William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Hebrews 11:9

The apostle spake of the place which Abraham was called from, in the foregoing verse, namely, out of Ur of the Chaldees: here he speaks of the place he was called to, Canaan, styled the Land of Promise, that is, the land which God had newly promised to give unto him.

Where note, 1. Abraham's act of obedience: He sojourned in the land of promise, as in. strange country; he was there as. sojourner, not an inheritor, moving up and down from place to place, until God thought fit to settle him and his posterity. Abraham was. sojourner both in his condition of life, and in his dispositon of heart. Canaan was. type of heaven, accordingly Abraham expected. better country, with. city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Note, 2. The manner of his sojourning in this land, dwelling in tabernacles. This was both an act of policy, and an act of piety; of policy, that they might live peaceably, occasioning any envy or grudge from them; and of piety, to express their hopes and desires of. better country.

Note, 3. Abraham's companions, his fellows and followers, in this act of obedience; he sojourned with Isaac and Jacob as heirs of the same promise.

Where mark, How all the saints of God are of the same spiritual disposition; they are animated by the same spirit, governed by the same laws; they act from the same principle, and for the same end, and desire nothing more that to live together, and to enjoy God and one another.

Note, 4. The reason rendered why Abraham esteemed himself but as. stranger in Canaan, because his thoughts ran much upon heaven, of which Canaan was but. type: He looked for. city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Where observe, 1. Abraham's act of expectation: he looked for it, he rationally expected it; it was not. blind hope, but well built on the power and promise of God.

2. What he looked for, a city; not Jerusalem, an earthly city, as some would have it, for that was not possessed until eight hundred years after, and then only by his posterity for. limited time: but an heavenly city,. settled quiet habitation,. suitable dwelling for them that have had. life of trouble in this world.

3. The city itself described, 1. by the nature of it; it has foundations, in opposition to tents and tabernacles, which had no foundations, but where moving, ambulatory dwellings, supported only by stakes and cords; this city is bounded upon the eternal power, the infinite wisdom, and immutable counsel of God.

2. By the maker and builder of it, God, he is the contriver, framer, and erector of this city; and as he is the maker, so he is the disposer of it also; please God, and he will give it thee, none can give it thee without him, and he will never give it thee without pleasing of him.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Hebrews 11:9

Old Testament

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