Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc30/v30150

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 153 lines

30153
 * Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel. (1-4) For
 their idolatry. (5-10) Further threatenings for the same sins.
 (11-14)

 #1-4 When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection
 from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it
 stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God,
 I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?

30157
 #5-10 They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by
 worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What
 they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall
 yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness
 are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes
 of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In
 times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal
 devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a
 wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for
 the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than
 in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the
 creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow
 a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be
 brought to sorrow everlastingly.

30163
 #11-14 It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will
 be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their
 excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be
 written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey
 it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his
 Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off
 all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and
 prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of
 God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the
 observances and offerings, however costly, of their own
 devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are
 acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and
 through Jesus Christ.
30167
 * The distress to come upon Israel. (1-6) The approach of the
 day of trouble. (7-10) Judgments on Israel. (11-17)

 #1-6 Israel gave rewards to their idols, in the offerings
 presented to them. It is common for those who are niggardly in
 religion, to be prodigal upon their lusts. Those are reckoned as
 idolaters, who love a reward in the corn-floor better than a
 reward in the favour of God and in eternal life. They are full
 of the joy of harvest, and have no disposition to mourn for sin.
 When we make the world, and the things of it, our idol and our
 portion, it is just with God to show us our folly, and correct
 us. None may expect to dwell in the Lord's land, who will not be
 subject to the Lord's laws, or be influenced by his love. When
 we enjoy the means of grace, we ought to consider what we shall
 do, if they should be taken from us. While the pleasures of
 communion with God are out of the reach of change, the pleasant
 places purchased with silver, or in which men deposit silver,
 are liable to be laid in ruins. No famine is so dreadful as that
 of the soul.

30173
 #7-10 Time had been when the spiritual watchmen of Israel were
 with the Lord, but now they were like the snare of a fowler to
 entangle persons to their ruin. The people were become as
 corrupt as those of Gibeah, #Jud 19|; and their crimes should be
 visited in like manner. At first God had found Israel pleasing
 to Him, as grapes to the traveller in the wilderness. He saw
 them with pleasure as the first ripe figs. This shows the
 delight God took in them; yet they followed after idolatry.

30177
 #11-17. God departs from a people, or from a person, when he
 withdraws his goodness and mercy from them; and when the Lord is
 departed, what can the creature do? Even though, for the
 present, good things seem to remain, yet the blessing is gone if
 God is gone. Even the children should perish with the parents.
 The Divine wrath dries up the root, and withers the fruit of all
 comforts; and the scattered Jews daily warn us to beware, lest
 we neglect or abuse the gospel. Yet every smiting is not a
 drying up of the root. It may be that God intends only to smite
 so that the sap may be turned to the root, that there may be
 more of root graces, more humility, patience, faith, and
 self-denial. It is very just that God should bring judgments on
 those who slight his offered mercy.
30184
 * The idolatry of Israel. (1-8) They are exhorted to repentance.
 (9-15)

 #1-8 A vine is only valuable for its fruit; but Israel now
 brought no fruit to perfection. Their hearts were divided. God
 is the Sovereign of the heart; he will have all, or none. Were
 the stream of the heart wholly after God, it would run strongly,
 and bear down all before it. Their pretences to covenant with
 God were false. Even the proceeding of justice was as poisonous
 hemlock. Alas, how empty a vine is the visible church even at
 this day! But all earthly prosperity is but a collection of
 bubbles, soon destroyed like foam upon the water. Sinners will
 in vain seek shelter from that Judge, whom they now despise as a
 Saviour.

30192
 #9-15 Because God does not desire the death and ruin of sinners,
 therefore in mercy he desires their chastisement. The children
 of iniquity still remained in Israel. The enemies would be
 gathered against them. It is just with God to make those know
 what hardships mean, who indulge themselves in ease and
 pleasure. Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt
 affections and lusts, and be a broken and contrite spirit. Let
 them abound in works of piety towards God, and of justice and
 charity towards one another: herein let them sow to the Spirit.
 Seeking the Lord is to be every day's work, but there are
 special occasions when to seek him. Christ shall come as the
 Lord our righteousness, and grant us of it abundantly. If we sow
 in righteousness, we shall reap according to mercy; a reward not
 of debt, but of grace. Even the gains of sin yield the sinner no
 satisfaction. As our comforts, so our confidences in the service
 of sin will certainly fail us. Come and seek the Lord, and thy
 hope in him shall not deceive thee. See what cruel work war
 makes. Whatever mischief is done, it is sin that does it. What
 miseries men's sins bring on them, even in this world!
30199
 * God's regard for Israel; their ingratitude. (1-7) The Divine
 mercy yet in store. (8-12)

 #1-7 When Israel were weak and helpless as children, foolish and
 froward as children, then God loved them; he bore them as the
 nurse does the sucking child, nourished them, and suffered their
 manners. All who are grown up, ought often to reflect upon the
 goodness of God to them in their childhood. He took care of
 them, took pains with them, not only as a father, or a tutor,
 but as a mother, or nurse. When they were in the wilderness, God
 showed them the way in which they should go, and bore them up,
 taking them by the arms. He taught them the way of his
 commandments by the ceremonial law given by Moses. He took them
 by the arms, to guide them, that they might not stray, and to
 hold them up, that they might not stumble and fall. God's
 spiritual Israel are all thus supported. It is God's work to
 draw poor souls to himself; and none can come to him except he
 draw them. With bands of love; this word signifies stronger
 cords than the former. He eased them of the burdens they had
 long groaned under. Israel is very ungrateful to God. God's
 counsels would have saved them, but their own counsels ruined
 them. They backslide; there is no hold of them, no stedfastness
 in them. They backslide from me, from God, the chief good. They
 are bent to backslide; they are ready to sin; they are forward
 to close with every temptation. Their hearts are fully set in
 them to do evil. Those only are truly happy, whom the Lord
 teaches by his Spirit, upholds by his power, and causes to walk
 in his ways. By his grace he takes away the love and dominion of
 sin, and creates a desire for the blessed feast of the gospel,
 that they may feed thereon, and live for ever.