1662 lines
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1662 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Jeremiah XXXI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC24030.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC24032.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J E R E M I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter goes on with the good words and comfortable words which we
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had in the chapter before, for the encouragement of the captives,
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assuring them that God would in due time restore them or their children
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to their own land, and make them a great and happy nation again,
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especially by sending them the Messiah, in whose kingdom and grace many
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of these promises were to have their full accomplishment.
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I. They shall be restored to peace and honour, and joy and great plenty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:1-14">ver. 1-14</A>.
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II. Their sorrow for the loss of their children shall be at an end,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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III. They shall repent of their sins, and God will graciously accept
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them in their repentance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>.
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IV. They shall be multiplied and increased, both their children and
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their cattle, and not be cut off and diminished as they had been,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:21-30">ver. 21-30</A>.
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V. God will renew his covenant with them, and enrich it with spiritual
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blessings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:31-34">ver. 31-34</A>.
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VI. These blessings shall be secured to theirs after them, even to the
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spiritual seed of Israel for ever,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:35-37">ver. 35-37</A>.
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VII. As an earnest of this the city of Jerusalem shall be rebuilt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:38-40">ver. 38-40</A>.
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These exceedingly great and precious promises were firm foundations of
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hope and full fountains of joy to the poor captives; and we also may
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apply them to ourselves and mix faith with them.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jer31_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer31_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Promises to Israel; Joyful Return from Captivity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 594.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 At the same time, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, will I be the God of all
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the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
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2 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, The people <I>which were</I> left of the
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sword found grace in the wilderness; <I>even</I> Israel, when I went
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to cause him to rest.
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3 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath appeared of old unto me, <I>saying,</I> Yea, I have
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loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with
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lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
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4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of
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Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt
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go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
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5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the
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planters shall plant, and shall eat <I>them</I> as common things.
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6 For there shall be a day, <I>that</I> the watchmen upon the mount
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Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God.
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7 For thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and
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shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and
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say, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
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8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather
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them from the coasts of the earth, <I>and</I> with them the blind and
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the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child
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together: a great company shall return thither.
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9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I
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lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a
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straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father
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to Israel, and Ephraim <I>is</I> my firstborn.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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God here assures his people,</P>
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<P>
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I. That he will again take them into a covenant relation to himself,
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from which they seemed to be cut off. <I>At the same time,</I> when
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God's anger breaks out against the wicked
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+30:24"><I>ch.</I> xxx. 24</A>),
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his own people shall be owned by him as the children of his love: <I>I
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will be the God</I> (that is, I will show myself to be the God) <I>of
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all the families of Israel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),--
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not of the two tribes only, but of all the tribes,--not of the house of
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Aaron only, and the families of Levi, but of all their families; not
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only their state in general, but their particular families, and the
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interests of them, shall have the benefit of a special relation to God.
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Note, The families of good people, in their family capacity, may apply
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to God and stay themselves upon him as their God. If we and our houses
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serve the Lord, we and our houses shall be protected and blessed by
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+3:33">Prov. iii. 33</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. That he will do for them, in bringing them out of Babylon, as he
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had done for their fathers when he delivered them out of Egypt, and as
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he had purposed to do when he first took them to be his people.
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1. He puts them in mind of what he did for their fathers when he
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brought them out of Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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They were then, as these were, a <I>people left of the sword,</I> that
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sword of Pharaoh with which he cut off all the male children as soon as
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they were born (a bloody sword indeed they had narrowly escaped) and
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that sword with which he threatened to cut them off when he pursued
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them to the Red Sea. They were then <I>in the wilderness,</I> where
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they seemed to be lost and forgotten, as these were now in a strange
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land, and yet they found grace in God's sight, were owned and highly
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honoured by him, and blessed with wonderful instances of his peculiar
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favour, and he was at this time going <I>to cause them to rest</I> in
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Canaan. Note, When we are brought very low, and insuperable
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difficulties appear in the way of our deliverance, it is good to
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remember that it has been so with the church formerly, and yet that it
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has been raised up from its low estate and has got to Canaan through
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all the hardships of a wilderness; and God is still the same.
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2. They put him in mind of what God had done for their fathers,
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intimating that they now saw not such signs, and were ready to ask, as
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Gideon did, <I>Where are all the wonders that our fathers told us
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of?</I> It is true, <I>The Lord hath appeared of old unto me</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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in Egypt, in the wilderness, hath appeared with me and for me, hath
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been seen in his glory as my God. The years of ancient times were
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glorious years; but now it is otherwise; what good will it do us that
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he <I>appeared of old</I> to us when now he is <I>a God that hides
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himself</I> from us?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:15">Isa. xlv. 15</A>.
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Note, It is hard to take comfort from former smiles under present
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frowns.
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3. To this he answers with an assurance of the constancy of his love:
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<I>Yea, I have loved thee,</I> not only with an ancient love, but
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<I>with an everlasting love,</I> a love that shall never fail, however
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the comforts of it may for a time be suspended. It is <I>an everlasting
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love; therefore have I</I> extended or <I>drawn out lovingkindness unto
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thee</I> also, as well as to thy ancestors, or, <I>with lovingkindness
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have I drawn thee</I> to myself as thy God, from all the idols to which
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thou hadst turned aside. Note, It is the happiness of those who are
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through grace interested in the love of God that it is <I>an
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everlasting love</I> (from everlasting in the counsels of it, <I>to</I>
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everlasting in the continuance and consequences of it), and that
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nothing can separate them from that love. Those whom God loves with
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this love he will draw into covenant and communion with himself, by the
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influences of his Spirit upon their souls; he will <I>draw them with
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lovingkindness,</I> with the cords of a man and bands of love, than
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which no attractive can be more powerful.</P>
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<P>
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III. That he will again form them into a people, and give them a very
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joyful settlement in their own land,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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Is the church of God his house, his temple? Is it now in ruins? It is
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so; but, <I>Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built.</I> Are
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they parts of this building dispersed? They shall be collected and put
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together again, each in its place. If God undertake to build them, they
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shall be built, whatever opposition may be given to it? Is
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<I>Israel</I> a beautiful <I>virgin?</I> Is she now stripped of her
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ornaments and reduced to a melancholy state? She is so; but <I>thou
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shalt again be adorned</I> and made fine, adorned <I>with thy
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tabrets,</I> or timbrels, the ornaments of thy chamber, and made merry.
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They shall resume their harps which had been hung upon the
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willow-trees, shall tune them, and shall themselves be in tune to make
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use of them. They shall be adorned with their tabrets, for now their
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mirth and music shall be seasonable; it shall be a proper time for it,
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God in his providence shall call them to it, and then it shall be an
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ornament to them; whereas tabrets, at a time of common calamity, when
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God called to mourning, were a shame to them. Or it may refer to their
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use of tabrets in the solemnizing of their religious feasts and their
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<I>going forth in dances</I> then, as the <I>daughters of Shiloh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:19,21">Judg. xxi. 19, 21</A>.
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Our mirth is then indeed an ornament to us when we serve God and honour
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him with it. Is the joy of the city maintained by the products of the
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country? It is so; and therefore it is promised
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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<I>Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria,</I> which
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had been the head city of the kingdom of Israel, in opposition to that
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of Judah; but they shall now be united
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:22">Ezek. xxxvii. 22</A>),
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and there shall be such perfect peace and security that men shall apply
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themselves wholly to the improvement of their ground: <I>The planters
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shall plant,</I> not fearing the soldiers' coming to eat the fruits of
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what they had planted, or to pluck it up; but they themselves <I>shall
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eat them</I> freely, <I>as common things,</I> not forbidden fruits, not
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forbidden by the law of God (as they were till the fifth year,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+19:23-25">Lev. xix. 23-25</A>),
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not forbidden by the owners, because there shall be such plenty as to
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yield enough for all, enough for each.</P>
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<P>
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IV. That they shall have liberty and opportunity to worship God in the
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ordinances of his own appointment, and shall have both invitations and
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inclinations to do so
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>There shall be a day,</I> and a glorious day it will be, when <I>the
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watchmen upon Mount Ephraim,</I> that are set to stand sentinel there,
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to give notice of the approach of the enemy, finding that all is very
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quiet and that there is no appearance of danger, shall desire for a
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time to be discharged from their post, that they may <I>go up to
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Zion,</I> to praise God for the public peace. Or <I>the watchmen</I>
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that tend the vineyards (spoken of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>)
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shall stir up themselves, and one another, and all their neighbours, to
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go and keep the solemn feasts at Jerusalem. Now this implies that the
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service of God shall be again set up in Zion, that there shall be a
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general resort to it, with much affection and mutual excitement, as in
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David's time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1">Ps. cxxii. 1</A>.
