Next Part 7 The PREFACE to the Commandments
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Use two.
(1) If Israel is in the house of bondage—do not entertain too hard thoughts of affliction. Christians are apt to look upon the cross and the iron furnace as frightful things, and do what they can to shun them. Nay, sometimes, to avoid affliction—they run themselves into sin. But do not think too hardly of affliction; do not look upon it as through the multiplying-glass of fear. The house of bondage is not hell. Consider that affliction comes from a wise God—who prescribes whatever befalls us. Persecutions are like pharmacists—they give us the medicine which God the physician prescribes. Affliction has its light side, as well as its dark one. God can sweeten our afflictions, and candy our wormwood. As our sufferings abound, so does also our consolation. 2 Cor 1:5. Argerius dated his letters from the pleasant garden of the Leonine prison. God sometimes so revives his children in trouble, that they had rather bear their afflictions—than lack their comforts. Why then should Christians entertain such hard thoughts of afflictions? Do not look at its grim face—but at the message it brings, which is to enrich us with both grace and comfort.
(2) If Israel is sometimes in the house of bondage, in an afflicted state, think beforehand of affliction. Say not as Job (29:18), "I shall die in my nest." In the house of mirth—think of the house of bondage. You who are now Naomi, may be Mara. Ruth 1:20. How quickly may the scene turn, and the life of joy end in a catastrophe! All outward things are given to change. The forethoughts of affliction would make us sober and moderate in the use of lawful delights; it would cure a all excess. Christ at a feast mentions his burial—this is a good antidote against excess. The forethought of affliction, would make us prepare for it; it would take us off the world; it would put us upon search of our evidences for heaven.
We should see what oil we have in our lamps, what grace we can find, that we may be able to stand in the evil day. That soldier is imprudent who has his sword to sharpen, when he is just going to fight. He who forecasts sufferings, will have the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit ready, that he may not be surprised.
(3) If afflictions come, let us labour to conduct ourselves wisely as Christians, that we may adorn our sufferings; that is, let us endure with patience. "Take, my brethren, the prophets for an example of suffering affliction and patience." James 5:10. Satan labours to take advantage of us in affliction, by making us either faint or murmur; he blows the coals of passion and discontent, and then warms himself at the fire. Patience adorns sufferings. A Christian should say as Jesus Christ did, "Lord, not my will but your will be done." It is a sign the affliction is sanctified, when the heart is brought to a sweet submissive frame. God will then remove the affliction—he will take us out of the iron furnace.
We may consider these words, "Who brought you out of the house of bondage," either, [1] Literally; or [2] Spiritually and Mystically. In the letter, "I brought you out of the house of bondage;" that is, I delivered you out of the misery and servitude you sustained in Egypt, where you were in the iron furnace. Spiritually and mystically, by which "I brought you out of the house of bondage," is a type of our deliverance by Christ from sin and hell.
[1] Literally, "I brought you out of the house of bondage," out of great misery and slavery in the iron furnace. The thing I note here is that, though God brings his people sometimes into trouble—yet he will bring them out again. Israel was in the house of bondage—but at last was brought out.
We shall endeavour to show:
1. That God does deliver out of trouble.
2. In what manner.
3. At what seasons.
4. Why he delivers.
5. How the deliverances of the godly and wicked out of trouble differ.
1. God DOES deliver his children out of troubles. "Our fathers trusted in you; they trusted, and you did deliver them." Psalm 22:4. "And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion," namely, from Nero. 2 Tim 4:17. "We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to a place of great abundance." Psalm 66:11, 12. "Weeping may endure for a night—but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5. God brought Daniel out of the lions' den, and Zion out of Babylon. In his due time, he rescues out of trouble. Psalm 68:20. The tree which in the winter seems dead, revives in the spring. The sun emerges after the storms. Affliction may leap on us as the viper did on Paul—but at last it shall be shaken off. It is called a cup of affliction. Isa 51:17. The wicked drink a sea of wrath, the godly drink only a cup of affliction, and God will say shortly, "Let this cup pass away." God will give his people a sure delivery.
2. In what MANNER does God deliver his people out of trouble?
He does it like a God—in wisdom.
(1) He does it sometimes SUDDENLY. As the angel was caused to fly swiftly (Dan 9:21), so God sometimes makes a deliverance fly swiftly, and suddenly turns the shadow of death into the light of the morning. As he gives us mercies above what we can think (Eph 3:20), so sometimes before we can think of them. "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream;" it came suddenly upon us as a dream. Psalm 126:1. Joseph could not have thought of such a sudden alteration, to be the same day freed out of prison, and made the chief ruler in the kingdom. Mercy sometimes does not stay long in the birth—but comes forth suddenly.
(2) God sometimes delivers his people STRANGELY. Thus the whale which swallowed up Jonah was the means of bringing him safe to land. He sometimes delivers his people in the very way which they think will destroy. In bringing Israel out of Egypt, he stirred up the heart of the Egyptians to hate them (Psalm 105:25), and that was the means of their deliverance. He brought Paul to shore by a contrary wind, and upon the broken pieces of the ship. Acts 27:44.
