Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc30/v31000

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 198 lines

31001
 #15-17 God, having showed the misery of this people in their
 being justly left by the Good Shepherd, shows their further
 misery in being abused by foolish shepherds. The description
 suits the character Christ gives of the scribes and Pharisees.
 They never do any thing to support the weak, or comfort the
 feeble-minded; but seek their own ease, while they are barbarous
 to the flock. The idol shepherd has the garb and appearance of a
 shepherd, receives submission, and is supported at much expense;
 but he leaves the flock to perish through neglect, or leads them
 to ruin by his example. This suits many in different churches
 and nations, but the warning had an awful fulfilment in the
 Jewish teachers. And while such deceive others to their ruin,
 they will themselves have the deepest condemnation.
31004
 * Punishment of the enemies of Judah. (1-8) Repentance and
 sorrow of the Jews. (9-14)

 #1-8 Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden
 to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for
 their comfort and benefit. It is promised that God will make
 foolish the counsels, and weaken the courage of the enemies of
 the church. The exact meaning is not clear; but God often begins
 by calling the poor and despised; and in that day even the
 feeblest will resemble David, and be as eminent in courage and
 every thing good. Desirable indeed is it that the examples and
 labours of Christians should render them as fire among wood, as
 a torch in a sheaf, to kindle the flame of Divine love, to
 spread religion on the right hand and on the left.

31012
 #9-14 The day here spoken of, is the day of Jerusalem's defence
 and deliverance, that glorious day when God will appear for the
 salvation of his people. In Christ's first coming he bruised the
 serpent's head, and broke all the powers of darkness that fought
 against God's kingdom among men. In his second coming he will
 complete their destruction, when he shall put down all opposing
 rule, principality, and power; and death itself shall be
 swallowed up in that victory. The Holy Spirit is gracious and
 merciful, and is the Author of all grace or holiness. He, also,
 is the Spirit of supplications, and shows men their ignorance,
 want, guilt, misery, and danger. At the time here foretold, the
 Jews will know who the crucified Jesus was; then they shall look
 by faith to him, and mourn with the deepest sorrow, not only in
 public, but in private, even each one separately. There is a
 holy mourning, the effect of the pouring out of the Spirit; a
 mourning for sin, which quickens faith in Christ, and qualifies
 for joy in God. This mourning is a fruit of the Spirit of grace,
 a proof of a work of grace in the soul, and of the Spirit of
 supplications. It is fulfilled in all who sorrow for sin after a
 godly sort; they look to Christ crucified, and mourn for him.
 Looking by faith upon the cross of Christ will cause us to mourn
 for sin after a godly sort.
31018
 * The Fountain for the remission of sins, The conviction of the
 false prophets. (1-6) The death of Christ, and the saving of a
 remnant of the people. (7-9)

 #1-6 In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing
 chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of
 the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. Even the atoning
 blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. It has
 hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but
 when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts,
 he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the
 pierced side of Christ. We are all as an unclean thing. Behold a
 fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us
 from that fountain. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning
 mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a
 fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened
 for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of
 the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are
 inhabitants of Jerusalem. Christ, by the power of his grace,
 takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. Those who
 are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so
 they are sanctified. Souls are brought off from the world and
 the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God
 only. The thorough reformation which will take place on the
 conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. False prophets
 shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their
 proper employments. When convinced that we are gone out of the
 way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by
 returning to it again. It is well to acknowledge those to be
 friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing
 us to a sight of error; for faithful are the wounds of a friend,
 #Pr 27:6|. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds
 of our Saviour. Often has he been wounded by professed friends,
 nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his
 word.

31024
 #7-9 Here is a prophecy of the sufferings of Christ. God the
 Father gave order to the sword of his justice to awake against
 his Son, when he freely made his soul an offering for sin. As
 God, he is called "my Fellow." Christ and the Father are one. He
 is the Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep. If a
 Sacrifice, he must be slain, for without shedding of the
 life-blood there was no remission. This sword must awake against
 him, yet he had no sin of his own to answer for. It may refer to
 the whole of Christ's sufferings, especially his agonies in the
 garden and on the cross, when he endured unspeakable anguish
 till Divine justice was fully satisfied. Smite the Shepherd, and
 the sheep shall be scattered. This passage our Lord Jesus
 declares was fulfilled, when all his disciples, in the night
 wherein he was betrayed, forsook him and fled. It has, and shall
 have its accomplishment, in the destruction of the corrupt and
 hypocritical part of the professed church. Because of the sin of
 the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ, and in opposing his
 gospel, the Romans would destroy the greater part. But a remnant
 would be saved. And if we are his people, we shall be refined as
 gold; he will be God, and the end of all our trials and
 sufferings will be praise, and honour, and glory, at the
 appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
31027
 * The sufferings of Jerusalem. (1-7) Encouraging prospects, and
 the destruction of her enemies. (8-15) The holiness of the
 latter days. (16-21)