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||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But that which is most observable here is <I>that the watchmen of
|
||
|
|
Ephraim</I> are forward to promote the worship of God at Jerusalem,
|
||
|
|
whereas formerly <I>the watchman of Ephraim was hatred against the
|
||
|
|
house of his God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:8">Hos. ix. 8</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and, in stead of inviting people to Zion, laid snares for those that
|
||
|
|
set their faces thitherward,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+5:1">Hos. v. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, God can make those who have been enemies to religion and the true
|
||
|
|
worship of God to become encouragers of them and leaders in them. This
|
||
|
|
promise was to have its full accomplishment in the days of the Messiah,
|
||
|
|
when the gospel should be preached to all these countries, and a
|
||
|
|
general invitation thereby given into the church of Christ, of which
|
||
|
|
Zion was a type.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. That God shall have the glory and the church both the honour and
|
||
|
|
comfort of this blessed change
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Sing with gladness for Jacob,</I> that is, let all her friends and
|
||
|
|
well-wishers rejoice with her,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:43">Deut. xxxii. 43</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Rejoice, you Gentiles with his people,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:10">Rom. xv. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The restoration of Jacob will be taken notice of by all the neighbours,
|
||
|
|
it will be matter of joy to them all, and they shall all join with
|
||
|
|
Jacob in his joys, and thereby pay him respect and put a reputation
|
||
|
|
upon him. Even <I>the chief of the nations,</I> that make the greatest
|
||
|
|
figure, shall think it an honour to them to congratulate the
|
||
|
|
restoration of Jacob, and shall do themselves the honour to send their
|
||
|
|
ambassadors on that errand. <I>Publish you, praise you.</I> In
|
||
|
|
publishing these tidings, praise the God of Israel, praise the Israel
|
||
|
|
of God, speak honourably of both. The publishers of the gospel must
|
||
|
|
publish it with praise, and therefore it is often spoken of in the
|
||
|
|
<I>Psalms</I> as mingled with <I>praises,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:2,3,96:2,3">Ps. lxvii. 2, 3; cxvi. 2, 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What we either bring to others or take to ourselves the comfort of we
|
||
|
|
must be sure to give God the praise of. <I>Praise you, and say, O Lord!
|
||
|
|
save thy people;</I> that is, perfect their salvation, go on to save
|
||
|
|
<I>the remnant of Israel,</I> that are yet in bondage; as
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:3,4">Ps. cxxvi. 3, 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, When we are praising God for what he has done we must call upon
|
||
|
|
him for the future favours which his church is in need and expectation
|
||
|
|
of; and in praying to him we really praise him and give him glory; he
|
||
|
|
takes it so.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. That, in order to a happy settlement in their own land, they shall
|
||
|
|
have a joyful return out of the land of their captivity and a very
|
||
|
|
comfortable passage homeward
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and this beginning of mercy shall be to them a pledge of all the other
|
||
|
|
blessings here promised.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Though they are scattered to places far remote, yet they shall be
|
||
|
|
brought together <I>from the north country, and from the coasts of the
|
||
|
|
earth;</I> wherever they are, God will find them out.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Though many of them are very unfit for travel, yet that shall be no
|
||
|
|
hindrance to them: <I>The blind and the lame</I> shall come; such a
|
||
|
|
good-will shall they have to their journey, and such a good heart upon
|
||
|
|
it, that they shall not make their blindness and lameness an excuse for
|
||
|
|
staying where they are. There companions will be ready to help them,
|
||
|
|
will be <I>eyes to the blind and legs to the lame,</I> as good
|
||
|
|
Christians ought to be to one another in their travels heavenward,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+29:15">Job xxix. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But, above all, their God will help them; and let none plead that he is
|
||
|
|
blind who has God for his guide, or lame who has God for his strength.
|
||
|
|
<I>The women with child</I> are heavy, and it is not fit that they
|
||
|
|
should undertake such a journey, much less those <I>that travail with
|
||
|
|
child;</I> and yet, when it is to return to Zion, neither the one nor
|
||
|
|
the other shall make any difficulty of it. Note, When God calls we must
|
||
|
|
not plead any inability to come; for he that calls us will help us,
|
||
|
|
will strengthen us.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Though they seem to be diminished, and to have become few in
|
||
|
|
numbers, yet, when they come all together, they shall be <I>a great
|
||
|
|
company;</I> and so will God's spiritual Israel be when there shall be
|
||
|
|
a general rendezvous of them, though now they are but a little flock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Though their return will be matter of joy to them, yet prayers and
|
||
|
|
tears will be both their stores and their artillery
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They shall come with weeping and with supplications,</I> weeping for
|
||
|
|
sin, supplication for pardon; for <I>the goodness of God</I> shall
|
||
|
|
<I>lead them to repentance;</I> and they shall weep with more
|
||
|
|
bitterness and more tenderness for sin, when they are delivered out of
|
||
|
|
their captivity, than ever they did when they were groaning under it.
|
||
|
|
Weeping and praying do well together; tears put life into prayers, and
|
||
|
|
express the liveliness of the, and prayers help to wipe away tears.
|
||
|
|
<I>With favours will I lead them</I> (so the margin reads it); in their
|
||
|
|
journey they shall be compassed with God's favours, the fruits of his
|
||
|
|
favour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Though they have a perilous journey, yet they shall be safe under a
|
||
|
|
divine convoy. Is the country they pass through dry and thirsty? <I>I
|
||
|
|
will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,</I> not the waters of
|
||
|
|
a land-flood, which fail in summer. Is it a wilderness where there is
|
||
|
|
no road, no track? <I>I will cause them t walk in a straight way,</I>
|
||
|
|
which they shall not miss. Is it a rough and rocky country? Yet <I>they
|
||
|
|
shall not stumble.</I> Note, Whithersoever God gives his people a clear
|
||
|
|
call he will either find them or make them a ready way; and while we
|
||
|
|
are following Providence we may be sure that Providence will not be
|
||
|
|
wanting to us. And, <I>lastly,</I> here is a reason given why God will
|
||
|
|
take all this care of his people: <I>For I am a Father to Israel,</I> a
|
||
|
|
Father that begat him, and therefore will maintain him, that have the
|
||
|
|
care and compassion of a father for him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+103:13">Ps. ciii. 13</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>and Ephraim is my first-born;</I> even <I>Ephraim,</I> who, having
|
||
|
|
gone astray from God, was <I>no more worthy to be called a son,</I>
|
||
|
|
shall yet be owned as a <I>first-born,</I> particularly dear, and heir
|
||
|
|
of a double portion of blessings. The same reason that was given for
|
||
|
|
their release out of Egypt is given for their release out of Babylon;
|
||
|
|
they are free-born and therefore must not be enslaved, are born to God
|
||
|
|
and therefore must not be the servants of men.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:22,23">Exod. iv. 22, 23</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Israel is my son, even my first-born; let my son go that he may
|
||
|
|
serve me.</I> If we take God for our Father, and join ourselves to
|
||
|
|
<I>the church of the first-born,</I> we may be assured that we shall
|
||
|
|
want nothing that is good for us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Restoration of Israel; Promises to Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 594.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Hear the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, O ye nations, and declare <I>it</I> in
|
||
|
|
the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather
|
||
|
|
him, and keep him, as a shepherd <I>doth</I> his flock.
|
||
|
|
11 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the
|
||
|
|
hand of <I>him that was</I> stronger than he.
|
||
|
|
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
|
||
|
|
and shall flow together to the goodness of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, for wheat,
|
||
|
|
and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of
|
||
|
|
the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they
|
||
|
|
shall not sorrow any more at all.
|
||
|
|
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men
|
||
|
|
and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and
|
||
|
|
will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
|
||
|
|
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and
|
||
|
|
my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
15 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; A voice was heard in Ramah,
|
||
|
|
lamentation, <I>and</I> bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children
|
||
|
|
refused to be comforted for her children, because they <I>were</I>
|
||
|
|
not.
