Behold now, what matter here is,
1. For reproof —
[Is it not surprising, that, surrounded as we are with the mercies and loving-kindness of our God, we should be so
insensible of all his goodness ? Let us blush for our
ingratitude : let us strive henceforth so to " think of his loving- kindness," that we may say with David, " Thy loving-kindness, O God, is ever before mine eyes11:" yea, "let us praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works unto the children of menx." If we will but contemplate his acts, we shall soon become acquainted with his lovey.~\
2. For encouragement —
[What do we mean by entertaining hard thoughts of God, or doubting his willingness to accept and bless us ? His very nature is love2; and all his acts, though often misapprehended by us, are love also. Be it so, our sins have so abounded, that we seem almost beyond the reach of mercy : " but where sin has abounded, his grace shall much more abound a." And if we will only go and " remind him of his loving-kindnesses which have been ever of old," we shall find that our plea is absolutely irresistible b.]
u Ps. xxvi. 3. and xlviii. 9. x Ps. cvii. 8, 15, 21, 31.
y Ps. cvii. 43. z 1 John iv. 8.
a Rom. v. 20. b Ps. xxv. 6, 7, 11.
Isai. lxiii. 8, 10. He said, Surely they are my people, children
that ivill not lie : so he was their Saviour But they
rebelled, and vexed, his Holy Spirit : therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
WE all notice with wonder the perverseness of the Jewish people, and justify in our minds the judgments inflicted on them. But it would be well, if, when looking at them, we beheld our own selves, as in a glass : for verily the whole of their conduct is but a just representation of our own. The expectations which God formed respecting them were such as were perfectly just and reasonable : and when he was so grievously disappointed, we wonder not that he re- sented it in the way he did.