brought before us, whilst we notice the conduct of the Israelites towards God, and his forbearance towards them, or, in other words,
I. The extent of their wickedness —
They were continually provoking God to anger — [They were from the beginning " a rebellious and gain- saying people." Never would they pay any regard to God, till they were constrained to do so by his chastening rod. In vain were his mercies multiplied unto them : they overlooked them all, and " forgat all the wonders" of his love and mercy c. Dis- satisfied with what he gave them for their subsistence, notwith- standing it was " angels' food," they lusted after things which were in no respect necessary for their well-being d. And when they had provoked God to punish them for their ungrateful murmurings, instead of being reclaimed by his chastisements, " they only sinned yet more against hime." When, in conse- quence of their obstinacy, these chastisements became more severe, and no way of deliverance was found but by their turning unto God, they pretended to return unto him ; but it was a mere pretence. They called to remembrance his past interpositions in their favour, and professed to acknowledge him as their Redeemer and their God : but they only " flattered him" with titles, which excited no corresponding sentiments in their hearts, and " lied unto him " with vows, which they never intended to perform. They pretended to lay hold on " his covenant :" but they would " not be steadfast in it, or perform any of the engagements which it entailed upon them."]
And what is this, but a history of ourselves also ? [In our prosperity, we care not about God ; " he is not in
all our thoughts" But under some heavy calamity we
begin to lay to heart our former transgressions, and to inquire after God. This is common, especially in sickness, and at the expected approach of death f. Then we can bear to hear of God, and of Christ ; yea, we apply to God as our Father, and to Christ as our Redeemer ; we acknowledge with apparent gratitude all that they have done for us ; and profess a depend- ence on them for all that we stand in need of Yet in the
midst of all these professions there is no true contrition, no real self-abhorrence, no fixed determination to give up ourselves unreservedly to God. We approach our God indeed, but it is " with flattery and liesg." We profess much love to him, and much delight in that covenant which he has made with us in Christ Jesus ; but " our hearts are not right with him, neither are we steadfast in his covenant." This appears from our
c ver. 11. <' ver. 18 — 25. e ver. 17, 32.
f Jsai. xxvi. 16. and Hos. v. 15. s Hos. xi. 12.
63t5.1 THE EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY. 55
speedy return to vanity, as soon as ever the judgment is removed from us. We are like metal taken out of the furnace, which, however liquefied, soon returns to its original hardness. Our relentings possibly have been renewed either under the ministry of the word, or by some fresh calamity : but, after all, like Pharaoh, we have only verified that humiliating description of the Apostle, "we have turned again with the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."]
These rebellions however against their God only gave occasion for displaying,
II. The extent of his mercy —
Many times did he forgive them — [Often, through the greatness of their provocations, did he lift up his hand to destroy them in the wilderness ; but he forbore to execute upon them the judgments they deserved. " He remembered that they were but flesh, or as a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again ; " and, if he should give vent to his indignation against them, they must inevitably, and irremediably perish.]