|
||
|
|
16 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and
|
||
|
|
thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the
|
||
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
|
||
|
|
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that thy
|
||
|
|
children shall come again to their own border.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This paragraph is much to the same purport with the last, publishing to
|
||
|
|
the world, as well as to the church, the purposes of God's love
|
||
|
|
concerning his people. This is a <I>word of the Lord</I> which the
|
||
|
|
<I>nations</I> must <I>hear,</I> for it is a prophecy of a work of the
|
||
|
|
Lord which the nations cannot but take notice of. Let them hear the
|
||
|
|
prophecy, that they may the better understand and improve the
|
||
|
|
performance; and let those that hear it themselves declare it to
|
||
|
|
others, <I>declare it in the isles afar off.</I> It will be a piece of
|
||
|
|
news that will spread all the world over. It will look very great in
|
||
|
|
history; let us see how it looks in prophecy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is foretold,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That those who are dispersed shall be brought together again from
|
||
|
|
their dispersions: <I>He that scattereth Israel will gather him;</I>
|
||
|
|
for he knows whither he scattered them and therefore where to find
|
||
|
|
them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit</I>--<I>The hand that
|
||
|
|
inflicted the wound shall heal it.</I> And when he has gathered him
|
||
|
|
into one body, one fold, he will <I>keep him, as a shepherd does his
|
||
|
|
flock,</I> from being scattered again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That those who are sold and alienated shall be redeemed and brought
|
||
|
|
back,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Though the enemy that had got possession of him was <I>stronger than
|
||
|
|
he,</I> yet <I>the Lord,</I> who is stronger than all. <I>has redeemed
|
||
|
|
and ransomed him,</I> not by price, but by power, as of old out of the
|
||
|
|
Egyptians' hands.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. That with their liberty they shall have plenty and joy, and God
|
||
|
|
shall be honoured and served with it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When they shall have returned to their own land <I>they shall come and
|
||
|
|
sing in the high place of Zion;</I> on the top of that holy mountain
|
||
|
|
they shall sing to the praise and glory of God. We read that they did
|
||
|
|
so when the foundation of the temple was laid there; they <I>sang
|
||
|
|
together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+3:11">Ezra iii. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They <I>shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord;</I> that is,
|
||
|
|
they shall flock in great numbers and with great forwardness and
|
||
|
|
cheerfulness, as streams of water, <I>to the goodness of the Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
to the temple where he causes his goodness to pass before his people.
|
||
|
|
They shall come together in solemn assemblies, to <I>praise him for his
|
||
|
|
goodness,</I> and to pray for the fruits of it and the continuance of
|
||
|
|
it; they shall come to bless him for his goodness, in giving them
|
||
|
|
<I>wheat, and wine, and oil, and the young of the flock and of the
|
||
|
|
herd,</I> which, now that they have obtained their freedom, they have
|
||
|
|
an uncontested property in and the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of,
|
||
|
|
and which therefore they honour God with the first-fruits of and out of
|
||
|
|
which they bring offerings to his altar. Note, It is comfortable to
|
||
|
|
observe the goodness of the Lord in the gifts of common providence, and
|
||
|
|
even in them to taste covenant-love. Having plenty (plenty out of want
|
||
|
|
and scarcity) they shall greatly rejoice, <I>their soul shall be as a
|
||
|
|
watered garden,</I> flourishing and fruitful
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:11">Isa. lviii. 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
pleasant and fragrant, and abounding in all good things. Note, Our
|
||
|
|
souls are never valuable as gardens but when they are watered with the
|
||
|
|
dews of God's Spirit and grace. It is a precious promise which follows,
|
||
|
|
and which will not have its full accomplishment any where on this side
|
||
|
|
the height of the heavenly Zion, that <I>they shall not sorrow any more
|
||
|
|
at all;</I> for it is only in that new Jerusalem <I>that all tears
|
||
|
|
shall be wiped away,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:4">Rev. xxi. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
However, so far it was fulfilled to the returned captives that they had
|
||
|
|
not any more those causes for sorrow which they had formerly had; and
|
||
|
|
therefore
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>young men and old shall rejoice together;</I> so grave shall the
|
||
|
|
young men be in their joys as to keep company with the old men, and so
|
||
|
|
transported shall the old men be as to associate with the young.
|
||
|
|
<I>Salva res est, saltat senex--The state prospers, and the aged
|
||
|
|
dance.</I> God <I>will turn their mourning into joy,</I> their fasts
|
||
|
|
into solemn feasts,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:19">Zech. viii. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was in the return out of Babylon that those <I>who sowed in
|
||
|
|
tears</I> were made to <I>reap in joy,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6">Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those are comforted indeed whom God comforts, and may forget their
|
||
|
|
troubles when he <I>makes them</I> to <I>rejoice from their sorrow,</I>
|
||
|
|
not only rejoice after it, but rejoice from it their joy shall borrow
|
||
|
|
lustre from their sorrow, which shall serve as a foil to it; and the
|
||
|
|
more they think of their troubles the more they rejoice in their
|
||
|
|
deliverance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. That both the ministers and those they minister to shall have
|
||
|
|
abundant satisfaction in what God gives them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness;</I> there shall
|
||
|
|
be such a plenty of sacrifices brought to the altar that those who
|
||
|
|
<I>live upon the altar</I> shall live very comfortably, they and their
|
||
|
|
families shall be <I>satiated with fatness,</I> they shall have enough,
|
||
|
|
and that of the best; <I>and my people shall be satisfied with my
|
||
|
|
goodness,</I> and shall think there is enough in that to make them
|
||
|
|
happy; and so there is. God's people have an abundant satisfaction in
|
||
|
|
God's goodness, though they have but little of this world. Let them be
|
||
|
|
satisfied of God's lovingkindness, and they will be satisfied with it
|
||
|
|
and desire no more to make them happy. All this is applicable to the
|
||
|
|
spiritual blessings which the redeemed of the Lord enjoy by Jesus
|
||
|
|
Christ, infinitely more valuable than corn, and wine, and oil, and the
|
||
|
|
satisfaction of soul which they have in the enjoyment of them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. That those particularly who had been in sorrow for the loss of their
|
||
|
|
children who were carried into captivity should have that sorrow turned
|
||
|
|
into joy upon their return,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:15-17"><I>v.</I> 15-17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here we have,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The sad lamentation which the mothers made for the loss of their
|
||
|
|
children
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>In Ramah was there a voice heard,</I> at the time when the general
|
||
|
|
captivity was, nothing but <I>lamentation, and bitter weeping,</I> more
|
||
|
|
there than in other places, because there Nebuzaradan had the general
|
||
|
|
rendezvous of his captives, as appears,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:1"><I>ch.</I> xl. 1</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where we find him sending Jeremiah back from Ramah. <I>Rachel</I> is
|
||
|
|
here said to <I>weep for her children.</I> The sepulchre of Rachel was
|
||
|
|
between Ramah and Bethlehem. Benjamin, one of the two tribes, and
|
||
|
|
Ephraim, head of the ten tribes, were both descendants from Rachel. She
|
||
|
|
had but two sons, the elder of whom was one for whom his father grieved
|
||
|
|
and<I>refused to be comforted</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+37:35">Gen. xxxvii. 35</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the other she herself called <I>Benoni--the son of my sorrow.</I> Now
|
||
|
|
the inhabitants of Ramah did in like manner <I>grieve for their sons
|
||
|
|
and their daughters</I> that were carried away (as
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+30:6">1 Sam. xxx. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and such a voice of lamentation was there as, to speak poetically,
|
||
|
|
might even have raised Rachel out of her grave to mourn with them. The
|
||
|
|
tender parents even <I>refused to be comforted for their children,
|
||
|
|
because they were not,</I> were not with them, but were in the hands of
|
||
|
|
their enemies; they were never likely to see them any more. This is
|
||
|
|
applied by the evangelists to the great mourning that was at Bethlehem
|
||
|
|
for the murder of the infants there by Herod
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:17-18">Matt. ii. 17-18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and this scripture is said to be then fulfilled. They wept for them,
|
||
|
|
<I>and would not be comforted,</I> supposing the case would not admit
|
||
|
|
any ground of comfort, <I>because they were not.</I> Note, Sorrow for
|
||
|
|
the loss of children cannot but be great sorrow, especially if we so
|
||
|
|
far mistake as to think <I>they are not.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Seasonable comfort administered to them in reference hereunto,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They are advised to moderate that sorrow, and to set bounds to it:
|
||
|
|
<I>Refrain thy voice from weeping and thy eyes from tears.</I> We are
|
||
|
|
not forbidden to mourn in such a case; allowances are made for natural
|
||
|
|
affection. But we must not suffer our sorrow to run into an extreme, to
|
||
|
|
hinder our joy in God, or take us off from our duty to him. Though we
|
||
|
|
mourn, we must not murmur, nor must we resolve, as Jacob did, to go to
|
||
|
|
the grave mourning. In order to repress inordinate grief, we must
|
||
|
|
consider that <I>there is hope in our end,</I> hope that there will be
|
||
|
|
an end (the trouble will not last always), that it will be a happy
|
||
|
|
and--the end will be peace. Note, It ought to support us under our
|
||
|
|
troubles that we have reason to hope they will end well. <I>The
|
||
|
|
righteous has hope in his death;</I> that will be the blessed period of
|
||
|
|
his grief and the blessed passage to his joys. "<I>There is hope for
|
||
|
|
thy posterity</I>" (so some read it); "though thou mayest not live to
|
||
|
|
see these glorious days thyself, there is hope that thy posterity
|
||
|
|
shall. Though one generation falls in the wilderness, the next shall
|
||
|
|
enter Canaan. Two things thou mayest comfort thyself with the hope
|
||
|
|
of:"--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] "The reward of thy work:--<I>Thy</I> suffering <I>work shall be
|
||
|
|
rewarded.</I> The comforts of the deliverance shall be sufficient to
|
||
|
|
balance all the grievances of thy captivity." God makes his people
|
||
|
|
<I>glad according to the days wherein he has afflicted them,</I> and so
|
||
|
|
there is a proportion between the joys and the sorrows, as between the
|
||
|
|
reward and the work. The <I>glory to be revealed,</I> which the saints
|
||
|
|
hope for in the end, will abundantly countervail <I>the sufferings of
|
||
|
|
this present time,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:18">Rom. viii. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] "The restoration of thy children: <I>They shall come again from
|
||
|
|
the land of the enemy</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they <I>shall come again to their own border,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>There is hope</I> that children at a distance may be brought home.
