Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26750

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 130 lines

26757
 #13,14 The sabbath is a sign between God and his professing
 people; his appointing it is a sign of his favour to them; and
 their observing it is a sign of their obedience to him. We must
 turn from travelling on that day; from doing our pleasure on
 that holy day, without the control and restraint of conscience;
 or from indulging in the pleasures of sense. On sabbath days we
 must not follow our callings, or our pleasures. In all we say
 and do, we must put a difference between this day and other
 days. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the
 Lord's day, and is fitly called so still; and for a further
 reason, it is the Lord Christ's day, #Re 1:10|. If we thus
 remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the
 comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, It is good to
 draw near to God.
26759
 * Reproofs of sin and wickedness. (1-8) Confession of sin, and
 lamentation for the consequences. (9-15) Promises of
 deliverance. (16-21)

 #1-8 If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait
 for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of
 hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying. See here
 sin in true colours, exceedingly sinful; and see sin in its
 consequences, exceedingly hurtful, separating from God, and so
 separating us, not only from all good, but to all evil. Yet
 numbers feed, to their own destruction, on infidel and wicked
 systems. Nor can their skill or craft, in devising schemes, as
 the spider weaves its web, deliver or save them. No schemes of
 self-wrought salvation shall avail those who despise the
 Redeemer's robe of righteousness. Every man who is destitute of
 the Spirit of Christ, runs swiftly to evil of some sort; but
 those regardless of Divine truth and justice, are strangers to
 peace.

26767
 #9-15 If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it
 is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to
 our peace. The sins of those who profess themselves God's
 people, are worse than the sins of others. And the sins of a
 nation bring public judgments, when not restrained by public
 justice. Men may murmur under calamities, but nothing will truly
 profit while they reject Christ and his gospel.

26774
 #16-21 This passage is connected with the following chapters. It
 is generally thought to describe the coming of the Messiah, as
 the Avenger and Deliverer of his church. There was none to
 intercede with God to turn away his wrath; none to interpose for
 the support of justice and truth. Yet He engaged his own
 strength and righteousness for his people. God will make his
 justice upon the enemies of his church and people plainly
 appear. When the enemy threatens to bear down all without
 control, then the Spirit of the Lord shall stop him, put him to
 flight. He that has delivered, will still deliver. A far more
 glorious salvation is promised to be wrought out by the Messiah
 in the fulness of time, which all the prophets had in view. The
 Son of God shall come to us to be our Redeemer; the Spirit of
 God shall come to be our Sanctifier: thus the Comforter shall
 abide with the church for ever, #Joh 14:16|. The word of Christ
 will always continue in the mouths of the faithful; and whatever
 is pretended to be the mind of the Spirit, must be tried by the
 Scriptures. We must lament the progress of infidelity and
 impiety. But the cause of the Redeemer shall gain a complete
 victory even on earth, and the believer will be more than
 conqueror when the Lord receives him to his glory in heaven.
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 * The glories of the church of God, when the fulness of the
 Gentiles shall come in; (1-8) and the Jews shall be converted
 and gathered from their dispersions; (9-14) and the kingdoms of
 this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his
 Christ. (15-22)

 #1-8 As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the
 favour of God towards us, our light is come. And if God's glory
 is seen upon us to our honour, we ought, not only with our lips,
 but in our lives, to return its praise. We meet with nothing in
 the history of the Jews which can be deemed a fulfilment of the
 prophecy in this chapter; we must conclude it relates
 principally to future events. It predicts the purity and
 enlargement of the church. The conversion of souls is here
 described. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and
 ordinances, as doves to their own home; thither they fly for
 refuge and shelter, thither they fly for rest. What a pleasant
 sight to see poor souls hastening to Christ!
26788
 #9-14 God will be very gracious. We must begin with his promise,
 thence all mercies take rise. Many shall be brought into the
 church, even from far countries. Christ is always ready to
 receive all who come to him; and the gate of mercy is always
 open, night and day. All that are about the church shall be made
 serviceable to it. But those who will not be subject to Christ's
 golden sceptre, to his word and Spirit, who will not be kept in
 by the laws and rules of his family, shall be broken in pieces
 by his iron rod. The peculiar advantages of every nation, and of
 every description of men, shall join to beautify the church of
 Christ. We must suppose this to be accomplished in the beauties
 of holiness, and the graces and comforts of the Spirit, with
 which gospel ordinances are adorned and enriched. Blessed be his
 name, the gates of Zion are ever open to returning sinners.

26794
 #15-22 We must look for the full accomplishment in times and
 things, exceeding those of the Old Testament church. The nations
 and their kings shall lay themselves out for the good of the
 church. Such a salvation, such a redemption, shall be wrought
 out for thee, as discovers itself to be the work of the Lord.
 Every thing shall be changed for the better. In thy land shall
 no more be heard threats of those that do violence, nor
 complaints of those that suffer violence. Thy walls shall be
 means of safety, thy gates shall be written upon with praises to
 God. In the close of this chapter are images and expressions
 used in the description of the New Jerusalem, #Re 21:23; 22:5|.
 Nothing can answer to this but some future glorious state of the
 church on earth, or the state of the church triumphant in
 heaven. Those that make God their only light, shall have him
 their all-sufficient light. And the happiness shall know no
 change or alloy. No people on earth are all righteous; but there
 are no mixtures in heaven. They shall be wholly righteous. The
 spirits of just men shall there be made perfect. The glory of
 the church shall be to the honour of God. When it shall be
 finished, it will appear a work of wonder. It may seem too
 difficult to be brought about, but the God of almighty power has
 undertaken it. It may seem to be delayed and put off; but the
 Lord will hasten it in the time appointed by his wisdom, though
 not in the time prescribed by our folly. Let this hope cheer us
 under all difficulties, and stir us up to all diligence, that we
 may have an abundant entrance into this everlasting kingdom of
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.