Zechariah 11:8

DISCOURSE: 1256
THE MUTUAL ABHORRENCE BETWEEN GOD AND SINNERS

Zechariah 11:8. My soul lothed them; and their soul also abhorred me.

THE judgments of God that from time to time are inflicted on mankind are standing proofs that man has offended his Maker, and that God is displeased with his creatures. In this view they are continually represented in the Scriptures; and in this light the prophet taught his hearers to consider them. God had determined to “abolish that covenant which he had made with his people,” and to destroy the Jewish polity, the sacred part of which he called “Beauty,” and the civil “Bands.” He speaks of himself as having already cut off (or perhaps, in prophetic language, as determined to cut off) three shepherds, the princes, the prophets, and the priests, in one month; and assigns as a reason for it, that there was a mutual abhorrence between himself and them; and that consequently there was abundant reason for the judgments he denounced against them.
The prophet, thoughout this chapter, personates the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom a part of it was very remarkably fulfilled, and to whom it is expressly applied in the New Testament [Note: ver. 11, 12. with Matthew 27:9.]. But it is simply to the words before us that we would now draw your attention: and we will take occasion from them to shew,

I. What a deep-rooted enmity subsists between God and sinners—

View it, where it first commenced:

1. On man’s part—

[Ungodly men neither seek to please God [Note: Job 35:10.], nor are at all grieved at having displeased him [Note: Jeremiah 8:6.]: they like not to speak, hear, or even think of him [Note: Psalms 10:4.]; they cannot endure (a melancholy proof of their aversion to him!) to be with him alone [Note: As men can meet their bitterest enemy in a crowd, but would be uneasy to be left alone with him; so the ungodly can meet God in his house, but cannot bear to commune with him in their secret chamber.]; they hate every thing in proportion as it exhibits God to them, or would lead them to God [Note: Hence faithful ministers, and godly people, and searching discourses, yea, and the Bible itself, are neglected and despised.]; they even wish there were no God [Note: Psalms 14:1. This is a wish. The words, “there is,” are not in the original.]; yea, when God actually put himself into their power, they sold him at the price of a slave, and crucified and slew him [Note: ver. 11, 12. with Matthew 27:9.].

What abundant proof is here, that “the carnal mind is enmity against God [Note: Romans 8:7.]!” And what an evidence of that abhorrence in which, according to the Scriptures, our adorable Saviour was to be held [Note: Isaiah 49:7.]!]

2. On God’s part—

[Towards penitent sinners (as we shall have occasion to shew) God is reconciled: but, while they continue obstinate in their sins, he “lothes them,” nor can even look upon them without the utmost abhorrence [Note: Habakkuk 1:13.]. He will not vouchsafe them the smallest taste of those blessings which he imparts to others in the richest abundance [Note: Compare Psalms 119:165. with Isaiah 57:21 and 1 Peter 1:8. with Proverbs 14:10.]: he gives them up into the hands of their greatest enemies, to Satan and their own hearts’ lusts [Note: 2 Timothy 2:26; Psalms 81:12.Romans 1:24; Romans 1:26; Romans 1:28.]; he prepares his instruments of vengeance against the time when they shall have filled up the measure of their iniquities [Note: Psalms 7:12.Deuteronomy 32:19; Deuteronomy 32:35; Deuteronomy 32:41. He even kindles with his own breath the fire that is to consume them. Isaiah 30:33.]; he even comforts himself with the prospect of pouring out his wrath upon them to the uttermost [Note: Isaiah 1:24.Ezekiel 21:15; Ezekiel 5:13.].

What awful evidences are these of the truth in question! what proofs that he even lothes and abhors all the workers of iniquity [Note: Psalms 5:5; Psalms 10:3.]!]

But, notwithstanding this mutual enmity, the Gospel shews us,

II.

How it may be turned into mutual love—

There is, in truth, but one way in which reconciliation can be effected between God and sinners. Yet we may not unprofitably divide it into two heads:

1. Repentance towards God—

[This can never purchase our peace with God; yet is it absolutely necessary to prepare our minds for the reception of his favour. And wherever it manifests itself in deed and in truth, God will instantly put away his anger, and embrace the sinner in the arms of his mercy [Note: Jeremiah 3:13.Isaiah 55:7; Psalms 51:17; Luke 15:20; Jeremiah 31:20.] — — —]

2. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ—

[It is this which unites us unto Christ, and gives us an interest in all that he has done and suffered on our behalf. If his hand were stretched forth, to plunge his sword into the bosom of any one amongst us, the very first act of faith should make it fall from his hands, and induce him to return it instantly to its scabbard [Note: John 3:16; John 6:37; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 1:18; Acts 16:30.] — — — Nor would he from that moment account any expression of his love too great for us [Note: Jeremiah 32:41.Zephaniah 3:17.] — — —]

Nor is God only reconciled to us by these means, but we also are reconciled to him—
[It is in this view that the Scriptures most generally represent our return to God [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Colossians 1:21.]. And it is certain that from the very instant we repent and believe in Christ, our enmity against God is slain, and we delight in him as much as ever we once abhorred him. We love to hear and think and speak of him, and to maintain the closest fellowship with him: we love all who love him, and that too in proportion as they resemble him: and every thing that can discover him to us, or draw us nearer unto him, is on that very account unspeakably precious to our souls. As for the Saviour, who was sold for the price of the meanest slave, and who was once altogether despised by us, his name is as music in our ears; and the whole world is as dung in comparison of him [Note: Philippians 3:8.]

We subjoin a word,
1.

Of caution—

[We may suppose that, because our enmity against God is the ground and reason of his aversion to us, our love to him is the ground and reason of his love to us. No: if we love him, it is because he first loved us [Note: 1 John 4:19.]. Were it not that he of his own mere mercy vouchsafed to send us his grace, we never should have our enmity to him in the smallest degree abated. We must therefore take nothing but shame to ourselves; and give nothing but glory unto him. We must confess that our hatred of him was altogether without a cause [Note: John 15:25.]; whereas his aversion to us was just and merited. On the other hand, his love to us is free and sovereign; whereas ours is the tardy, forced, and disproportioned fruit of his victorious grace.]

2. Of encouragement—

[“The wicked man is lothesome [Note: Proverbs 13:5.]:” but how lothesome soever he be, he need not fear but that God is ready to receive him to the arms of mercy [Note: If instead of continuing the contest we apply to God through Christ, our peace with him shall soon be made. Isaiah 27:4.] — — — Let this be contemplated by all, till a lively hope is begotten in their hearts, and they are constrained to say, I will no more “abhor the Holy One, and the Just [Note: Acts 3:14.],” but will turn to him, and love, and serve, and glorify him, with my whole heart.]