|
||
|
|
Jacob had a comfortable meeting with Joseph after he had despaired of
|
||
|
|
ever seeing him. There is hope concerning children removed by death
|
||
|
|
that they shall <I>return to their own border,</I> to the happy lot
|
||
|
|
assigned them in the resurrection, a lot in the heavenly Canaan, that
|
||
|
|
border of his sanctuary. We shall see reason to repress our grief for
|
||
|
|
the death of our children that are taken into covenant with God when we
|
||
|
|
consider the hopes we have of their resurrection to eternal life. They
|
||
|
|
are not lost, but gone before.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Ephraim's Repentance and Privilege; Encouragements to the Captives.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 594.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself <I>thus;</I> Thou
|
||
|
|
hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed
|
||
|
|
<I>to the yoke:</I> turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou
|
||
|
|
<I>art</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> my God.
|
||
|
|
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I
|
||
|
|
was instructed, I smote upon <I>my</I> thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even
|
||
|
|
confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
|
||
|
|
20 <I>Is</I> Ephraim my dear son? <I>is he</I> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart
|
||
|
|
toward the highway, <I>even</I> the way <I>which</I> thou wentest: turn
|
||
|
|
again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
|
||
|
|
22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter?
|
||
|
|
for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall
|
||
|
|
compass a man.
|
||
|
|
23 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they
|
||
|
|
shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities
|
||
|
|
thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> bless
|
||
|
|
thee, O habitation of justice, <I>and</I> mountain of holiness.
|
||
|
|
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities
|
||
|
|
thereof together, husbandmen, and they <I>that</I> go forth with
|
||
|
|
flocks.
|
||
|
|
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished
|
||
|
|
every sorrowful soul.
|
||
|
|
26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto
|
||
|
|
me.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Ephraim's repentance, and return to God. Not only Judah, but Ephraim
|
||
|
|
the ten tribes, shall be restored, and therefore shall thus be prepared
|
||
|
|
and qualified for it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:8">Hos. xiv. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Ephraim shall say, What have I do to any more with idols?</I>
|
||
|
|
Ephraim the people, is here spoken of as a single person to denote
|
||
|
|
their unanimity; they shall be as one man in their repentance and shall
|
||
|
|
glorify God in it with one mind and one mouth, one and all. It is
|
||
|
|
likewise thus expressed that it might be the better accommodated to
|
||
|
|
particular penitents, for whose direction and encouragement this
|
||
|
|
passage is intended. Ephraim is here brought in weeping for sin,
|
||
|
|
perhaps because Ephraim, the person from whom that tribe had its
|
||
|
|
denomination, was a man of a tender spirit, <I>mourned for his children
|
||
|
|
many days</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+7:21,22">1 Chron. vii. 21, 22</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and sorrow for sin is compared to that <I>for an only son.</I> This
|
||
|
|
penitent is here brought in,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Bemoaning himself and the miseries of his present case. True
|
||
|
|
penitents do thus bemoan themselves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Accusing himself, laying a load upon himself as a sinner, a great
|
||
|
|
sinner. He charges upon himself, in the first place, that sin which his
|
||
|
|
conscience told him that he was more especially guilty of at this time,
|
||
|
|
and that was impatience under correction: "<I>Thou has chastised
|
||
|
|
me;</I> I have been under the rod, and I needed it, I deserved it; I
|
||
|
|
was justly chastised, chastised <I>as a bullock,</I> who would never
|
||
|
|
have felt the goad if he had not first rebelled against the yoke." True
|
||
|
|
penitents look upon their afflictions as fatherly chastisements:
|
||
|
|
"<I>Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised;</I> that is, it was
|
||
|
|
well that I was chastised, otherwise I should have been undone; it did
|
||
|
|
me good, or at least was intended to do me good; and yet I have been
|
||
|
|
impatient under it." Or it may intimate his want of feeling under the
|
||
|
|
affliction: "<I>Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised,</I> that
|
||
|
|
was all; I was not awakened by it and quickened by it; I looked no
|
||
|
|
further than the chastisement. <I>I have been</I> under the
|
||
|
|
chastisement <I>as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke,</I> unruly and
|
||
|
|
unmanageable, kicking against the pricks, <I>like a wild bull in a
|
||
|
|
net,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:20">Isa. li. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is the sin he finds himself guilty of now; but
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he reflects upon his former sins and looks as far back as the days of
|
||
|
|
his youth. The discovery of one sin should put us upon searching out
|
||
|
|
more; now he remembers <I>the reproach of his youth.</I> Ephraim, as a
|
||
|
|
people, reflect upon the misconduct of their ancestors when they were
|
||
|
|
first formed in a people. It is applicable to particular persons. Note,
|
||
|
|
The sin of our youth was the reproach of our youth, and we ought often
|
||
|
|
to remember it against ourselves and to bear it in a penitential sorrow
|
||
|
|
and shame.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He is here brought in angry at himself, having a holy indignation at
|
||
|
|
himself for his sin and folly: He <I>smote upon his thigh,</I> as the
|
||
|
|
publican upon his breast. He was even amazed at himself, and at his own
|
||
|
|
stupidity and frowardness: He <I>was ashamed, yea even confounded,</I>
|
||
|
|
could not with any confidence look up to God, nor with any comfort
|
||
|
|
reflect upon himself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. He is here recommending himself to the mercy and grace of God. He
|
||
|
|
finds he is bent to backslide from God, and cannot by any power of his
|
||
|
|
own keep himself close with God, much less, when he has revolted, bring
|
||
|
|
himself back to God, and therefore he prays, <I>Turn thou me and I
|
||
|
|
shall be turned,</I> which implies that unless God do turn him by his
|
||
|
|
grace he shall never be turned, but wander endlessly, that therefore he
|
||
|
|
is very desirous of converting grace, has a dependence upon it, and
|
||
|
|
doubts not but that that grace will be sufficient for him, to help him
|
||
|
|
over all the difficulties that were in the way of his return to God.
|
||
|
|
See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+17:14"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 14</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Heal me and I shall be healed.</I> God works with power, can make
|
||
|
|
the unwilling willing; if he undertake the conversion of a soul, it
|
||
|
|
will be converted.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. He is here pleasing himself with the experience he had of the
|
||
|
|
blessed effect of divine grace: <I>Surely after that I was turned I
|
||
|
|
repented.</I> Note, All the pious workings of our heart towards God are
|
||
|
|
the fruit and consequence of the powerful working of his grace in us.
|
||
|
|
And observe, He was <I>turned,</I> he was <I>instructed,</I> his will
|
||
|
|
was bowed to the will of God, by the right in forming of his judgment
|
||
|
|
concerning the truths of God. Note, The way God takes of converting
|
||
|
|
souls to himself is by opening the eyes of their understandings, and
|
||
|
|
all good follows thereupon: <I>After that I was instructed</I> I
|
||
|
|
yielded, <I>I smote upon my thigh.</I> When sinners come to a right
|
||
|
|
knowledge they will come to a right way. Ephraim was chastised, and
|
||
|
|
that did not produce the desired effect, it went no further: <I>I was
|
||
|
|
chastised,</I> and that was all. But, when the instructions of God's
|
||
|
|
Spirit accompanied the corrections of his providence, then the work was
|
||
|
|
done, then he <I>smote upon his thigh,</I> was so humbled for sin as to
|
||
|
|
have no more to do with it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. God's compassion on Ephraim and the kind reception he finds with
|
||
|
|
God,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God owns him for a child and a prodigal: <I>Is Ephraim my dear son?
