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GOD’S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE
IT is almost impossible for any one to read the Holy Scriptures with attention, and not to notice the very remarkable manner in which many of the richest promises are introduced. God seems, in them, determined to magnify his own grace; and to shew, that “where sin hath abounded, his grace shall much more abound [Note: Rom_5:20.].” Let any one read the two last verses of the preceding chapter, and then pass on to the promise which I have just read; and he will see this illustrated in a very striking point of view — — — The Jews, to this day, experience the mercy and the faithfulness of God in his wonderful preservation of them, in order to a richer display of his goodness towards them than they have ever yet known [Note: ver. 4–7.]. And all the servants of Jehovah, in every age, may be assured of similar protection, in order to their present and eternal welfare.
In opening the words before us, we will notice,
I. What is here supposed respecting the people of God—
[It is taken for granted that they shall be a suffering people, according to what is spoken by the Prophet Zephaniah: “I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people [Note: Zep_3:12.].” In a greater or less degree this is the state of all; they have to pass through deep waters, and even, as it were, through the fire itself, in the service of their God. Sometimes they are afflicted by persecution, and sometimes by temptation; for both to men and devils are they objects of inveterate hostility. From the days of Cain to this very hour, have “those who were born after the flesh persecuted those who were born after the Spirit [Note: Gal_4:29.]:” nor can any “who will live godly in Christ Jesus hope to escape” their virulent assaults [Note: 2Ti_3:12.]. And where is there a child of God whom that great “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, does not labour to devour [Note: 1Pe_5:8.]?” There is not one who has not “some thorn in the flesh, some messenger of Satan to buffet him [Note: Psa_91:15.].” Look at all the most favoured servants of the Lord—at Job, and Heman, and Asaph, and David, and Paul—and you will find them all “chosen in the furnace of affliction, even as our blessed Lord himself, who was pre-eminently a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief [Note: Isa_53:3.].” Indeed there is a necessity for this; because there is in all the servants of God much dross, which needs the fire of affliction to purge it away; and it is in the furnace that they learn the evil of their own hearts, and the power and efficacy of divine grace: it is under tribulation chiefly, that they acquire “patience and experience, and a hope that shall never make them ashamed [Note: Rom_5:5.].”]
But, however painful their state, they have abundant consolation in,
II. What is here promised to them—
[God will be with his people under all their trials: as he has said, “I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.” He will be with his people both by the manifestations of his presence and the communications of his grace; so that, under their severest afflictions, they shall have abundant support. Remarkable is that expression of the Psalmist, “Thou shall hide them in the secret of thy presence [Note: Psa_31:20.].” The man that is in the presence of his God, and has the light of his countenance lifted up upon him, is inaccessible to his enemies, and may laugh at all their assaults. See Paul and Silas in prison, under circumstances as painful as could well be inflicted on them; yet, behold, they are singing praises to God at mid-night. And see the Hebrew Youths in the furnace into which an infuriated tyrant had cast them: “not so much as a hair of their head was singed, or even the smell of fire had passed on them.” Such are the interpositions of God in behalf of all his faithful servants, that “where their afflictions have abounded, their consolations have much more abounded [Note: 2Co_1:5.].” The very waves which desolated all the world besides, bore up the ark, and carried it to a place of safety. And so shall the sea itself afford a passage to all the “ransomed of the Lord to pass over,” in the way to the land of promise [Note: Isa_51:10.]. But let not this be taken upon my word. Let David speak, from actual experience: “Thou, O God, hast proved us; thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net: thou laidest affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads: we went through fire and through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place [Note: Psa_66:10-12.].”]
Of the fulfilment of this promise we can entertain no doubt, when we consider,
III. The ground upon which the promise is made—
[It is pleasing to observe with what satisfaction God contemplates the relation in which he stands to his people, and with what delight he expatiates upon it: “Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Here is abundant security to us for the accomplishment of every word that God has spoken. For he takes an interest in his people, such as a man feels in reference to his dearest possessions. He puts them, we will say, into the furnace. But will he leave them there without any concern about them? No: “he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,” to watch the process, and to bring them forth the very instant that his gracious designs are wrought upon them; that so they may come forth “as vessels of honour, meet for their Master’s use [Note: Mal_3:3.].” Are they “a vineyard which his right hand has planted?” “he will keep it, and water it every moment: lest any hurt it, he will keep it night and day [Note: Isa_27:3.].’ No parent can sympathize with his afflicted child more tenderly than he did with his people under their trials: “In all their affliction he was afflicted: and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old [Note: Isa_63:9.].” In a word, they are his children; and therefore he enters so affectionately into all their concerns: “Is not Ephraim my dear son? is he not a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord [Note: Jer_31:20.].”]
Infer—
1. What consolation does the Gospel of Christ afford!
[In the Old Testament we have those very promises of which we have spoken. But it is the Gospel which gives us the full insight into them. We behold in the Old Testament the redemption of Israel from Egypt, and their ultimate establishment in the land of Canaan. But these were a mere shadow of the redemption that has been wrought for us by Christ, and of those spiritual mercies which are vouchsafed to us in our way to the Canaan that is above. These are, above all, to be noticed. These give us the true insight into the mystery of the burning bush [Note: Exo_3:2.]. Not the Church at large only, but every true believer is that burning bush, in whom God shall to all eternity be glorified. “Tribulation is appointed for us as our way [Note: Act_14:22.]:” but most glorious shall be our end [Note: Rev_7:14-15.].]
2. How needful for us is it that we obtain an interest in Christ!
[It is in Christ alone that these promises are made to us [Note: 2Co_1:20.]. If we are in him, the promises, and all that they contain, are ours [Note: 1Co_3:21-23.].” Let us be able to say with David, “The Lord is my shepherd:” and then we may safely add, “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy (pastoral) rod and staff, they comfort me [Note: Psa_23:1-4.].”]