Judges 1:14,15

DISCOURSE: 2472
CHRIST’S COMING TO JUDGMENT

Judges 1:14. Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

GOD has had in every age some to testify against the ungodly, and to warn them of the consequences of their sin at the future judgment: and though the faithful execution of this office meets with but ill returns from an ungrateful world, yet we trust there will be found, to the end of time, some, who will gladly suffer reproach or even death itself in the service of their God, and in the benevolent attempt to save their fellow-sinners from destruction. We do not indeed hear of many, who were witnesses for God, before the time of Moses; and even his warnings and exhortations were enforced principally with temporal sanctions: yet the certainty of a future judgment was known not only by Moses, but by the antediluvian world; and was solemnly urged by Enoch as a motive to repentance. This prophecy is not recorded in the Old Testament; but, by whatever means St. Jude attained the knowledge of it, whether by tradition, or by some written memorial, or by immediate inspiration, we may be sure that it was delivered by Enoch; and we may be thankful that such a precious fragment of inspired truth has been preserved to us.

It proclaims to us,

I. The manner in which our Lord shall come to judgment—

Christ, we are assured, is coming to judge the world—
[There can be no reason to doubt that Enoch referred to Christ, even to that very “seed of the woman, who was to bruise the serpent’s head:” him he represents as coming to complete his victory over Satan and his agents by calling them to his tribunal, and by consigning them over to the punishment they have deserved. The New Testament writers uniformly speak to the same effect: they declare that it is at the judgment seat of Christ we must stand [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:10.]; that it is Christ who is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead [Note: Acts 10:42.]; and, that all judgment is therefore committed unto him, because he is the Son of man [Note: John 5:27.]; or, in other words, that he, who died for sinners, shall, in that very nature that he assumed for them, be the immediate author of salvation to his followers and of condemnation to his enemies.]

And even the manner of his appearing is here plainly predicted—
[It is not with “his saints,” but with his holy ones, or holy angels, that he will come. The saints will not be his assessors in judgment till they themselves shall have received their sentence: then indeed “they shall judge angels [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:3.];” but till then, they themselves will stand before him to be judged. But the holy angels will be his attendants in the clouds of heaven; all the “myriads” of them shall descend with him from their blessed abodes, to increase the solemnity of that day, and to honour him, to whom they owe their very existence. This accords with the description given by Daniel [Note: Daniel 7:9.], by St. Paul [Note: 2 Thessalonians 1:7.], and by Christ himself [Note: Matthew 25:31.]. How different will our Lord’s appearance then be from what it was when he first visited our guilty world, and lay a helpless infant in the manger! and how earnestly should we now exert ourselves that we may he prepared to meet him!]

That our minds may be raised to an expectation of that day, let us consider,

II.

The ends of his coming—

It is not to display his own glory that Christ will come; but,

1. To pass judgment upon the whole world—

[All, who have ever lived in this wretched world, shall be summoned before him. The old and the young, the rich and the poor, will all come forth out of their graves [Note: Revelation 20:12.], and those that shall be then living upon earth shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and all shall stand together at his tribunal [Note: 1 Corinthians 15:51.]. Every one shall then be tried as by fire [Note: 1 Corinthians 3:13.]; their actions shall then be weighed as in a balance; and the most secret motions of their hearts be brought to light [Note: Romans 2:16.]. Then shall they that are approved, “have praise of God;” and they that are disapproved, be driven from his presence. Nor will Jesus merely pronounce the sentence of condemnation or acquittal, but he will “execute” it himself, either exalting them instantly to thrones of glory, or casting them headlong into “the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.”]