|
||
|
|
Is he a pleasant child?</I> Thus when Ephraim bemoans himself God
|
||
|
|
bemoans him, as <I>one whom his mother comforts,</I> though she had
|
||
|
|
chidden him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:13">Isa. lxvi. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Is</I> this <I>Ephraim my dear son? Is</I> this that <I>pleasant
|
||
|
|
child?</I> Is it he that is thus sad in spirit and that complains so
|
||
|
|
bitterly? So it is like that of Saul
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:17">1 Sam. xxvi. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Is this thy voice, my son David?</I> Or, as it is sometimes
|
||
|
|
supplied, <I>Is not Ephraim my dear son? Is he not a pleasant
|
||
|
|
child?</I> Yes, now he is, now he repents and returns. Note, Those that
|
||
|
|
have been undutiful backsliding children, if they sincerely return and
|
||
|
|
repent, however they have been under the chastisement of the rod, shall
|
||
|
|
be accepted of God as dear and pleasant children. Ephraim had afflicted
|
||
|
|
himself, but God thus heals him--had abased himself, but God thus
|
||
|
|
honours him; as the returning prodigal who thought himself no more
|
||
|
|
worthy to be <I>called a son,</I> yet, by his father, had the <I>best
|
||
|
|
robe</I> put on him and <I>a ring on his hand.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He relents towards him, and speaks of him with a great deal of
|
||
|
|
tender compassion: <I>Since I spoke against him,</I> by the
|
||
|
|
threatenings of the word and the rebukes of providence, <I>I do
|
||
|
|
earnestly remember him still,</I> my thoughts towards him are thoughts
|
||
|
|
of peace. Note, When God afflicts his people, yet he does not forget
|
||
|
|
them; when he casts them out of their land, yet he does not cast them
|
||
|
|
out of sight, nor out of mind. Even then when God is speaking against
|
||
|
|
us, yet he is acting for us, and designing our good in all; and this is
|
||
|
|
our comfort in our affliction, that<I>the Lord thinks upon us,</I>
|
||
|
|
though we have forgotten him. <I>I remember him still,</I> and
|
||
|
|
therefore <I>my bowels are troubled for him,</I> as Joseph's yearned
|
||
|
|
towards his brethren, even when he <I>spoke roughly</I> to them. When
|
||
|
|
Israel's afflictions extorted a penitent confession and submission it
|
||
|
|
is said that his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+10:16">Judg. x. 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for he always afflicts with the greatest tenderness. It was God's
|
||
|
|
compassion that mitigated Ephraim's punishment: <I>My heart is turned
|
||
|
|
within me</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:8,9">Hos. xi. 8, 9</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and now the same compassion accepted Ephraim's repentance. Ephraim had
|
||
|
|
pleaded
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou art the Lord my God,</I> therefore to thee will I return,
|
||
|
|
therefore on thy mercy and grace I will depend; and God shows that it
|
||
|
|
was a valid plea and prevailing, for he makes it appear both that he is
|
||
|
|
God and not man and that he is <I>his God.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He resolves to do him good: <I>I will surely have mercy upon him,
|
||
|
|
saith the Lord,</I> Note, God has mercy in store, rich mercy, sure
|
||
|
|
mercy, suitable mercy, for all that insincerity seek him and submit to
|
||
|
|
him; and the more we are afflicted for sin the better prepared we are
|
||
|
|
for the comforts of that mercy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Gracious excitements and encouragements given to the people of God
|
||
|
|
in Babylon to prepare for their return to their own land. Let them not
|
||
|
|
tremble and lose their spirits; let them not trifle and lose their
|
||
|
|
time; but with a firm resolution and a close application address
|
||
|
|
themselves to their journey,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They must think of nothing but of coming back to their own country,
|
||
|
|
out of which they had been driven: "<I>Turn again, O virgin of
|
||
|
|
Israel!</I> a virgin to be again espoused to thy God; <I>turn again to
|
||
|
|
these thy cities;</I> though they are laid waste and in ruins, they are
|
||
|
|
<I>thy cities,</I> which thy God gave thee, and therefore <I>turn
|
||
|
|
again</I> to them." They must be content in Babylon no longer than till
|
||
|
|
they had liberty to return to Zion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They must return the same way that they went, that the remembrance
|
||
|
|
of the sorrows which attended them, or which their fathers had told
|
||
|
|
them of, in such and such places upon the road, the sight of which
|
||
|
|
would, by a local memory, put them in mind of them, might make them the
|
||
|
|
more thankful for their deliverance. Those that have departed from God
|
||
|
|
into the bondage of sin must return by the way in which they went
|
||
|
|
astray, to the duties they neglected, must <I>do their first works.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. They must engage themselves and all that is within them in this
|
||
|
|
affair: <I>Set thy heart towards the highway;</I> bring thy mind to it;
|
||
|
|
consider thy duty, the interest, and go about it with a good-will.
|
||
|
|
Note, The way from Babylon to Zion, from the bondage of sin to the
|
||
|
|
glorious liberty of God's children, is a highway; it is right, it is
|
||
|
|
plain, it is safe, it is well-tracked
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8">Isa. xxxv. 8</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
yet none are likely to walk in it, unless they <I>set their hearts
|
||
|
|
towards it.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. They must furnish themselves with all needful accommodations for the
|
||
|
|
journey: <I>Set thee up way-marks,</I> and <I>make thee high heaps</I>
|
||
|
|
or <I>pillars;</I> send before to have such set up in all places where
|
||
|
|
there is any danger of missing the road. Let those that go first, and
|
||
|
|
are best acquainted with the way, set up such directions for those that
|
||
|
|
follow.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. They must compose themselves for their journey: <I>How long will
|
||
|
|
thou go about, O backsliding daughter?</I> Let not their minds
|
||
|
|
fluctuate, or be uncertain about it, but resolve upon it; let them not
|
||
|
|
distract themselves with care and fear; let them not seek about to
|
||
|
|
creatures for assistance, not hurry hither and thither in courting
|
||
|
|
them, which had often been an instance of their backsliding from God;
|
||
|
|
but let them cast themselves upon God, and then let their minds be
|
||
|
|
fixed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. They are encouraged to do this by an assurance God gives them that
|
||
|
|
he would <I>create a new thing</I> (strange and surprising) <I>in the
|
||
|
|
earth</I> (in that land), <I>a woman shall compass a man.</I> The
|
||
|
|
church of God, that is weak and feeble as a woman, altogether unapt for
|
||
|
|
military employments and of a timorous spirit
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:6">Isa. liv. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
shall surround, besiege, and prevail against a mighty man. The church
|
||
|
|
is compared to a woman,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:1">Rev. xii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, whereas we find <I>armies compassing the camp of the saints</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+20:9">Rev. xx. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
now the camp of the saints shall compass them. Many good interpreters
|
||
|
|
understand this <I>new thing</I> created in that land to be the
|
||
|
|
incarnation of Christ, which God an eye to in bringing them back to
|
||
|
|
that land, and which had sometimes been given them for a sign,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:14,9:6">Isa. vii. 14; ix. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>A woman,</I> the virgin Mary, enclosed in her womb <I>the Mighty
|
||
|
|
One;</I> for so <I>Geber,</I> the word here used, signifies; and God is
|
||
|
|
called <I>Gibbor, the Mighty God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+32:18"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as also is Christ in
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:6">Isa. ix. 6</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where his incarnation is spoken of, as it is supposed to be here. He
|
||
|
|
is <I>El-Gibbor,</I> the <I>mighty God.</I> Let this assure them that
|
||
|
|
God would not cast off this people, for that blessing was to be among
|
||
|
|
them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:8">Isa. lxv. 8</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. A comfortable prospect given them of a happy settlement in their
|
||
|
|
own land again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They shall have an interest in the esteem and good-will of all their
|
||
|
|
neighbours, who will give them a good word and put up a good prayer for
|
||
|
|
them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>As yet</I> or rather <I>yet again</I> (though Judah and Jerusalem
|
||
|
|
have long been an astonishment and a hissing), <I>this speech shall be
|
||
|
|
used,</I> as it was formerly, <I>concerning the land of Judah and the
|
||
|
|
cities thereof, The Lord bless you, O habitation of justice and
|
||
|
|
mountain of holiness!</I> This intimates that they shall return much
|
||
|
|
reformed and every way better; and this reformation shall be so
|
||
|
|
conspicuous that all about them shall take notice of it. The
|
||
|
|
