Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26450

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 110 lines

26451
 #13-17 The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall
 cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the
 gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to
 awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his
 Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he
 shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its
 progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature
 were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus
 Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness
 light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain.
 Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it.
 This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every
 believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.

26456
 #18-25 Observe the call given to this people, and the character
 given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that
 which they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance,
 but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known
 his own righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all
 their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of
 the Jewish nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's
 anger. See the mischief sin makes; it provokes God to anger. And
 those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater.
 Alas! how many professed Christians are blind as the benighted
 heathen! While the Lord is well-pleased in saving sinners
 through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his
 justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seeing God has poured
 out his wrath on his once-favoured people, because of their sins,
 let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his
 rest, any of us should be found to come short of it.
26464
 * God's unchangeable love for his people. (1-7) Apostates and
 idolaters addressed. (8-13) The deliverance from Babylon, and
 the conversion of the Gentiles. (14-21) Admonition to repent of
 sin. (22-28)

 #1-7 God's favour and good-will to his people speak abundant
 comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is
 of God's forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his
 Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them
 need not fear who or what be against them. What are Egypt and
 Ethiopia, all their lives and treasures, compared with the
 blood of Christ?  True believers are precious in God's sight,
 his delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as
 through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they
 need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. The
 faithful are encouraged. They were to be assembled from every
 quarter. And with this pleasing object in view, the prophet
 again dissuades from anxious fears.
26471
 #8-13 Idolaters are called to appear in defence of their idols.
 Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They
 have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common
 sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the
 sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and
 the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an
 account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as
 may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love

26477
 #14-21 The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is
 reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by
 Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the
 Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners,
 and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with
 that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.

26485
 #22-28 Those who neglect to call upon God, are weary of him. The
 Master tired not the servants with his commands, but they tired
 him with disobedience. What were the riches of God's mercy
 toward them? I, even I, am he who yet blotteth out thy
 transgressions. This encourages us to repent, because there is
 forgiveness with God, and shows the freeness of Divine mercy.
 When God forgives, he forgets. It is not for any thing in us,
 but for his mercies' sake, his promise' sake; especially for his
 Son's sake. He is pleased to reckon it his honour. Would man
 justify himself before God? The attempt is desperate: our first
 father broke the covenant, and we all have copied his example.
 We have no reason to expect pardon, except we seek it by faith
 in Christ; and that is always attended by true repentance, and
 followed by newness of life, by hatred of sin, and love to God.
 Let us then put him in remembrance of the promises he has made
 to the penitent, and the satisfaction his Son has made for them.
 Plead these with him in wrestling for pardon; and declare these
 things, that thou mayest be justified freely by his grace. This
 is the only way, and it is a sure way to peace.
26492
 * Here are promises of the influences of the Holy Spirit. (1-8)
 An exposure of the folly of idolatry. (9-20) Also the
 deliverance of God's people. (21-28)

 #1-8 Israel is here called Jeshurun, which means "the upright
 one." Such only are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile.
 Those that serve God he will own. He will help them over
 difficulties, and in their services. Water is the emblem of the
 Holy Spirit; as water refreshes, cleanses, and makes the earth
 fruitful, so do his influences the soul. This gift of the Holy
 Ghost is the great blessing, the plentiful pouring out of which
 God kept for the latter days. Where God gives his Spirit, he
 will give all other blessings. Hereby shall be a great increase
 of the church; thus it shall be spread to distant places. Was
 there any other Rock, or Protector, that could defend them? None
 besides could foretell these things to come, of which God by his
 prophets gave notice. All was set in order in the Divine
 predictions, as well as in the Divine purposes. Could any other
 have done so? Who can compare with Israel's Redeemer and King?