wishes not to live for any other end
 than that he may serve God, and have communion with him. Our
 present residence is like that of a shepherd in his hut, a poor,
 mean, and cold lodging, and with a trust committed to our
 charge, as the shepherd has. Our days are compared to the
 weaver's shuttle, #Job 7:6|, passing and repassing very swiftly,
 every throw leaving a thread behind it; and when finished, the
 piece is cut off, taken out of the loom, and showed to our
 Master to be judged of. A good man, when his life is cut off,
 his cares and fatigues are cut off with it, and he rests from
 his labours. But our times are in God's hand; he has appointed
 what shall be the length of the piece. When sick, we are very
 apt to calculate our time, but are still at uncertainty. It
 should be more our care how we shall get safe to another world.
 And the more we taste of the loving-kindness of God, the more
 will our hearts love him, and live to him. It was in love to our
 poor perishing souls that Christ delivered them. The pardon does
 not make the sin not to have been sin, but not to be punished as
 it deserves. It is pleasant to think of our recoveries from
 sickness, when we see them flowing from the pardon of sin.
 Hezekiah's opportunity to glorify God in this world, he made the
 business, and pleasure, and end of life. Being recovered, he
 resolves to abound in praising and serving God. God's promises
 are not to do away, but to quicken and encourage the use of
 means. Life and health are given that we may glorify God and do
 good.
26371
 * This chapter is the same as #2Ki 20:12-19|.
26379
 * The preaching of the gospel, and glad tidings of the coming of
 Christ. (1-11) The almighty power of God. (12-17) The folly of
 idolatry. (18-26) Against unbelief. (27-31)

 #1-11 All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the
 most so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are
 removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the great atonement of
 the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the glory
 of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents
 receive of the Lord's hand double for all their sins; for the
 satisfaction Christ made by his death was of infinite value. The
 prophet had some reference to the return of the Jews from
 Babylon. But this is a small event, compared with that pointed
 out by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when John the
 Baptist proclaimed the approach of Christ. When eastern princes
 marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them,
 and hindrances removed. And may the Lord prepare our hearts by
 the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that
 high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires
 planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened,
 and every hinderance removed, that we may be ready for his will
 on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all
 that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the
 grass and the flower thereof! And what will all the titles and
 possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leave him under
 condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, which all
 flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to
 be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man
 armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and
 do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows
 tender care for young converts, weak believers, and those of a
 sorrowful spirit. By his word he requires no more service, and
 by his providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will
 strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd's voice, and
 follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.

26390
 #12-17 All created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with
 the Creator. When the Lord, by his Spirit, made the world, none
 directed his Spirit, or gave advice what to do, or how to do it.
 The nations, in comparison of him, are as a drop which remains
 in the bucket, compared with the vast ocean; or as the small
 dust in the balance, which does not turn it, compared with all
 the earth. This magnifies God's love to the world, that, though
 it is of such small account and value with him, yet, for the
 redemption of it, he gave his only-begotten Son, #Joh 3:16|. The
 services of the church can make no addition to him. Our souls
 must have perished for ever, if the only Son of the Father had
 not given himself for us.

26396
 #18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than
 God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make
 images or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely
 a sacrifice to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own.
 They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in
 the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the
 prophet appeals to all ages and nations. Those who are ignorant
 of this, are willingly ignorant. God has the command of all
 creatures, and of all created things. The prophet directs us to
 use our reason as well as our senses; to consider who created
 the hosts of heaven, and to pay our homage to Him. Not one fails
 to fulfil his will. And let us not forget, that He spake all the
 promises, and engaged to perform them.