<I>cities,</I> that used to be nests of pirates, shall be
|
||
|
|
<I>habitations of justice;</I> the <I>mountain of Israel</I> (so the
|
||
|
|
whole land is called,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:54">Ps. lxxviii. 54</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and especially Mount Zion, shall be a <I>mountain of holiness.</I>
|
||
|
|
Observe, Justice towards men, and holiness towards God, must go
|
||
|
|
together. Godliness and honesty are what God has joined, and let no
|
||
|
|
man think to put them asunder, not to make one to atone for the want of
|
||
|
|
the other. It is well with a people when they come out of trouble thus
|
||
|
|
refined, and it is a sure presage of further happiness. And we may
|
||
|
|
with great comfort pray for the blessing of God upon those houses that
|
||
|
|
are <I>habitations of justice,</I> those cities and countries that are
|
||
|
|
<I>mountains of holiness.</I> There the Lord will undoubtedly
|
||
|
|
<I>command the blessing.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. There shall be great plenty of all good things among them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:24,25"><I>v.</I> 24, 25</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>There shall dwell in Judah itself,</I> even in it, though it has now
|
||
|
|
long lain waste, both husbandmen and shepherds, the two ancient and
|
||
|
|
honourable employments of Cain and Abel,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+4:2">Gen. iv. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is comfortable dwelling in a <I>habitation of justice</I> and a
|
||
|
|
<I>mountain of holiness.</I> "And the husbandmen and shepherds shall
|
||
|
|
eat of the fruit of their labours; for I have <I>satiated the weary and
|
||
|
|
sorrowful soul;</I>" that is, those that came weary from their journey,
|
||
|
|
and have been long sorrowful in their captivity, shall now enjoy great
|
||
|
|
plenty. This is applicable to the spiritual blessings God has in store
|
||
|
|
for all true penitents, for all that are just and holy; they shall be
|
||
|
|
abundantly satisfied with divine graces and comforts. In the love and
|
||
|
|
favour of God the weary soul shall find rest and the sorrowful soul
|
||
|
|
joy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. The prophet tells us what pleasure the discovery of this brought to
|
||
|
|
his mind,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The foresights God had given him sometimes of the calamities of Judah
|
||
|
|
and Jerusalem were exceedingly painful to him (as
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+4:19"><I>ch.</I> iv. 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but these views were pleasant ones, though at a distance. "<I>Upon
|
||
|
|
this I awaked,</I> overcome with joy, which burst the fetters of sleep;
|
||
|
|
and I reflected upon my dream, and it was such as had made <I>my sleep
|
||
|
|
sweet to me;</I> I was refreshed, as men are with quiet sleep." Those
|
||
|
|
may sleep sweetly that lie down and rise up in the favour of God and in
|
||
|
|
communion with him. Nor is any prospect in this world more pleasing to
|
||
|
|
good men, and good ministers, than that of the flourishing state of the
|
||
|
|
church of God. What can we see with more satisfaction than <I>the good
|
||
|
|
of Jerusalem, all the days of our life, and peace upon Israel?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Covenant Renewed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 594.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>27 Behold, the days come, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that I will sow the
|
||
|
|
house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and
|
||
|
|
with the seed of beast.
|
||
|
|
28 And it shall come to pass, <I>that</I> like as I have watched
|
||
|
|
over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and
|
||
|
|
to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build,
|
||
|
|
and to plant, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten
|
||
|
|
a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
|
||
|
|
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that
|
||
|
|
eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
|
||
|
|
31 Behold, the days come, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that I will make a
|
||
|
|
new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of
|
||
|
|
Judah:
|
||
|
|
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
|
||
|
|
in the day <I>that</I> I took them by the hand to bring them out of
|
||
|
|
the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was
|
||
|
|
a husband unto them, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
|
||
|
|
33 But this <I>shall be</I> the covenant that I will make with the
|
||
|
|
house of Israel; After those days, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I will put my
|
||
|
|
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will
|
||
|
|
be their God, and they shall be my people.
|
||
|
|
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and
|
||
|
|
every man his brother, saying, Know the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for they shall all
|
||
|
|
know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
|
||
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
|
||
|
|
their sin no more.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The prophet, having found his sleep sweet, made so by the revelations
|
||
|
|
of divine grace, sets himself to sleep again, in hopes of further
|
||
|
|
discoveries, and is not disappointed; for it is here further
|
||
|
|
promised,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. That the people of God shall become both numerous and prosperous.
|
||
|
|
Israel and Judah shall be replenished both with men and cattle, as if
|
||
|
|
they were sown with the seed of both,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They shall increase and multiply like a field sown with corn; and this
|
||
|
|
is the product of God's blessing
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for whom God blessed, to them he said, <I>Be fruitful.</I> This should
|
||
|
|
be a type of the wonderful increase of the gospel-church. God will
|
||
|
|
build them, and plant them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He <I>will watch over them</I> to do them good; no opportunity shall be
|
||
|
|
lost that may further their prosperity. Every thing for a long time had
|
||
|
|
turned so much against them, and all occurrences did so transpire to
|
||
|
|
ruin them, that it seemed as if God had <I>watched over them to pluck
|
||
|
|
up and to throw down;</I> but now every thing that falls out shall
|
||
|
|
happily fall in to strengthen and advance their interests. God will be
|
||
|
|
as ready to comfort those that repent of their sins, and are humbled
|
||
|
|
for them, as he is to punish those that continue in love with their
|
||
|
|
sins, and are hardened in them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. That they shall be reckoned with no further for the sins of their
|
||
|
|
fathers
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:29,30"><I>v.</I> 29, 30</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They shall say no more</I> (they shall have no more occasion to say)
|
||
|
|
that <I>God visits the iniquity of the parents upon the children,</I>
|
||
|
|
which God had done in the captivity, for the sins of their ancestors
|
||
|
|
came into the account against them, particularly those of Manasseh:
|
||
|
|
this they had complained of as a hardship. Other scriptures justify God
|
||
|
|
in this method of proceeding, and our Saviour tells the wicked Jews in
|
||
|
|
his days that they should smart for their fathers' sins, because they
|
||
|
|
persisted in them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:35,36">Matt. xxiii. 35, 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But it is here promised that this severe dispensation with them should
|
||
|
|
now be brought to an end, that God would proceed no further in his
|
||
|
|
controversy with them for their fathers' sins, but remember for them
|
||
|
|
his covenant with their fathers and do them good according to that
|
||
|
|
covenant: <I>They shall no more</I> complain, as they have done, that
|
||
|
|
<I>the fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set
|
||
|
|
on edge</I> (which speaks something of an absurdity, and is an
|
||
|
|
invidious reflection upon God's proceedings), but <I>every one shall
|
||
|
|
die for his own iniquity</I> still; though God will cease to punish
|
||
|
|
them in their national capacity, yet he will still reckon with
|
||
|
|
particular persons that provoke him. Note, Public salvations will give
|
||
|
|
no impunity, no security, to private sinners: still every man that
|
||
|
|
<I>eats the sour grapes</I> shall have his <I>teeth set on edge.</I>
|
||
|
|
Note, Those that eat forbidden fruit, how tempting soever it looks,
|
||
|
|
will find it a <I>sour grape,</I> and it will <I>set their teeth on
|
||
|
|
edge;</I> sooner or later they will feel from it and reflect upon it
|
||
|
|
with bitterness. There is as direct a tendency in sin to make a man
|
||
|
|
uneasy as there is in sour grapes to set the teeth on edge.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. That God will renew his covenant with them, so that all these
|
||
|
|
blessings they shall have, not by providence only, but by promise, and
|
||
|
|
thereby they shall be both sweetened and secured. But this covenant
|
||
|
|
refers to gospel times, the latter days that <I>shall come;</I> for of
|
||
|
|
gospel grace the apostle understands it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:8,9">Heb. viii. 8, 9</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c.), where this whole passage is quoted as a summary of the covenant
