Next Part 8 The PREFACE to the Commandments
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Use one. If God brings his people out of bondage, let none despond in trouble. Say not "I shall sink under this burden!" Or as David, "I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul!" God can make the text good—to bring his people out of the house of bondage. When he sees a fit season, he will put forth his arm and save them; and he can do it with ease. "Lord, it is nothing with you to help." 2 Chron 14:11. He who can turn tides, can turn the times; he who raised Lazarus when he was dead, can raise you when you are sick. "I looked, and there was none to help, therefore my own arm brought salvation." Isa 63:5. Do not despond; believe in God's power. Faith sets God to work to deliver us.
Use two. Labour, if you are in trouble, to be fitted for deliverance. Many would have deliverance—but are not fitted for it.
When are we fitted for deliverance?
When, by our afflictions, we are conformed to Christ; when we have learned obedience. "He learned obedience by the things which he suffered;" that is, he learned sweet submission to his Father's will. Heb 5:8. "Not my will—but your will be done." Luke 22:42. When we have thus learned obedience by our sufferings, we are willing to do what God would have us do, and be what God would have us be. We are conformed to Christ, and are fitted for deliverance.
Use three. If God has brought you at any time out of the house of bondage, out of great and eminent troubles, be much in praise. Deliverance calls for praise. "You have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to you." Psalm 30:11, 12. My glory, that is, my tongue, which is the instrument of glorifying you. The saints are temples of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 3:16. Where should God's praises be sounded but in his temple? Gratitude should follow a favour. The deepest springs yield the sweetest water; and hearts deeply sensible of God's deliverances yield the sweetest praises. Moses tells Pharaoh, when he was going out of Egypt, "We will go with our flocks and our herds." Exod 10:9. Why so? Because he might have sacrifices of thanksgiving ready to offer to God for their deliverance. To have a thankful heart for deliverance, is a greater blessing than the deliverance itself! One of the lepers, "when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God." Luke 17:15. The leper's thankful heart was a greater blessing than to be healed of his leprosy! Have any of you been brought out of the house of bondage—out of prison, sickness, or any death-threatening danger? Do not forget to be thankful. Be not graves—but temples.
That you may be the more thankful, observe every emphasis and circumstance in your deliverance; such as to be brought out of trouble when you were "at the brink of death"—when there was but a hair's breadth between you and death; or, to be brought out of affliction, without sin, you did not purchase your deliverance by the ensnaring of your consciences; or, to be brought out of trouble upon the wings of prayer; or, that those who were the occasions of bringing you into trouble, should be the instruments of bringing you out. These circumstances, being well weighed, heighten a deliverance, and should heighten our thankfulness. The cutting of a stone may be of more value than the stone itself; and the circumstancing of a deliverance may be greater than the deliverance itself.
But how shall we praise God in a right manner for deliverance?
(1) Be holy people. In the sacrifice of thanksgiving, whoever ate with uncleanness upon him, was to be cut off (Lev 7:20), to typify how unpleasing their praises and thank-offerings are, who live in sin.
(2) Praise God with humble hearts, acknowledge how unworthy you were of deliverance. God's mercies are not debts—but gifts! And that you should have them by gift, should make you humble. "The elders fell upon their faces (an expression of humility) and worshiped God. Rev 11:16.
(3) Praise God for deliverances cordially. "I will praise the Lord with my whole heart." Psalm 111:1. In religion there is no music but in concert—when heart and tongue join together.
(4) Praise God for deliverances constantly. "While I live—I will praise the Lord." Psalm 146:2. Some will be thankful while the memory of a deliverance is fresh, and then stop. The Carthaginians used, at first, to send the tenth of their yearly revenue to Hercules; but by degrees they grew weary, and stopped sending; but we must be constant in our thank-offering. The motion of our praise must be like the motion of our pulse, which beats as long as life lasts. "I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live!" Psalm 146:2.
Next Part 9 The PREFACE to the Commandments
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