how should he effect this ? Conciliating as his measures and his conduct were, he could not ensure success : and therefore he went to God, who has all hearts in his hand, and turneth them whithersoever he will. He well knew, that, if once he could get God on his side, he was safe ; for that " none could be against him, if God were for him." To God therefore he presented his supplication; and behold the instantaneous effect ! The enraged persecutor meets him with fraternal affection, and the only strife between them was, who should manifest the greatest love.]
In the exhortation grounded on this fact, we see,
II. The improvement we should make of it —
The intermediate words, omitted in the text, are merely a repetition of the same idea, that the person who had met with Jacob in Bethel, was " the Lord God of Hosts ;" and that, in thus conversing with Jacob, he had, in fact, conversed with the Jewish nation, and had evinced his readiness to hear the supplications of all that call upon him. Then follows the prophet's exhortation, which it will be proper to enforce ;
1. "Turn thou unto thy God"—
[He that was Jacob's God will also be ours : he is ours by external profession, and will be ours by the special com- munication of his grace, if we seek him with our whole heart. To those who are in trouble, God is the only refuge c. We may go to the creature, and obtain no benefit : but, if we make our application to him, he will hear and help vis. In him we shall be as in an impregnable fortress ; and if the whole human race were combined for our destruction, not a hair of our head should perish. Let every one of us then turn unto God; and we shall find him a very present help in trouble.]
2. " Keep mercy and judgment" —
[We may be ready to think, that as Jacob, notwithstanding his perfidious conduct, found acceptance with God, we may also live in the violation of our duty, and transgress the plainest principles of love and equity, and yet have God for our pro- tector and friend. But Jacob's treachery was a source of in- numerable troubles to him through life, and especially of those very fears that harassed him on this occasion. And we shall find, that, sooner or later, deceit will bring its own punishment
c Nahum i. 7.