|
||
|
|
of grace made with believers in Jesus Christ. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Who the persons are with whom this covenant is made--<I>with the
|
||
|
|
house of Israel and Judah,</I> with the gospel church, <I>the Israel of
|
||
|
|
God</I> on which <I>peace shall be</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+6:16">Gal. vi. 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
with the spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob. Judah
|
||
|
|
and Israel had been two separate kingdoms, but were united after their
|
||
|
|
return, in the joint favours God bestowed upon them; so Jews and
|
||
|
|
Gentiles were in the gospel church and covenant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. What is the nature of this covenant in general: it is a <I>new
|
||
|
|
covenant</I> and <I>not according to the covenant made with them when
|
||
|
|
they came out of Egypt;</I> not as if that made with them at Mount
|
||
|
|
Sinai were a covenant of nature and innocency, such as was made with
|
||
|
|
Adam in the day he was created; no, that was, for substance, a covenant
|
||
|
|
of grace, but it was a dark dispensation of that covenant in comparison
|
||
|
|
with this in gospel times. Sinners were saved by that covenant upon
|
||
|
|
their repentance, and faith in a Messiah to come, whose blood,
|
||
|
|
confirming that covenant, was typified by that of the legal sacrifices,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:7,8">Exod. xxiv. 7, 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Yet this may upon many accounts be called new, in comparison with that;
|
||
|
|
the ordinances and promises are more spiritual and heavenly, and the
|
||
|
|
discoveries much more clear. That covenant God made with them when he
|
||
|
|
<I>took them by the hand,</I> as they had been blind, or lame, or weak,
|
||
|
|
<I>to lead them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant they
|
||
|
|
broke.</I> Observe, It was God that made this covenant, but it was the
|
||
|
|
people that broke it; for our salvation is of God, but our sin and ruin
|
||
|
|
are of ourselves. It was an aggravation of their breach of it that God
|
||
|
|
<I>was a husband to them,</I> that he had espoused them to himself; it
|
||
|
|
was a marriage-covenant that was between him and them, which they broke
|
||
|
|
by idolatry, that spiritual adultery. It is a great aggravation of our
|
||
|
|
treacherous departures from God that he has been a husband to us, a
|
||
|
|
loving, tender, careful husband, faithful to us, and yet we false to
|
||
|
|
him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. What are the particular articles of his covenant. They all contain
|
||
|
|
spiritual blessings; not, "I will give them the land of Canaan and a
|
||
|
|
numerous issue," but, "I will give them pardon, and peace, and grace,
|
||
|
|
good heads and good hearts." He promises,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That he will incline them to their duty; <I>I will put my law in
|
||
|
|
their inward part and write it in their heart;</I> not, I will give
|
||
|
|
them a new law (as Mr. Gataker well observes), for Christ <I>came not
|
||
|
|
to destroy the law, but to fulfil it;</I> but the law shall be written
|
||
|
|
in their hearts by the finger of the Spirit as formerly it was written
|
||
|
|
in the tables of stone. God writes his law in the hearts of all
|
||
|
|
believers, makes it ready and familiar to them, at hand when they have
|
||
|
|
occasion to use it, as that which is <I>written in the heart,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+3:3">Prov. iii. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He makes them in care to observe it, for that which we are solicitous
|
||
|
|
about is said to lie near our hearts. He works in them a disposition to
|
||
|
|
obedience, a conformity of thought and affection to the rules of the
|
||
|
|
divine law, as that of the copy to the original. This is here promised,
|
||
|
|
and ought to be prayed for, that our duty may be done conscientiously
|
||
|
|
and with delight.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That he will take them into relation to himself: <I>I will be
|
||
|
|
their God,</I> a God all-sufficient to them, <I>and they shall be my
|
||
|
|
people,</I> a loyal obedient people to me. God's being to us a God is
|
||
|
|
the summary of all happiness; heaven itself is no more,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:16,Re+21:3">Heb. xi. 16; Rev. xxi. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Our being to him a people may be taken either as the condition on our
|
||
|
|
part (those and those only shall have God to be to them a God that are
|
||
|
|
truly willing to engage themselves to be to him a people) or as a
|
||
|
|
further branch of the promise that God will by his grace make us his
|
||
|
|
people, a <I>willing people, in the day of his power;</I> and, whoever
|
||
|
|
are his people, it is his grace that makes them so.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) That there shall be an abundance of the knowledge of God among all
|
||
|
|
sorts of people, and this will have an influence upon all good: for
|
||
|
|
those that rightly know God's name will seek him, and serve him, and
|
||
|
|
put their trust in him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>All shall know me;</I> all shall be welcome to the knowledge of God
|
||
|
|
and shall have the means of that knowledge; <I>his ways shall be known
|
||
|
|
upon earth,</I> whereas, for many ages, <I>in Judah only was God
|
||
|
|
known.</I> Many more shall know God than did in the Old Testament
|
||
|
|
times, which among the Gentiles were times of ignorance, the true God
|
||
|
|
being to them an unknown God. The things of God shall in gospel times
|
||
|
|
be made more plain and intelligible, and level to the capacities of the
|
||
|
|
meanest, than they were while Moses had a <I>veil upon his face.</I>
|
||
|
|
There shall be such a general knowledge of God that there shall not be
|
||
|
|
so much need as had formerly been of teaching. Some take it as a
|
||
|
|
hyperbolical expression (and the dulness of the Jews needed such
|
||
|
|
expressions to awaken them), designed only to show that the knowledge
|
||
|
|
of God in gospel times should vastly exceed that knowledge of him which
|
||
|
|
they had under the law. Or perhaps it intimates that in gospel times
|
||
|
|
there shall be such great plenty of public preaching, statedly and
|
||
|
|
constantly, by men authorized and appointed to <I>preach the word in
|
||
|
|
season and out of season,</I> much beyond what was under the law, that
|
||
|
|
there shall be less need than there was then of fraternal teaching, by
|
||
|
|
a neighbour and a brother. The priests preached but now and then, and
|
||
|
|
in the temple, and to a few in comparison; but now all shall or may
|
||
|
|
know God by frequenting the assemblies of Christians, wherein, through
|
||
|
|
all parts of the church, the good knowledge of God shall be taught.
|
||
|
|
Some give this sense of it (Mr. Gataker mentions it), That many shall
|
||
|
|
have such clearness of understanding in the things of God that they may
|
||
|
|
seem rather to have been taught by some immediate irradiation than by
|
||
|
|
any means of instruction. In short, the things of God shall by the
|
||
|
|
gospel of Christ be brought to a clearer light than ever
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+1:10">2 Tim. i. 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the people of God shall by the grace of Christ be brought to a
|
||
|
|
clearer sight of those things than ever,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:17,18">Eph. i. 17, 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) That, in order to all these blessings, sin shall be pardoned.
|
||
|
|
This is made the reason of all the rest: <I>For I will forgive their
|
||
|
|
iniquity,</I> will not impute that to them, nor deal with them
|
||
|
|
according to the desert of that, <I>will forgive</I> and forget: <I>I
|
||
|
|
will remember their sin no more.</I> It is sin that keeps good things
|
||
|
|
from us, that stops the current of God's favours; let sin betaken away
|
||
|
|
by pardoning mercy, and the obstruction is removed, and divine grace
|
||
|
|
runs down like a river, like a mighty stream.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_36"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_37"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_38"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_39"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Jer31_40"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Evangelical Promises; The Rebuilding of Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 594.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>35 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, which giveth the sun for a light by
|
||
|
|
day, <I>and</I> the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a
|
||
|
|
light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof
|
||
|
|
roar; The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts <I>is</I> his name:
|
||
|
|
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
|
||
|
|
<I>then</I> the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation
|
||
|
|
before me for ever.
|
||
|
|
37 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; If heaven above can be measured, and
|
||
|
|
the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also
|
||
|
|
cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done,
|
||
|
|
saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
38 Behold, the days come, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that the city shall
|
||
|
|
be built to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of
|
||
|
|
the corner.
