Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26500

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 10KB | 165 lines

26500
 #9-20 Image-making is described, to expose the folly of
 idolaters. Though a man had used part of a log for fuel, he fell
 down before an image made of the remainder, praying it to
 deliver him. Man greatly dishonours God, when he represents him
 after the image of man. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers,
 causing absurd reasonings in matters of religion. Whether men
 seek happiness in worldly things, or run into unbelief,
 superstition, or any false system, they feed on ashes. A heart
 deceived by pride, love of sin, and departure from God, turns
 men aside from his holy truth and worship. While the affections
 are depraved, a man holds fast the lie as his best treasure. Are
 our hearts set upon the wealth of the world and its pleasures?
 They will certainly prove a lie. If we trust to outward
 professions and doings, as if those would save us, we deceive
 ourselves. Self-suspicion is the first step towards
 self-deliverance. He that would deliver his soul, must question
 his conscience, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

26512
 #21-28 Return unto me. It is the great concern of those who have
 backslidden from God, like the Jews of old, to hasten their
 return to him. The work of redemption wrought for us by Christ,
 encourages to hope for all blessings from him. Our
 transgressions and our sins are as a thick cloud between heaven
 and earth: sins separate between us and God; they threaten a
 storm of wrath. When God pardons sin, he blots out, he dispels
 this cloud, this thick cloud, so that the way to heaven is open
 again. The cloud is scattered by the Sun of righteousness; it is
 quite gone. The comforts that flow into the soul when sin is
 pardoned, are like clear shining after clouds and rain. Let not
 Israel be discouraged; nothing is too hard for God: having made
 all, he can make what use he pleases of any. Those that learn to
 know Christ, see all knowledge to be foolishness, in comparison
 with the knowledge of him. And his enemies will find their
 counsels turned into foolishness, and themselves taken in their
 craftiness. The exact fulfilling the prophecies of Scripture
 confirms the truth of the whole, and proves its Divine origin.
 The particular favours God designed for his people in captivity,
 were foretold here, long before they went into captivity. Very
 great difficulties would be in the way of their deliverance; but
 it is promised that by Divine power they should all be removed.
 God knew who should be the Deliverer of his people; and let his
 church know it, that when they heard such a name talked of, they
 might know their redemption drew nigh. It is the greatest
 honour of the greatest men, to be employed as instruments of the
 Divine favour to his people. In things wherein men serve
 themselves, and look no further, God makes them do all his
 pleasure. And a nobler Shepherd than Cyrus does his Father's
 will, till his work is fully completed.
26520
 * The deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. (1-4) God calls for
 obedience to his almighty power. (5-10) The settlement of his
 people. (11-19) The conversion of the Gentiles. (20-25)

 #1-4 Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed and
 qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates
 of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that
 Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel. The Lord went
 before him, giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He gave
 him also treasures, which had been hidden in secret places. The
 true God was to Cyrus an unknown God; yet God foreknew him; he
 called him by his name. The exact fulfilment of this must have
 shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only true God, and that it was
 for the sake of Israel that he was prospered. In all the changes
 of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of his church.

26524
 #5-10 There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done
 without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates
 evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the
 Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil,
 error, and misery, came into the world by his permission,
 through the wilful apostasy of his creatures, but are restrained
 and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is
 applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet
 quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of
 sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to
 give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must
 not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord
 hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God's designs for
 his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt
 unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken
 potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To
 contend with him is as senseless as for clay to find fault
 with the potter. Let us turn God's promises into prayers,
 beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us
 rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.
26530
 #11-19 Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for
 their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God
 called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for
 the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided
 for. The restoration would convince many, and convert some; and
 all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom.
 Though God be his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he
 lays them under his frowns; but let them wait upon the Lord who
 hides his face. There is a world without end; and it will be
 well or ill with us, according as it shall be with us in that
 world. The Lord we serve and trust, is God alone. All that God
 has said is plain, satisfactory, and just. As God in his word
 calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers, nor
 disappointed believing expectations. He gives grace sufficient,
 and comfort and satisfaction of soul.

26539
 #20-25 The nations are exhorted to draw near to Jehovah. None
 besides is able to help; he is the Saviour, who can save without
 the assistance of any, but without whom none can save. If the
 heart is brought into the obedience of Christ, the knee will
 cheerfully obey his commands. To Christ men shall come from
 every nation for blessings; all that hate his cause shall be put
 to shame, and all believers shall rejoice in him as their Friend
 and Portion. All must come to him: may we now come to him as the
 Lord our Righteousness, walking according to his commandments.
26545
 * The idols could not save themselves, but God saves his people.
 (1-4) The folly of worshipping idols. (5-13)

 #1-4 The heathen insulted the Jews, as if their idols Bel and
 Nebo were too hard for Jehovah. But their worshippers cannot
 help them; both the idols and the idolaters are gone into
 captivity. Let not God's people be afraid of either. Those
 things from which ungodly men expect safety and happiness, will
 be found unable to save them from death and hell. The true God
 will never fail his worshippers. The history of the life of
 every believer is a kind of abstract of the history of Israel.
 Our spiritual life is upheld by his grace, as constantly as our
 natural life by his providence. And God will never leave them.
 The Author will be the Finisher of their well-being, when, by
 decays, they need help as much as in infancy. This promise to
 Israel, enfeebled and grown old as a nation, is applicable to
 every aged follower of Christ. When compassed about with
 infirmities, and perhaps those around begin to grow weary of
 you, yet I am He that I have promised to be, He that you would
 have me to be. I will bear you up; carry you on in your way, and
 carry you home at last. If we learn to trust in and love him, we
 need not be anxious about our remaining days or years; he will
 still provide for us and watch over us, both as the creatures of
 his power, and as new-created by his Spirit.

26549
 #5-13 Here the folly of those who made idols, and then prayed to
 them, is exposed. How does the profuseness of idolaters shame
 the niggardliness of many who call themselves God's servants,
 but are for a religion which costs them nothing! The service of
 sin always costs a great deal. God puts it to them what
 senseless, helpless things idols are. Let, then, the Jews show
 themselves men, avoiding such abominations. Many Scripture
 prophecies, delivered long ago, are not yet fulfilled; but the
 fulfilling of some is an earnest that the rest will come to
 pass. Nothing can help more to make us easy, than to be assured
 that God will do all his pleasure. Even those who know not and
 mind not God's revealed will, are called and used to fulfil the
 counsels of his secret will. Heaven and earth shall pass away,
 sooner than one tittle of the word of God. Obstinate sinners are
 addressed. Such were far from acceptance, but they were summoned
 to hearken to the word of the Lord. The salvation of a sinner
 begins with a humble and contrite heart, that trembles at God's
 word, with godly sorrow working true repentance, and faith in
 his mercy, through the obedience unto death of our Divine
 Surety. Christ, as the Divine righteousness and salvation to his
 people, would come in the appointed time. His salvation abides
 in his church for all believers.