 #1-7 The Lord Jesus often stood upon the Mount of Olives when on
 earth. He ascended from thence to heaven, and then desolations
 and distresses came upon the Jewish nation. Such is the view
 taken of this figuratively; but many consider it as a notice of
 events yet unfulfilled, and that it relates to troubles of which
 we cannot now form a full idea. Every believer, being related to
 God as his God, may triumph in the expectation of Christ's
 coming in power, and speak of it with pleasure. During a long
 season, the state of the church would be deformed by sin; there
 would be a mixture of truth and error, of happiness and misery.
 Such is the experience of God's people, a mingled state of grace
 and corruption. But, when the season is at the worst, and most
 unpromising, the Lord will turn darkness into light; deliverance
 comes when God's people have done looking for it.

31034
 #8-15 Some consider that the progress of the gospel, beginning
 from Jerusalem, is referred to by the living waters flowing from
 that city. Neither shall the gospel and means of grace, nor the
 graces of the Spirit wrought in the hearts of believers by those
 means, ever fail, by reason either of the heat of persecution,
 or storms of temptation, or the blasts of any other affliction.
 Tremendous judgments appear to be foretold, to be sent upon
 those who should oppose the settlement of the Jews in their own
 land. How far they are to be understood literally, events alone
 can determine. The furious rage and malice which stir up men
 against each other, are faint shadows of the enmity which reigns
 among those who have perished in their sins. Even the inferior
 creatures often suffer for the sin of man, and in his plagues.
 Thus God will show his displeasure against sin.

31042
 #16-21 As it is impossible for all nations literally to come to
 Jerusalem once a year, to keep a feast, it is evident that a
 figurative meaning must here be applied. Gospel worship is
 represented by the keeping of the feast of tabernacles. Every
 day of a Christian's life is a day of the feast of tabernacles;
 every Lord's day especially is the great day of the feast;
 therefore every day let us worship the Lord of hosts, and keep
 every Lord's day with peculiar solemnity. It is just for God to
 withhold the blessings of grace from those who do not attend the
 means of grace. It is a sin that is its own punishment; those
 who forsake the duty, forfeit the privilege of communion with
 God. A time of complete peace and purity of the church will
 arrive. Men will carry on their common affairs, and their sacred
 services, upon the same holy principles of faith, love and
 obedience. Real holiness shall be more diffused, because there
 shall be a more plentiful pouring forth of the Spirit of
 holiness than ever before. There shall be holiness even in
 common things. Every action and every enjoyment of the believer,
 should be so regulated according to the will of God, that it may
 be directed to his glory. Our whole lives should be as one
 constant sacrifice, or act of devotion; no selfish motive should
 prevail in any of our actions. But how far is the Christian
 church from this state of purity! Other times, however, are at
 hand, and the Lord will reform and enlarge his church, as he has
 promised. Yet in heaven alone will perfect holiness and
 happiness be found.
31048
 ** Malachi was the last of the prophets, and is supposed to have
 prophesied B.C. 420. He reproves the priests and the people for
 the evil practices into which they had fallen, and invites them
 to repentance and reformation, with promises of the blessings to
 be bestowed at the coming of the Messiah. And now that prophecy
 was to cease, he speaks clearly of the Messiah, as nigh at hand,
 and directs the people of God to keep in remembrance the law of
 Moses, while they were in expectation of the gospel of Christ.

 * The ingratitude of Israel. (1-5) They are careless in God's
 institutions. (6-14)

 #1-5 All advantages, either as to outward circumstances, or
 spiritual privileges, come from the free love of God, who makes
 one to differ from another. All the evils sinners feel and fear,
 are the just recompence of their crimes, while all their hopes
 and comforts are from the unmerited mercy of the Lord. He chose
 his people that they might be holy. If we love him, it is
 because he has first loved us; yet we all are prone to
 undervalue the mercies of God, and to excuse our own offences.