3. When are the TIMES and seasons that God usually delivers his people out of the bondage of affliction?
(1) When they are in the greatest extremity. Though Jonah was in the belly of hell, he says, "You have brought up my life from corruption." Jonah 2:6. When there is but a hair's breadth between the godly and death—God ushers in deliverance. When the ship was almost covered with waves—Christ awoke and rebuked the wind. When Isaac was upon the altar, and the knife about to be put to his throat—the angel comes and says, "Lay not your hand upon the child!" When Peter began to sink—Christ took him by the hand. When the amount of bricks was doubled—then Moses the temporal Saviour comes. When the people of God are in the greatest danger—the morning star of deliverance appears. When the patient is ready to faint—the cordial is given.
(2) The second season is, when affliction has done its work upon them; when it has effected that which God sent it for. As,
[1] When it has humbled them. "Remembering my affliction, the wormwood and gall, my soul is humbled in me." Lam 3:19, 20. Then God's corrosive has eaten out the proud flesh.
[2] When it has tamed their impatience. Before, they were proud and impatient, like forward children who struggle with their parents; but when their cursed hearts are tamed, they say, "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him" (Micah 7:9); and as Eli, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems him good." 1 Sam 3:18. "Let him hedge me with thorns—if he will plant me with grace.
(3) When they are partakers of more holiness, and are more full of heavenly-mindedness. Heb 12:10. When the sharp frost of affliction has brought forth the spring-flowers of grace, the cross is sanctified, and God will bring them out of the house of bondage. Sorrow will turn to joy, ashes to garlands. When the metal is refined—it is taken out of the furnace. When affliction has healed us—God takes off the smarting plaster.
4. WHY does God bring his people out of the house of bondage?
Hereby he makes way for his own glory. His glory is dearer to him than anything besides; it is a crown jewel. By raising his people he raises the trophies of his own honour; he glorifies his own attributes; his power, truth, and goodness are triumphant.
(1) His power. If God did not sometimes bring his people into trouble, how could his power be seen in bringing them out? He brought Israel out of the house of bondage, with miracle upon miracle; he saved them with an outstretched arm. "What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away?" Psalm 114:5. Of Israel's march out of Egypt it is said, when the sea fled, and the waters were parted each from other. Here was the power of God set forth. "Is there anything too hard for me?" Jer 32:27. God loves to help when things seem past hope! He creates deliverance. Psalm 124:8. He brought Isaac out of a dead womb, and the Messiah out of a virgin's womb. Oh! how does his power shine forth when he overcomes seeming impossibilities, and works a cure when things look desperate!
(2) His truth. God has made promises to his people, when they are under great pressures, to deliver them; and his truth is engaged in his promise. "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you." Psalm 50:15. "He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes in seven." Job 5:19. How is the Scripture bespangled with these promises as the sky is with stars! Either God will deliver them from death, or by death; he will make a way of escape. 1 Cor 10:13. When promises are verified, God's truth is magnified.
(3) His goodness. God is full of compassion, to such as are in misery. And this sympathy stirs up God to deliver. "In his love and pity he redeemed them." Isa 63:9. This makes way for the triumph of his goodness. He is tender-hearted, he will not over afflict; he cuts asunder the bars of iron, he breaks the yoke of the oppressor. Thus all his attributes ride in triumph, in saving his people out of trouble.
5. HOW do the deliverance of the godly and the wicked differ?
(1) The deliverances of the godly are preservations; of the wicked reservations. "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and to reserve the unjust to be punished." 2 Pet 2:9. A sinner may be delivered from dangerous sickness, and out of prison; but all this is but a reservation for some greater evil.
(2) God delivers the wicked, or rather spares them in anger. Deliverances to the wicked are not given as pledges of his love—but signs of displeasure; as quails were given to Israel in anger. But deliverances of the godly are in love. "He delivered me because he delighted in me". 2 Sam 22:20. "You have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption." Isa 38:17. Or, as in the Hebrew, "You have loved me from the pit of corruption." A wicked man may say, "Lord, you have delivered me out of the pit of corruption;" but a godly man may say, "Lord, you have loved me out of the pit of corruption." It is one thing to have God's power deliver us, and another thing to have his love deliver us. "O," said Hezekiah, "You have in love to my soul, delivered me from the pit of corruption."
How may it be known, that a deliverance comes in love?
(1) When it makes our heart boil over in love to God. "I love the Lord—because he has heard my voice." Psalm 116:1. It is one thing to love our mercies, another thing to love the Lord. Deliverance is in love—when it causes love.
(2) Deliverance is in love when we have hearts to improve it for God's glory. The wicked, instead of improving their deliverance for God's glory, increase their corruption; they grow worse, as the metal when taken out of the fire grows harder. But our deliverance is in love when we improve it for God's glory. God raises us out of a low condition—and we lift him up in our praises, and honour him with our substance. Prov 3:9. He recovers us from sickness—and we spend ourselves in his service. Mercy is as oil to the wheel—to make it move faster.
(3) Deliverance comes in love when it makes us more exemplary in holiness; and our lives are walking Bibles. A thousand prayers and praises and do not honour God so much—as the mortifying of one lust! "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22. "Upon mount Zion there shall be deliverance and holiness," Obadiah 17. When these two go together, deliverance and holiness; when, being made monuments of mercy, we are patterns of piety; then a deliverance comes in love, and we may say as Hezekiah, "You have in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption."
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