|
||
|
|
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it
|
||
|
|
upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
|
||
|
|
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes,
|
||
|
|
and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of
|
||
|
|
the horse gate toward the east, <I>shall be</I> holy unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; it
|
||
|
|
shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Glorious things have been spoken in the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:1-34">foregoing verses</A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
concerning the gospel church, which that epocha of the Jewish church
|
||
|
|
that was to commence at the return from captivity would at length
|
||
|
|
terminate in, and which all those promises were to have their full
|
||
|
|
accomplishment in. But may we depend upon these promises? Yes, we have
|
||
|
|
here a ratification of them, and the utmost assurance imaginable given
|
||
|
|
of the perpetuity of the blessings contained in them. The great thing
|
||
|
|
here secured to us is that while the world stands God will have a
|
||
|
|
church in it, which, though sometimes it may be brought very low, shall
|
||
|
|
yet be raised again, and its interests re-established; it is <I>built
|
||
|
|
upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</I>
|
||
|
|
Now here are two things offered for the confirmation of our faith in
|
||
|
|
this matter--the building of the world and the rebuilding of
|
||
|
|
Jerusalem.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The building of the world, and the firmness and lastingness of that
|
||
|
|
building, are evidences of the power and faithfulness of that God who
|
||
|
|
has undertaken the establishment of his church. <I>He that built all
|
||
|
|
things</I> at first <I>is God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+3:4">Heb. iii. 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the same is he that makes all things now. The constancy of the
|
||
|
|
glories of the kingdom of nature may encourage us to depend upon the
|
||
|
|
divine promise for the continuance of the glories of the kingdom of
|
||
|
|
grace, for <I>this is as the waters of Noah,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:9">Isa. liv. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Let us observe here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The glories of the kingdom of nature, and infer thence how happy
|
||
|
|
those are that have this God, the God of nature, to be their God for
|
||
|
|
ever and ever. Take notice,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Of the steady and regular motion of the heavenly bodies, which God
|
||
|
|
is the first mover and supreme director of: <I>He gives the sun for a
|
||
|
|
light by day</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
not only made it at first to be so, but still gives it to be so; for
|
||
|
|
the light and heat, and all the influences of the sun, continually
|
||
|
|
depend upon its great Creator. He gives <I>the ordinances of the moon
|
||
|
|
and stars for a light by night;</I> their motions are called
|
||
|
|
<I>ordinances</I> both because they are regular and by rule and because
|
||
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they are determined and under rule. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:31-33">Job xxxviii. 31-33</A>.
|
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(2.) Take notice of the government of the sea, and the check that is
|
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given to its proud billows: <I>The Lord of hosts divides the sea,</I>
|
||
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or (as some read it) <I>settles the sea, when the waves thereof roar
|
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(divide et impera--divide and rule</I>); when it is most tossed God
|
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keeps it within compass
|
||
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:22">Jer. v. 22</A>),
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and soon quiets it and makes it calm again. The power of God is to be
|
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|
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magnified by us, not only in maintaining the regular motions of the
|
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|
|
heavens, but in controlling the irregular motions of the seas.
|
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||
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(3.) Take notice of the vastness of the heavens and the unmeasurable
|
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|
|
extent of the firmament; he must needs be a great God who manages such
|
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|
|
a great world as this is; the <I>heavens above cannot be measured</I>
|
||
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
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|
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|
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and yet God fills them.
|
||
|
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|
||
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(4.) Take notice of the mysteriousness even of that part of the
|
||
|
|
creation in which our lot is cast and which we are most conversant
|
||
|
|
with. <I>The foundations of the earth cannot be searched out
|
||
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|
beneath,</I> for the Creator <I>hangs the earth upon nothing</I>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+26:7">Job xxvi. 7</A>),
|
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|
||
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and we <I>know not how the foundations thereof are fastened,</I>
|
||
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|
||
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:6">Job xxxviii. 6</A>.
|
||
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|
||
|
|
(5.) Take notice of the immovable stedfastness of all these
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>These ordinances cannot depart from before God;</I> he has all the
|
||
|
|
hosts of heaven and earth continually under his eye and all the motions
|
||
|
|
of both; he has established them, and they abide, <I>abide according to
|
||
|
|
his ordinance, for all are his servants,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:90,91">Ps. cxix. 90, 91</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The heavens are often clouded, and the sun and moon often eclipsed, the
|
||
|
|
earth may quake and the sea be tossed, but they all keep their place,
|
||
|
|
are moved, but not removed. Herein we must acknowledge the power,
|
||
|
|
goodness, and faithfulness of the Creator.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The securities of the kingdom of grace inferred hence: we may be
|
||
|
|
confident of this very thing that <I>the seed of Israel shall not cease
|
||
|
|
from being a nation,</I> for the spiritual Israel, the gospel church,
|
||
|
|
shall be <I>a holy nation, a peculiar people,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:9">1 Pet. ii. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Israel according to the flesh is no longer a nation the
|
||
|
|
<I>children of the promise are counted for the seed</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:8">Rom. ix. 8</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and God <I>will not cast off all the seed of Israel,</I> no, not <I>for
|
||
|
|
all that they have done,</I> though they have done very wickedly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He justly might cast them off, but he will not. Though he cast them out
|
||
|
|
from their land, and cast them down for a time, yet he will not cast
|
||
|
|
them off. Some of them he casts off, but not all; to this the apostle
|
||
|
|
seems to refer
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1">Rom. xi. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Hath God cast away his people? God forbid</I> that we should think
|
||
|
|
so! For
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>at this time there is a remnant,</I> enough to save the credit of
|
||
|
|
the promise that God <I>will not cast off all the seed of Israel,</I>
|
||
|
|
though many among them throw away themselves by unbelief. Now we may be
|
||
|
|
assisted in the belief of this by considering,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That the God that has undertaken the preservation of the church is
|
||
|
|
a God of almighty power, who <I>upholds all things by his</I> almighty
|
||
|
|
<I>word. Our help stands in his name who made heaven and earth,</I> and
|
||
|
|
therefore can do any thing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That God would not take all this care of the world but that he
|
||
|
|
designs to have some glory to himself out of it; and how shall he have
|
||
|
|
it but by securing to himself a church in it, a people that <I>shall be
|
||
|
|
to him for a name and a praise?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) That if the order of the creation therefore continues firm because
|
||
|
|
it was well-fixed at first, and is not altered because it needs no
|
||
|
|
alteration, the method of grace shall for the same reason continue
|
||
|
|
invariable, as it was a first well settled.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) That he who has promised to preserve a church for himself has
|
||
|
|
approved himself faithful to the word which he has spoken concerning
|
||
|
|
the stability of the world. He that is true to his covenant with Noah
|
||
|
|
and his sons, because he established it for an <I>everlasting
|
||
|
|
covenant</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:9,16">Gen. ix. 9, 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
will not, we may be sure, be false to his covenant with Abraham and his
|
||
|
|
seed, his spiritual seed, for that also is an <I>everlasting
|
||
|
|
covenant.</I> Even that which they have done amiss, though they have
|
||
|
|
done much, shall not prevail to defeat the gracious intentions of the
|
||
|
|
covenant. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:30">Ps. lxxxix. 30</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The rebuilding of Jerusalem which was now in ruins, and the
|
||
|
|
enlargement and establishment of that, shall be an earnest of these
|
||
|
|
great things that God will do for the gospel church, the <I>heavenly
|
||
|
|
Jerusalem,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:38-40"><I>v.</I> 38-40</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The days will come,</I> though they may be long in coming, when,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Jerusalem shall be entirely built again, as large as ever it was;
|
||
|
|
the dimensions are here exactly described by the places through which
|
||
|
|
the circumference passed, and no doubt the wall which Nehemiah built,
|
||
|
|
and which, the more punctually to fulfil the prophecy, began about the
|
||
|
|
<I>tower of Hananeel,</I> here mentioned
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+3:1">Neh. iii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
enclosed as much ground as is here intended, though we cannot certainly
|
||
|
|
determine the places here called <I>the gate of the corner, the hill
|
||
|
|
Gareb,</I> &c.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. When built it shall be consecrated to God and to his service. It
|
||
|
|
<I>shall be built to the Lord</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and even the suburbs and fields adjacent <I>shall be holy unto the
|
||
|
|
Lord.</I> It shall not be polluted with idols as formerly, but God
|
||
|
|
shall be praised and honoured there; the whole city shall be as it were
|
||
|
|
one temple, one holy place, as the new Jerusalem is, which
|
||
|
|
<I>therefore</I> has no temple, because it is all temple.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Being thus built by virtue of the promise of God, <I>it shall not be
|
||
|
|
plucked up, nor thrown down, any more for ever;</I> that is, it shall
|
||
|
|
continue very long, the time of the new city from the return to its
|
||
|
|
last destruction being fully as long as that of the old from David to
|
||
|
|
the captivity. But this promise was to have its full accomplishment in
|
||
|
|
the gospel church, which, as it is the spiritual Israel, and therefore
|
||
|
|
God will not cast it off, so it is the holy city, and therefore all the
|
||
|
|
powers of men <I>shall not pluck it up, nor throw it down.</I> It may
|
||
|
|
lie waste for a time, as Jerusalem did, but shall recover itself, shall
|
||
|
|
weather the storm and gain its point, <I>and the gates of hell shall
|
||
|
|
not prevail against it.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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