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THE WEAK BELIEVER COMFORTED
OF the contest between Jehovah and the worshippers of idols, we who have never witnessed the madness of idolaters, have no conception: and, consequently, the pains taken by Jehovah to vindicate his exclusive right to the worship of his creatures appear almost superfluous. But the pertinacity with which idol-worship was upheld, not only amongst the heathen nations around Judea, but even in Judea itself, rendered every possible effort necessary to withstand its influence, and to suppress its growth. Power and authority were for the most part on the side of idolatry; in support of which the bitterest persecutions were set on foot against the adherents of true religion. But Jehovah promises to them his support, and assures them, that, however severely tried for a season, they shall triumph at last.
This is the primary import of our text. But, when we recollect, that there is a spiritual idolatry still prevalent, and that there still exists the same contest between Jehovah and the votaries of this present world, and that his faithful servants are still greatly obstructed in their ways, and painfully persecuted too for their fidelity to him, we shall see that the encouragement in our text is as needful for them, as ever it was for his people of old.
I propose then to set before you,
I. The grounds which the Lord’s people have for fear—
The idea of guilt and unworthiness might well come into our view, if we were treating the subject without any reference to the context: but as the fear and dismay mentioned in our text originated only in the power of their enemies, their own inability to withstand them, and the fearful consequences of a defeat, we think it right to confine our observations to those topics.
The Lord’s people then have many fears as arising from,
1. The number and power of their enemies—
[It is well known that the world and all its votaries are in direct opposition to the children of God. As Gideon no sooner made a league with Joshua, than all the kings of Canaan confederated to destroy them; so no sooner does any one enter into covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and submit to him, than the whole world account him a deserter from their cause, and use all their efforts to bring him back to their standard. Even our dearest friends will be the foremost in this warfare; and “our greatest foes be those of our own household.” In confirmation of this assertion, we appeal, not to the Scriptures only, but to fact and experience. Let any man set his face to seek the Lord, and all around him will put themselves in array against him, and employ all the arts of persuasion, ridicule, expostulation, and menace, in order, if possible, to divert him from his purpose. Those who, when he was going on in the ways of sin, never uttered a single word of advice to induce him to flee from the wrath to come, no sooner behold him turning into the way of righteousness, than they express the deepest concern about his welfare, and labour to the uttermost to reclaim him from what they account the most egregious folly — — —.
In league with them will both the flesh, and the devil be; the one striving by the violence of its in-dwelling lusts, and the other by the subtlety of his devices, to draw him back into that state of guilt and bondage from which he has just escaped [Note: 2Pe_2:18.] — — —
Such enemies, so numerous, so subtle, so inveterate, the Christian scarcely knows how to encounter: and the thought of their combined and continued efforts to destroy him, fills him not unfrequently with terror and “dismay” — — —]
2. His utter inability to withstand them—
The Christian has no idea of the extent of his own impotency to that which is good, till he comes to exert himself in the ways of God. He then finds that “without aid from the Lord Jesus Christ, he can do nothing.” This oftentimes greatly discourages him: “If,” says he, “I have run with footmen, and they have wearied me, how shall I contend with horses [Note: Jer_12:5.]?” If I am not able to encounter the least of all my enemies, how can I withstand the united force of all? The discouragements arising from this source are the greater, because they so continually recur. The Christian cannot address himself to any duty, but he is constrained from painful experience to acknowledge, that all his sufficiency to do, or to will, or even to think what is good, is of God alone [Note: Php_2:13. 2Co_3:5.] — — — Verily, if it were not that he had hope in God, he would sit down in utter despair — — —]
3. The dreadful consequence of a defeat—
[Eternity is at stake; an eternity of bliss or woe; of bliss or woe unutterable, and inconceivable: and to those only who overcome will the prize of victory be assigned, even to those who maintain the conflict to the end, and overcome all the enemies of their souls. And how fearful the alternative! how dreadful the thought of dwelling with everlasting burnings! Can a man open his eyes to such a prospect, and not fear? Is it not sufficient to appal the stoutest heart? True indeed, some are borne up above all such fears, and are “assured, that, when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, they have an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens:” but all are not so privileged; or rather, all do not so fully attain the enjoyment of their privileges: and to them a doubt or suspicion of their ultimate acceptance with God is a source of the most disquieting apprehension.]
