The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 29

Naboth, the dogs licked her blood. Well said Eliphaz, "l have eeen that they who plough iniquity, and sow wiokednese, reap the same." 1.'he Jewt1, who were made to serve " ~trange" masters, were told that it was for serving "strange" gode. And our Lord himself hl\S said, " With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again." Society has been likened to the echoing hills. It gives the speaker hie words back again, doleful groan for groan, and joyous song for song. Thue "with the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again." Jacob, who deceived his father, was in turn, and similarly, deceived by hie sons. The Egyptians killed the Hebrew children; the God of the Hebrews slew the firstborn or Egypt. "As thou hast done, it shall be done unt-0 thee." The words, we know, were addressed to Esau, and we have had abundant proof of the truth of the principle which they involve. But let us briefly notice the converse. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." If the ungodly cannot BOW hemlock, nightshade, and darnel, without reaping the same, so God's servants cannot sow seeds of kindness, seeds of truth, seeds of light, seeds of heavenly blessing, without reaping in due season. The great harvest of well-doin(J', like that of evil-doing, is indeed hereafter, but it has its tokens and fi.rstfruits eve';. now. Let us notice, for example, our adorable Redeemer's beatitude, 11 Bleseed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." We know that the merciful are those who upon gospel principles are ■ympathetic, helpful, loving, and kind. We know also that hereafter Christ will say to those on hie right hand, 11 Come, ye blessed, ... inherit the kingdom .... I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, e.nd ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it u~to me." Hereafter, it is clear, the merciful will obtain mercy. But at present the like principle is at work. "As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee.' The kind and merciful nuw enjoy much bleesedness; the unmerciful are now unblest. A. man whose sympathies are all dried up lives in e. region of wintry blight. He walks in no glorious sunshine and in no joyous liberty. He knows nothing of the bliss that comes from open-hearted sympathy. There is darkneee within. Darkness covers the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God does not move on the face of the waters. But the merciful man, the man who is kind and sympathizing, the man who is forgiving and for- bearing, the man who has a kind excuse for others, the man who looks on the charitable side of a case, the man who thinketh no evil,-that man will reap here as well as here- after. In his straits and afflictions he will find, as a general rule, the stream of kindness flow back again. The world will learn mercy by his mercy, and show some feeling for one whose wont was to sympathize with adversity. "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul" (Prov. xi. 17). The widow of S:irepta and the woman of Shunem, for kindness to the Lord's prophets, received a prophet's reward. 'l'he alms of Comeliue brought good to his own soul God ie not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. "Ae thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee." Now this is one of the origine.J. principles of the creation of God. God said," Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit, after his kind.'' The vine yielded grapes; the fig tree, figs; the olive tree, olives. The principle was universal. So it is in the moral world. "What a man eoweth, that shall he also reap.'' There is no altering the law naturally, morally, or spiritually. If a mother spoils a child, we know what the harvest will be. If a man takes to intemperate habits, we know who.t the harvest will be. And we all expect an idle, indolent man to come to disgrace and shame. Let no one be deceived. "God ie not mocked ... whatsoever a man sowetb, that shall he also re.ap." Often and often souls have been deceived. Eve was deceived, Jacob was deceived, Ahab was deceived, David was deceived; but as they sowed, they reaped. God was not mocked. .And so with us. Our words, our actions, our habits, are seeds -seeds that will spring up. Oh, what will tM harvest be, In this life there is, as I have shown, no little reaping ever going on. Nations and individuals are constantly learning the meaning of God's words to Edom, "As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee." But the great harvest is at the end of the world. The Lord of the harvest is at hand. My text, which I have said, has a present fulfilment, especially amongst nations, will have its complete accomplishment with regard to individuals when Christ's judgm<-nt-tbrone is set up. Theu shall every man receive the things done in the body~ 1---21.J THE BOOK 011' OBADIAH. 96