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BENEFITS ARISING FROM GOD’S RETURN TO THE SOUL
THE dispensations of Providence, if rightly improved, are calculated to promote our spiritual welfare.
The Jews derived many instructive lessons from the dealings of God with them in Egypt and the wilderness. But God here promises them more abundant knowledge and joy by means of their deliverance from the Assyrian host [Note: That this is the literal import of the passage appears from ver. 31. compared with ver. 25, 26.]. The grandeur, however, of the words before us evidently shews, that the prophet had respect to more distant times, and to blessings which no temporal deliverance was able to convey. We must say of this promise,
I. That it is verified amongst us at this day—
It is fulfilled to us,
1. At the first reconciliation of our souls to God—
[The convictions of an awakened conscience are as deep wounds to the soul. Sin, though it be honey in the mouth, becomes gall in the stomach: Peter, Judas, and David in particular, shew what “wounds” it will make in the soul [Note: Psa_32:1-6.]; nor can any one view it aright, without having his heart broken with a sense of its malignity.
But reconciliation with God heals these wounds. The blood of Christ is that “balm of Gilead,” which never was applied in vain [Note: Jer_8:22.]. It operates as the sight of the brazen serpent on the dying Israelites, to restore to life and vigour those, whose state seems altogether desperate [Note: Joh_3:14-15.]. David, after the foulest transgressions, declared his persuasion of its efficacy to cleanse even him [Note: Psa_51:7-8.]. And all who are reconciled to God through Christ experience its full effects [Note: Luk_4:18. 1Pe_1:8.].
Now this is a season wherein the knowledge and joy of the soul are much enlarged. Till this great event is accomplished, the views of the soul are very contracted; nor is it acquainted with any joy but what is carnal: but no sooner has this taken place, than the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shines into the heart, and all his perfections are admired and adored. Now also the excellency of the Gospel salvation is discovered; and the reasonableness of a life devoted to God is deeply felt. Now is a new and inexhaustible source of happiness opened to the soul: and its peace and joy flow down like a river; and all the pleasures that it ever enjoyed in the ways of sin, are no more in comparison of its present consolations, than the faint “light of the moon” to the invigorating rays of the meridian “sun.” But this promise has a further accomplishment,]
2. At any return of God to the soul after a season of darkness and desertion—
[God finds it necessary sometimes to hide his face from his people, and thus to wound their souls afresh. How the loss of God’s presence afflicts a pious soul, may be seen in the lamentations and complaints which the most eminent saints have uttered on such occasions. Job tells us, that God’s arrows stuck fast in him, and that the poison of them drank up his spirit [Note: Job_6:4.] And David even “roared for the disquietness of his heart.” Nor are there wanting at this day many whose experience accords with the description which that eminent saint has given of his [Note: Psa_42:3-4; Psa_42:6-7; Psa_42:9.].
But the return of God binds up this breach. The deliverance from such a state is compared by our Lord to the joy that succeeds the pangs of childbirth [Note: Joh_16:21.]: nor can its effects upon the soul be more fitly represented than in the language of the Jews on their return from Babylon [Note: Psa_126:1-3.].
And this also is another season of peculiar instruction and comfort. By this the soul obtains much deeper discoveries of its own corruptions [Note: Job_42:5-6.]; and more encouraging views of God’s power and faithfulness [Note: Isa_25:1; Isa_25:4.]: the depths of Satan’s devices also are more clearly discerned, and, if its joys are less ecstatic than before, they are more pure and refined. The still fuller accomplishment of the text will take place,]
3. At the hour of dissolution—
[God never entirely withholds his chastening rod in this world. The whole of this life is a state of discipline — — — But at death there is an end of every thing that is penal or painful. Whatever wounds may have pained us here, death will heal them all [Note: Rev_21:4.] — — —
Then will this promise be fulfilled in its utmost extent. What amazing discoveries will be made to the soul on its first dismission from the body! And with what inconceivable raptures will it be transported, as soon as ever it shall enter the gates of heaven! Whatever it may have heard of the blessedness of the saints, it will surely say, that not a thousandth part had been declared to it. Then shall those descriptions given by the prophets all be realized [Note: Isa_60:19-20.]. As for the joys it experienced below, they shall appear as nothing in comparison of those it will then possess. What the saints tasted here was through the medium of ordinances, and mixed with frequent sorrows, and, at best of short duration; but what they possess in heaven will be immediate, unmixed, and everlasting.]
But the true import of the promise leads me to shew,
II. That it shall hereafter be more abundantly verified amongst God’s ancient people—
They shall be healed of their wounds at a period not far distant—
[Certainly “their breach” is grievous, and “their wounds” are to all human appearance “incurable.” So has God himself declared [Note: Jer_30:12-15.]. Nevertheless God in due season will surely “restore health to them, and heal them of their wounds [Note: Jer_30:16-17. The word therefore should here be translated “nevertheless.”].” Through the preaching of the Gospel shall this blessed consummation be effected [Note: Jer_33:6.], and happiness shall be restored, not to that nation only, but through them to the whole world [Note: Jer_33:7-11. with Rom_11:12; Rom_11:15.] — — —]
And oh! what light and joy and holiness will then abound!
[Methinks, when it is said that “the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea,” we must understand it as predicting not the extent only of divine knowledge, but its depth also, and the blessedness arising from it: “the light of the moon will then indeed be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days;” yea “the moon shall be confounded, and the sun itself ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and before his ancients gloriously [Note: Isa_24:23.].” This is beyond all doubt to be accomplished in due season; “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away [Note: Isa_35:10.].” Of the extent of their knowledge in that day, and the fulness of their joy, we at present can form scarcely any conception. What surprising views will they then have of the whole mystery of redemption, when they shall see all the prophecies fulfilled, and all the types and shadows realized in the person and work of Christ! Of that season, no less than of heaven, it is said, “The city will have no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb be the light thereof. And ~there shall be no night there; and they need no light of the sun: for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever [Note: Rev_21:23-26; Rev_22:5.].”]
Application—
1. Let us look forward then to that blessed period—
[We need not be distracting our minds, and the minds of others, with curious questions about the precise manner in which Christ and his saints will reign: still less is it expedient to dogmatize upon this matter, as some are doing at this day: but we should look forward to it with holy joy, and expect it with most confident assurance: and the 98th Psalm should express the habitual frame of all our minds [Note: Psa_98:1-9.] — — —]
2. Let us seek the foretaste of it in our own souls—
[Why should we rest satisfied with low measures of holiness or of joy, when it is our privilege to “rejoice in Christ with joy unspeakable and full of glory [Note: 1Pe_1:8.]?” We are not contented with the light of the moon, when we can have the light of the sun, nor are we satisfied with the sun in its early dawn, when we can enjoy it in its meridian height. Let us, then, extend this desire to all spiritual blessings, and never be satisfied, till we are as holy and as happy as God himself can make us.]