Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26550

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 105 lines

26558
 * God's judgments on Babylon. (1-6) Carelessness and confidence
 shall not prevent the evil. (7-15)

 #1-6 Babylon is represented under the emblem of a female in deep
 distress. She was to be degraded and endure sufferings; and is
 represented sitting on the ground, grinding at the hand mill, the
 lowest and most laborious service. God was righteous in his
 vengeance, and none should interpose. The prophet exults in the
 Lord of hosts, as the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel. God often
 permits wicked men to prevail against his people; but those who
 cruelly oppress them will be punished.

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 #7-15 Let us beware of acting and speaking as Babylon did; of
 trusting in tyranny and oppression; of boasting as to our
 abilities, relying on ourselves, and ascribing success to our
 own prudence and wisdom; lest we partake of her plagues. Those
 in the height of prosperity, are apt to fancy themselves out of
 the reach of adversity. It is also common for sinners to think
 they shall be safe, because they think to be secret in wicked
 ways. But their security shall be their ruin. Let us draw from
 such passages as the foregoing, those lessons of humility and
 trust in God which they convey. If we believe the word of God,
 we may know how it will be with the righteous and the wicked to
 all eternity. We may learn how to escape the wrath to come, to
 glorify God, to have peace through life, hope in death, and
 everlasting happiness. Let us then stand aloof from all
 delusions.
26573
 * The Jews reproved for their idolatry. (1-8) Yet deliverance is
 promised them. (9-15) Solemn warnings of judgment upon those who
 persisted in evil. (16-22)

 #1-8 The Jews valued themselves on descent from Jacob, and used
 the name of Jehovah as their God. They prided themselves
 respecting Jerusalem and the temple, yet there was no holiness
 in their lives. If we are not sincere in religion, we do but
 take the name of the Lord in vain. By prophecy they were shown
 how God would deal with them, long before it came to pass. God
 has said and done enough to prevent men's boasting of
 themselves, which makes the sin and ruin of the proud worse;
 sooner or later every mouth shall be stopped, and all become
 silent before Him. We are all born children of disobedience.
 Where original sin is, actual sin will follow. Does not the
 conscience of every man witness to the truth of Scripture? May
 the Lord prove us, and render us doers of the word.

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 #9-15 We have nothing ourselves to plead with God, why he should
 have mercy upon us. It is for his praise, to the honour of his
 mercy, to spare. His bringing men into trouble was to do them
 good. It was to refine them, but not as silver; not so
 thoroughly as men refine silver. If God should take that course,
 they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away. He
 takes them as refined in part only. Many have been brought home
 to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in
 them, in the furnace of affliction. It is comfort to God's
 people, that God will secure his own honour, therefore work
 deliverance for them. And if God delivers his people, he cannot
 be at a loss for instruments to be employed. God has formed a
 plan, in which, for his own sake, and the glory of his grace, he
 saves all that come to Him.

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 #16-22 The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those may
 speak boldly, whom God and his Spirit send. This is to be
 applied to Christ. He was sent, and he had the Spirit without
 measure. Whom God redeems, he teaches; he teaches to profit by
 affliction, and then makes them partakers of his holiness. Also,
 by his grace he leads them in the way of duty; and by his
 providence he leads in the way of deliverance. God did not
 afflict them willingly. If their sins had not turned them away,
 their peace should have been always flowing and abundant.
 Spiritual enjoyments are ever joined with holiness of life and
 regard to God's will. It will make the misery of the disobedient
 the more painful, to think how happy they might have been. And
 here is assurance given of salvation out of captivity. Those
 whom God designs to bring home to himself, he will take care of,
 that they want not for their journey. This is applicable to the
 grace laid up for us in Jesus Christ, from whom all good flows
 to us, as the water to Israel out of the rock, for that Rock was
 Christ. The spiritual blessings of redemption, and the rescue of
 the church from antichristian tyranny, are here pointed to. But
 whatever changes take place, the Lord warned impenitent sinners
 that no good would come to them; that inward anguish and outward
 trouble, which spring from guilt and from the Divine wrath, must
 be their portion for ever.
26595
 * The unbelief and rejection of the Jews. (1-6) Gracious promise
 to the Gentiles. (7-12) God's love to the church. (13-17) Its
 increase. (18-23) And deliverance. (24-26)

 #1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his
 work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and
 all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience;
 but all these wounds will be healed, when the sinner prays to
 him for mercy. But even the Redeemer, who spake as never man
 spake in his personal ministry, often seemed to labour in vain.
 And if Jacob will not be brought back to God, and Israel will
 not be gathered, still Christ will be glorious. This promise is
 in part fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. Men perish in
 darkness. But Christ enlightens men, and so makes them holy and
 happy.