Difference between revisions of "Those ghastly corpses."

Latest revision as of 22:27, 31 December 2012

Those ghastly corpses might well have affrighted Rizpah!

"Then Rizpah, the mother of two of the men, spread sackcloth on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented vultures from tearing at their bodies during the day, and stopped wild animals from eating them at night." 2 Samuel 21:10

If the love of a woman to her slain sons, could make her prolong her mournful vigil for so long a period—shall we be weary of considering the sufferings of our blessed Lord? She drove away the vultures—and shall not we chase away those worldly and sinful thoughts which defile our minds? Away, you evil birds! Leave the sacrifice alone!

Rizpah bore the scorching heat of summer, the night dews and the rains, unsheltered and alone. Sleep was chased from her weeping eyes—for her heart was too full for slumber. Behold how she loved her children! Shall Rizpah thus endure—and shall we give up at the first little inconvenience or trial? Are we such cowards—that we cannot bear to suffer with our Lord? She even chased away the wild beasts, with courage unusual in her gender—and will not we be ready to encounter every foe for Jesus' sake?

Her children were slain by other hands than hers—and yet she wept and watched. What ought we to do—who by our sins, have crucified our Lord! Our obligations are boundless, our love should be fervent, and our repentance thorough!

Those ghastly corpses might well have affrighted Rizpah! But in our Lord, at whose cross-foot we are sitting, there is nothing revolting—but everything attractive! Never was living beauty so enchanting, as a dying Saviour! To abide by His cross—will be our solace.

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    Her children were slain by <em>other </em>hands than hers—and yet she wept and watched. What ought <em>we </em>to do—who by <em>our sins</em>, have crucified our Lord! Our <em>obligations </em>are boundless, our <em>love </em>should be fervent, and our <em>repentance </em>thorough! <br>
    <br>
-   <strong>Those ghastly corpses might well have affrighted Rizpah!</strong> But in our Lord, at whose cross-foot we are sitting, there is nothing revolting—but everything attractive! Never was <em>living beauty</em> so enchanting, as a <em>dying Saviour!</em> To abide by His cross—will be our solace.<br><br>
+   <strong>Those ghastly corpses might well have affrighted Rizpah!</strong> But in our Lord, at whose cross-foot we are sitting, there is nothing revolting—but everything attractive! Never was <em>living beauty</em> so enchanting, as a <em>dying Saviour!</em> To abide by His cross—will be our solace.
-<strong>He is dull, heavy, lumpy—all but dead</strong><br>
-  <br>
-  <em>"Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken me in Your way." </em>Psalm 119:37 <br>
-  <br>
-  <em>"Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity."</em> <br>
-  There are diverse kinds of vanity. The cap and bells of the fool; the mirth of the world; the dance and the cup of the dissolute. All these we know to be vanities; they wear their proper name and title upon their forefront. Far more treacherous, are those equally vain things—the <em>cares of this world </em>and <em>the deceitfulness of riches</em>.<br><br> A man may follow vanity as truly in his business—as in the theatre! If he is spending his life in amassing wealth—he passes his days in a vain show. Unless we follow Christ, and make our God the great object of life—we only differ in appearance, from the most frivolous. It is clear that there is much need of the first prayer of our text.<br>
-  <br>
-  <em>"Quicken me in Your way."</em> <br>
-  The Psalmist confesses that <strong>he is dull, heavy, lumpy—all but dead</strong>. Perhaps, dear reader, you feel the same. We are so sluggish that the best motives cannot quicken us, apart from the Lord Himself. What! will not <strong>hell </strong>quicken me? Shall I think of sinners perishing—and yet not be awakened? Will not <strong>heaven </strong>quicken me? Can I think of the glory that awaits the righteous—and yet be cold?<br><br> Will not <strong>death </strong>quicken me? Can I think of dying, and standing before my God—and yet be slothful in my Master's service? Will not<strong>Christ's love</strong> constrain me? Can I think of His dear wounds, can I sit at the foot of His cross—and not be stirred with fervency and zeal? It seems so! No mere <em>consideration</em>can quicken us to zeal—but God Himself must do it, hence the cry, <em>"Quicken me!" </em><br><br>
-  The Psalmist breathes out his whole soul in vehement pleadings—his body and his soul unite in prayer. "Turn away my eyes," says the body. "Quicken me," cries the soul. This is a fit prayer for every day. O Lord, hear it in my case this day.
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