xhortations to trust the Messiah. (1-3) The power of God, and
the weakness of man. (4-8) Christ defends his people. (9-16)
Their afflictions and deliverances. (17-23)
Verses 1-3: It is good for those privileged by the new birth, to
consider that they were shapen in sin. This should cause low
thoughts of ourselves, and high thoughts of Divine grace. It is
the greatest comfort to be made serviceable to the glory of God.
The more holiness men have, and the more good they do, the more
gladness they have. Let us seriously reflect upon our guilt. To
do so will tend to keep the heart humble, and the conscience
awake and tender. They make Christ more precious to the soul,
and give strength to our attempts and prayers for others.
Verses 4-8: The gospel of Christ shall be preached and published. How
shall we escape if we neglect it? There is no salvation without
righteousness. The soul shall, as to this world, vanish like
smoke, and the body be thrown by like a worn-out garment. But
those whose happiness is in Christ's righteousness and
salvation, will have the comfort of it when time and days shall
be no more. Clouds darken the sun, but do not stop its course.
The believer will enjoy his portion, while revilers of Christ
are in darkness
Verses 9-16: The people whom Christ has redeemed with his blood, as
well as by his power, will obtain joyful deliverance from every
enemy. He that designs such joy for us at last, will he not work
such deliverance in the mean time, as our cases require? In this
world of changes, it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in
that world, sorrow shall never come in view. They prayed for the
display of God's power; he answers them with consolations of his
grace. Did we dread to sin against God, we should not fear the
frowns of men. Happy is the man that fears God always. And
Christ's church shall enjoy security by the power and providence
of the Almighty.
Verses 17-23: God calls upon his people to mind the things that belong
to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was
made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her
comforters, were their own tormentors. They have no patience by
which to keep possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence
in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort.
Thou art drunken, not as formerly, with the intoxicating cup of
Babylon's idolatries, but with the cup of affliction. Know,
then, the cause of God's people may for a time seem as lost, but
God will protect it, by convincing the conscience, or
confounding the projects, of those that strive against it. The
oppressors required souls to be subjected to them, that every
man should believe and worship as they would have them. But all
they could gain by violence was, that people were brought to
outward hypocritical conformity, for consciences cannot be
forced.
xhortations to trust the Messiah. (1-3) The power of God, and
the weakness of man. (4-8) Christ defends his people. (9-16)
Their afflictions and deliverances. (17-23)