But however great be their fears, they may dismiss them all, when they are informed of,
II. The encouragement here afforded them—
Every difficulty that could harass their minds is obviated in our text, in which all their fears are anticipated, and their wants supplied. God promises them,
1. His presence—
[Were we left in the power of our enemies without any friend at hand to help us, we might well fear. But God says to the trembling soul, “Fear not; for I am with thee.” Now if but a fellow-creature were with us in a season of difficulty, we should take courage, especially if we knew that he was competent to afford us the protection we desired. How much more then may we be satisfied if Almighty God be with us! In the contemplation of this, David says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, God is in the midst of us: we shall not be moved. God shall help us, and that right early. The Lord of Hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge [Note: Psa_46:1-2; Psa_46:5; Psa_46:7; Psa_46:11.].”
But if it be said, God may be “with us” as an enemy, or as an indifferent spectator: therefore it is not a mere persuasion of his presence that will satisfy our minds; he further assures his people of,]
2. His care—
[Believers are “his people; and He is their God:” and in this character will he be with them in all their trials. A stranger may see a person injured, and not feel himself sufficiently interested to interpose for his relief: but a husband, or a father, will not so act: he will feel the injury as done to himself; and will make the cause his own. So will God do for his people, who are authorized in all their troubles to say to him, “Arise, and plead thine own cause.” “Whoso toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye:” and “his eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in behalf of those who trust in him:” and every perfection that he possesses will he put forth for their preservation and protection — — —
Yet, as his people are required to exert themselves, and are apt to be discouraged on account of their extreme weakness, he promises them,]
3. His succour—
[We are told that he will “put strength into his people [Note: Psa_29:11.],” and “strengthen them with might by his power in their inward man.” What then need they to fear, when “the arms of their hands are made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob [Note: Gen_49:24.]?” The weakest of them all may fearlessly adopt the language of the prophet, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation [Note: Isa_12:2.].” Yes; the veriest stripling, with his sling and his stone, may go forth against all the Goliaths in the universe, assured of victory: for “he can do all things, through Christ who strengthened! him.”
Yet, because the Christian’s enemies are far too strong for an arm of flesh, and he is apt, notwithstanding the strength imparted to him, to be discouraged; God further engages to aid him with,]
4. His co-operation—
[Fear not; for “I will help thee,” says God: “I will help thine infirmities [Note: Rom_8:26. See the Greek.].” In this expression there is something deserving of especial notice. The term used imports, that when our burthen is so heavy and cumbersome that we cannot with all our exertions support it, God promises that he will take hold of it at the opposite end, and bear it together with us. Be it so then, that our burthen is too heavy for us: but is it too heavy for him also? “Is there any thing too hard for the Lord?” “If he be for us, not all the powers of earth and hell combined can with any effect exert themselves against us [Note: Rom_8:31.].”
Still, as long as any thing depends on him, the trembling believer cannot dispel his fears: and therefore, to complete the consolation afforded him, God assures him of,]
5. His effectual support—
[“I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” What can the believer want more than this; to have the eternal God for his refuge; and to have “underneath him his everlasting arms?” “O! happy indeed art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, who is the shield of thy help, and the sword of thine excellency [Note: Deu_33:27-29.]?” After this promise, we wonder not at the assurances added to our text, “Behold! all that are incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. Fear not, thou worm Jacob: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small as chaff, so that the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them [Note: ver. 11–16.].”]
And now, if, after this, any of you entertain unbelieving fears, let me expostulate with you, as God himself does—
[“I, even I, am he that comforteth you: Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker; and fearest every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor [Note: Isa_51:12-13.]?” Do not so dishonour your Lord and Saviour: but believe him able, believe him willing, to afford you all needful succour, and to “save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him” — — —]
Yet let me not conclude without adding a few words for the conviction of those who know nothing of such fears as these—
[They who have never had a fear of their state, are at this moment destitute of any scriptural hope: for, What can they know of themselves? What can they know of the Christian warfare? What can they know of the Scriptures of truth? They are altogether in darkness even until now. Can it be supposed that God would use such efforts for the encouragement of his people, if they did not need encouragement? Why did Jehovah so tenderly chide his people of old for their fears, and give them such rich promises of aid, if their situation did not require such supports [Note: Isa_40:27-31.]? or why does our blessed Lord still say, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom [Note: Luk_12:32.]?” Know of a surety, that the Christian life is attended with many difficulties: and that all the supports and consolations afforded to the believer in the Holy Scriptures, are no more than his necessities require: and, if ever you begin to serve the Lord in truth, you will find the promise in our text more precious to you than gold, and “sweeter to you than honey, or the honeycomb.”]