_Give ear, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of
My mouth._
THE OBLIGATION TO OBEY GOD’S LAW
I. It is the law of your nature. The foundation of morality is laid
deep in human nature; its principles result from the constitution of
our frame; and its authority will be supreme, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old._
THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF PARABOLIC TEACHING
The word here translated parable did not probably convey to the mind
of the psalmist the signification which we ordinarily attach to it. It
might mean nothing more than a sublime, fig... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will not hide them from their children._
CHILDREN
I. The interesting objects of our solicitude mentioned. Consider--
1. The love which welcomes them.
2. The evils which surround them.
3. The possibilities which await them.
II. The sacred duties which we owe to them.
1. They are weak; we m... [ Continue Reading ]
_For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in
Israel. .. that they should make them known to their children._
THE PARENTS’ PREROGATIVE: HOW IS IT USED
Dr. Adam Clarke reminds us that there are no less than five
generations specified in these verses. God has blessed no age for its... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of
God, but keep His commandments._
ON THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE HEART, IN DISREGARDING PROVIDENTIAL
DISPENSATIONS IN GENERAL
I. Show what is implied in a diligent observation of providential
dispensations.
1. A close investigation o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back
in the day of battle._
GOD IN HUMAN HISTORY
I. A people is a community that are most favoured with privileges are
oftentimes the most sinful. Ephraim was not only one of the largest,
but one of the most favoured of the Jewish tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with
a light of fire._
DAY AND NIGHT LEADING
Did some man imagine this? I thank him. It was worth being born to
imagine this conception of God. It is so tender, so fatherlike; it is
charged to the full with inspiration of the best ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of
the great depths._
STREAMS FROM THE ROCK
I. Consider thy rock as a representation of Christ.
1. What does a rock remind us of?
(1) Solidity and firmness. Christ is “the same, yesterday, to-day,
and for ever.”
(2) Power of defe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they sinned yet more against Him by provoking the Most High in
the wilderness._
SIN MULTIPLYING WITH MERCIES
The more copiously the showers of mercies fell upon the Jew in the
wilderness, the more abounding his sins.
I. This is a lamentably common character. Seeds of sin innumerable are
imbe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust._
THE CONDUCT OF GOD TOWARDS THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD’S CONDUCT TO HIM
I. God’s dispensations towards depraved man.
1. Wonderful mercies (Psalms 78:12; Psalms 78:24; Psalms 78:27; Psalms
78:44, etc.). There are Divine deliverances,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?_
A TABLE IN THE WILDERNESS
Here is--
I. A base ingratitude. He had done so, and they had participated in
the banquet.
II. A miserable scepticism. Can He do it? He who peopled immensity
with innumerable worlds and systems, etc. What an insane and imbeci... [ Continue Reading ]
_Can He give bread also?_
can He provide flesh for His people?
THE CRY OF UNBELIEF AND PRESUMPTION
I. The cry of unbelief. The question presupposes a negative; they
practically said, “We do not believe that He can do any more than He
has done.” The whole nation missed the meaning of history, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth. .. Because they
believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation._
MISTRUST THAT DESTROYS
There are morbid growths in the human frame which our doctors divide
into two groups--benign and malignant; and the distinction often comes
to mean the disti... [ Continue Reading ]
_And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the
corn of Heaven._
THE MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS
That this miraculous provision was designed to be an emblem of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and of those precious blessings of which He is the
Author, is evident from His own declaration “... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man did eat angels’ food._
ANGELS’ FOOD
I. There are in the universe higher order of intelligent creatures
than man, “Angels.” The proofs, the nature, the functions, the
varieties of their existence abound in the Scriptures.
II. This higher order of intelligences require food. No creatures,
howe... [ Continue Reading ]
_They were not estranged from their lust._
DISSATISFACTION WITH PLENTY
God gave them plenty, and they ate “and were filled.” He gave them
what they sought, flesh; feathered birds came in abundance.
Notwithstanding, they were not satisfied, “were not estranged from
their lust”; they had still a cra... [ Continue Reading ]
_For all this they sinned still _
SINNING STILL
1.
God’s revelation of His power, goodness, love and grace to the
sinners of our day, in the completed canon of the Holy Scriptures,
infinitely transcends anything made to ancient Israel. And yet, in the
noonday light of that full and august revelat... [ Continue Reading ]
_When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and
inquired early after God._
ISRAEL’S HYPOCRITICAL REPENTANCE
I. The acts of repentance which they performed.
1. Seeking God.
2. Returning.
3. Inquiring.
4. Remembering (Psalms 78:35).
5. Renewing their covenant with God (Psalms 78... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth._
FLATTERING GOD
I. Here is a world-wide enormity.
1. It is rampant in heathendom. Men “flatter” their gods.
2. It is prevalent in Christendom. Looking at the moral character of
England, for example, who can doubt that the vast majorities of al... [ Continue Reading ]
_But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and
destroyed them not._
ALL GOOD REWARDED
The whole Book of Judges may be said to be a commentary on these
words, for it is a record of successive instances of idolatry and
wickedness into which the people fell, of Divine judgments which i... [ Continue Reading ]
_For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away,
and cometh not again._
THE FRAILTY OF HUMAN NATURE
I. The frailty of human nature impressively described. Two terms are
used--
1. “Flesh”; not granite, iron, or even oak, but a sentient, weak,
constantly-dissolving organism.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of
Israel _
LIMITING GOD
I. We limit the Holy One of Israel by dictating to him. Shall mortal
dare to dictate to his Creator? Shall it be possible that man shall
lay down his commands, and expect the King of heaven to pay homage to
h... [ Continue Reading ]
_And smote all the firstborn in Egypt;.. . but made His own people to
go forth like sheep._
GOD’S DEALINGS WITH EGYPT AND ISRAEL
I. The punishment of egypt. Egypt, through its kings, had become the
determined adversary of God. “Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His
voice?” was the challenge flung... [ Continue Reading ]
_And kept not His testimonies: but turned back, and dealt unfaithfully
their fathers._
THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE HEART AS TO DUTY
I. As to the performance of duty, the heart discovers its power of
deceit.
1. By diverting a person from those duties that are most spiritual in
their nature. It will p... [ Continue Reading ]
He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He hath
established for ever.
THE GOSPEL PALACES
“He built His sanctuary like high palaces”; look through this very
country, compare its palaces with its cathedrals and churches, even in
their present state of disadvantage, and say whet... [ Continue Reading ]
_He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds._
DAVID, THE SHEPHERD, CALLED TO BE KING
A keeper of sheep, suddenly becoming conscious that he was chosen for
a great yet terrible destiny; being gradually fitted among the quiet
hill-sides to meet this mighty calling; and then, r... [ Continue Reading ]