The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 47

So it is a great advantage to us, that we are not left to our own childish and foolish thoughts, but that we have the written instructions of our heavenly Father. It is by holding to these written instructions, as an unchanging element iu tho midst of all the tests to which we nre subjected, in the •ni<lst or all the temptations to which we are exposed, that we shall be l'nabl,·d valiantly to maintain our Christian position. Ill. How FOLLOWED UP. Invoc,ition qf the Divine blessing. 1. How God is invoked. (1) In the Second Person. "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself." From evangelical activity there is a rise first to the Mediator and lordly Dispenser of blessings in the Church. After the preachers have done their best for the 'l'hessalonians, they havo the painful consciousness left that they are impotent in themsch•cs, At Corinth Paul plante<l, Apolios watered, but God gave the increase. So Paul and Silas and Timothy feeling tl,at they, in speaking and writing to the Thessalonians, were only held by hi0:: who holds the seven stars in his right hand, implore his help to make their activity ~uccessful. "Our Lord Jesus Christ himself accomplish what we are aimina at for them. Let his almighty efficacy be communicated through our feeble instrumettality.• If we would do any good to any in whom we are interested, Christ must do it for us. His high priestly service must be recognized by us. Therefore let us ever rise above our mere wishing an<l striving for others to him who can make our wishing and striving effectual. (2) In the First Person. (a) His fatl,erhood. "And God our Father." From evangelical activity there is a rise, through the Mediator, to him who is the Final Reason and Contriver of redemption. We have some influence with God when we can call him onr Father. We naturally expect to have more influence with a friend than with a stranger. We can appeal to him as a friend. We can; if need be, intercede on the score of friendship and long acquaintance. So we can appeal to God as our Father, to bless not only ourselves but others. And, should every other appeal fail, surel_\' this shall not fail. When the cry comes up on behalf of his needy children, "Our Father, wilt thou not bless?" surely he will not turn away his ear. (b) Wherein it was manifested. "Which loved us." This is timed in the past, and calls up the great act of love-the gift of the Son. Our Father, who gave his Son for us. We can behold in this how GPd can love. Some would represent it as very un- fatherly. But, apart from tbe Sou's unforced consent, there is this consideration, that, where there is true fatherly feeling, it is not more easy to sacrifice a son than to sacrifice one's self. David felt this when be uttered his lamentation over Absalom: "Would God I had died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, my son I" We must hold that, loving the Soo infinitely, the Father could as well have sacrificed himself as his Son. The marvel and mystery is, that, loving his Son infinitely, he could be moved to sacrifice him for us bis undeserving creatures. But surely by this act of devotion the love of God for us is placed fur ever beyond all doubt. In presence of the cross, to doubt, or to act as though we doubted, tbat God loves us, is doing him the most glaring injustice. (c) What it obtained for us. "And gave us eternal comfort." There is no hiding it, that it is comfort that we all need. There is an evil heart, to keep us from being happy. It gives rise to slavish fear of God and forebodings of judgment. There is ali!o an evil world, which alone is sufficient to keep us from being perfectly happy. It is an evil world, where there is exposure to poverty, to sickness, to bereavement, to <leath. It is an evil world, where, with sensitive spirits, we have to look forth on so much sin and wretchedness. Where, then, is the comfort? There is no real comfort for a guilty conscience in ignorance or distraction. It is unsub- stantial comfort, to know that our suffering is common. There is some substantial comfort in the sympathy of our fellow-men, but it is variable. We may not find friends all that we would desire them to be to us. Those by whom we are most comforted may be taken away, and we have to be comforted for their loss. But there is comfort provided by eternal love, and comfort that is eternal in its nature. There is comfort in knowing that our great Substitute has made full salisl'action for our sin. There iB comfort in knowing that we are clasped to the heart of the eve~lastlng Father. That is comfort which is neither deceitful nor fleeting. It is sufficient for us amid all the cares of life. It is independent of all contingencies. "And good hope." Comfort refers to time present; hope refer11 to time future. Beyond all that we have of good and of coml'ort under evil, there is hope. And what is this hope? ft is the hope of our real joys being perfected, of our being delivered from the plague 011. n. 1-17.] 'fHE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 46