2. To manifest the equity of his decisions—

[Whatever endeavours be now used to shew men their guilt and danger, they have many things to allege in their own favour [Note: They will impute their negligence to their situation in life, to necessity, or to any thing rather than the true cause, their own utter aversion to God and holiness.]; nor even “if we could speak with the tongues of angels,” could we bring home conviction to their hearts. But Jesus will shew them, beyond all contradiction, the futility of their excuses: and will prove by such unquestionable evidence “the deeds they have committed, the words they have spoken,” and the thoughts they have entertained, that they shall be silenced and confounded before him. The ministers, who once laboured for their salvation, shall then be forced to bear testimony against them: their companions in sin, though to their own confusion, must also testify of those deeds of darkness, which they once fondly hoped would be buried in eternal oblivion. The very places, where their most secret iniquities were committed, should rather stand forth to accuse them, than that they should escape with impunity [Note: Habakkuk 2:11.]. Above all, “God himself will be a swift witness against them [Note: Malachi 3:5.],” and will so thoroughly “convince” them of all their sins, whether of commission or of omission, that they shall be constrained to acknowledge the equity of that sentence, which dooms them to everlasting burnings. Even in hell will they be compelled to say, “Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments [Note: Revelation 16:7.].”]

Infer—
1.

How needful is it that we should instantly begin our preparation for that day!

[Five thousand years ago the prophet spake of Jesus as so near at hand, that it seemed as if he were already come [Note: ἦλθε.]; and it is in this way that all, whether Prophets or Apostles, have been inspired to speak. So strongly did St Paul express himself on this subject that the Thessalonians conceived the judgment-day to be almost immediately at hand [Note: 2 Thessalonians 2:2.]. In the same manner must we say, “The Lord is at hand;” “the Judge is at the door [Note: Philippians 4:5.James 5:9.].” He surely is coming as soon as ever the events that are ordained to precede his advent shall have received their accomplishment. And with respect to us, it signifies little whether it be near or distant, since as death leaves us, judgment will find us. Is it not even madness then to delay our repentance, since we cannot tell but that death may come within the next year, or day, or hour? Beloved, shall your Lord come, and find you sleeping? Is he hastening towards you, and will you not prepare to meet him? O awake from your slumbers, and turn to him with your whole hearts; that so you may “have confidence before him at his coming.”]

2. How desirable is it to possess an interest in Christ!

[It surely is not necessary to prove that we are ungodly, since we have all sinned, times without number, in thought, word, and deed, against the Divine Majesty. Whither then shall we go for the remission of our sins? How shall we get our iniquities blotted out from the book of his remembrance? Our tears, even if we could shed rivers of tears, will never avail for this end: nothing but the blood of Jesus can ever cleanse us from the guilt of one sin: and, if we be not washed in that fountain, we shall die in our iniquities, and lie under the guilt of them for ever. Let us then seek an interest in Christ. Let us never attempt to substitute any repentance or reformation of our own, in the place of his meritorious blood and righteousness: but let it be our one desire to “be found in him,” and to obtain from him those garments of salvation, which alone can “cover the nakedness” of our guilty souls [Note: Revelation 3:18.]

3. With what confidence and comfort may believers look forward to the coming of their Lord!

[Whom will they have for their judge but the very person who bought them with his blood? the very person in whom they have believed; and to whom they cleaved with full purpose of heart? Be it so then; the catalogue of their sins shall be produced, a catalogue reaching, as it were, from heaven to earth; and they shall not have one word to offer in arrest of judgment: yet, will the Saviour pass a sentence of condemnation upon them? Will he not himself stand forth and testify, “I saw their deep contrition; I treasured up their tears in my vial; I was witness to their frequent sighs and groans, and to their cries for mercy through my atoning blood:” “Deliver them from going down into the pit; I paid their ransom:” they were mine; and they manifested that they were mine [Note: God represents himself in this very light. Jeremiah 31:18.], by their obedience to my will, and their conformity to my image: “Come, ye blessed children of my Father, inherit my kingdom prepared for you?” Fear not then, ye weak and trembling saints; but rather “be looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of Christ [Note: 2 Peter 3:12.]:” ye shall surely stand before him with joy; while they, who once justified their ungodliness, and thought, that to be among the godly was a fit matter for derision, shall bewail their folly, and confess the equity of the sentence that fixes you in heaven, and themselves in hell. Remember then with gratitude that you are to have Jesus for your judge; and when he says, “Behold, I come quickly,” let your hearts reply, “Even so, come Lord Jesus [Note: Revelation 22:20.].”]