Revised Common
Lectionary for Easter Vigil, 19 April 2014
PRAYER: Thematic
Faithful Midwife,
as you delivered the
Hebrews safely
out of the long labor of
slavery,
so, morning by morning,
you draw us forth into
the new day.
Surround us with a cloud
of witnesses,
and sustain us by your
powerful word,
that, in the night of
loneliness and fear,
we, being weary, may not
lose heart
but push toward the joy
that is to come,
laboring with Christ
to give birth to your
promised kingdom. Amen.
OR
Creator of the universe,
you made the world in
beauty,
and restore all things
in glory
through the victory of
Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever
your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness,
selfishness, war, and greed,
the new creation in
Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,
to the glory of your
name. Amen.
OR
Mighty God,
in whom we know the
power of redemption,
you stand among us in
the shadows of our time.
As we move through every
sorry and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge
of the final morning
when, in the glorious
presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his
resurrection,
redeemed and restored to
the fullness of life
and forever freed to be
your people. Amen.
Intercessory
As we remember the story
of God's gracious
presence with us
through life and death,
we lift our prayers on
behalf of all creation.
Prayers of the People,
concluding with:
God of salvation,
your wisdom and
compassion guide us
in the midst of pain and
grief,
in the midst of
temptation and fear.
Through your
resurrection power
heal our sorrow and
uplift us in delight,
that we may know that
fulfillment of your promise
in our restoration to
wholeness. Amen.
Scripture
O God of glory,
in the Easter dawn
you raised Jesus from
death to life.
As we are united with
him in death,
so unite us with him in
resurrection,
that we may walk in
newness of life. Amen.
Old Testament Readings
and Psalms
Genesis 1: Six Days
of Creation and the Sabbath
1 In the beginning when
God created[a] the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and
darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the
face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the
darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And
there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let
there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from
the waters.” 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under
the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called
the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the
waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land
appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that
were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then
God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit
trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was
so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind,
and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it
was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, “Let
there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and
let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be
lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16
God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser
light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky
to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and
to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And
there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let
the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the
earth across the dome of the sky.” 21 So God created the great sea monsters and
every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm,
and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God
blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the
seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there
was morning, the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let
the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping
things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. 25 God made
the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and
everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was
good.
26 Then God said, “Let
us make humankind[c] in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,[d] and over every creeping
thing that creeps upon the earth.”
27 So God created
humankind[e] in his image,
in the image of God he created them;[f]
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and
God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and
over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have
given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and
every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to
every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that
creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every
green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made,
and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the
sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and
the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God
finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all
the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it,
because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
4 These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Another Account of the
Creation
In the day that the
Lord[g] God made the earth and the heavens,
Footnotes:
a. Genesis 1:1 Or when
God began to create or In the beginning God created
b. Genesis 1:2 Or while
the spirit of God or while a mighty wind
c. Genesis 1:26 Heb adam
d. Genesis 1:26 Syr: Heb
and over all the earth
e. Genesis 1:27 Heb adam
f. Genesis 1:27 Heb him
g. Genesis 2:4 Heb YHWH,
as in other places where “Lord” is spelled with capital letters (see also Ex
3.14–15 with notes).
Psalm 136: God’s Work in
Creation and in History
1 O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the
God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the
Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great
wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding
made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the
earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great
lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over
the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to
rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:23 It is he
who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from
our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all
flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the
God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Genesis 7: The Great
Flood
7 Then the Lord said to
Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you
alone are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs
of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are
not clean, the male and its mate; 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also,
male and female, to keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For
in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights;
and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the
ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
Genesis 7:11 In the six
hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of
the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the
windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain fell on the earth forty days
and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and
Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, 14
they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every
kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of
every kind—every bird, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with
Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And
those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded
him; and the Lord shut him in.
17 The flood continued
forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it
rose high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the
earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
Genesis 8:6 At the end
of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent out
the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth.
8 Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from
the face of the ground; 9 but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it
returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole
earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him.
10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark;
11 and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a
freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the
earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did
not return to him any more.
13 In the six hundred
first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were
dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked,
and saw that the face of the ground was drying. 14 In the second month, on the
twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 Then God said to Noah,
16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives
with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all
flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—so
that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives.
Genesis 9:8 Then God
said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my
covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living
creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of
the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.[a] 11 I establish my
covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of
a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God
said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and
every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have
set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and
the earth.
Footnotes:
a. Genesis 9:10 Gk: Heb
adds every animal of the earth
Psalm 46: God’s Defense
of His City and People
To the leader. Of the
Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and
strength,
a very present[a] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not
fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of
the sea;
3 though its waters roar
and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its
tumult.Selah
4 There is a river whose
streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of
the city;[b] it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an
uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is
with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[c]Selah
8 Come, behold the works
of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the
earth.
9 He makes wars cease to
the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know
that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is
with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[d]Selah
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 46:1 Or well
proved
b. Psalm 46:5 Heb of it
c. Psalm 46:7 Or
fortress
d. Psalm 46:11 Or
fortress
Genesis 22: The
Command to Sacrifice Isaac
1 After these things God
tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said,
“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I
shall show you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and
took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the
burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had
shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I
will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and
he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on
together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I
am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb
for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a
burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
9 When they came to the
place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in
order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill[a] his son. 11
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham,
Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the
boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not
withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a
ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and
offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that
place “The Lord will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of
the Lord it shall be provided.”[c]
15 The angel of the Lord
called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By myself I have
sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your
son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring
as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And
your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your
offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves,
because you have obeyed my voice.”
Footnotes:
a. Genesis 22:10 Or to
slaughter
b. Genesis 22:14 Or will
see; Heb traditionally transliterated Jehovah Jireh
c. Genesis 22:14 Or he
shall be seen
Psalm 16: Song of Trust
and Security in God
A Miktam of David.
1 Protect me, O God, for
in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord,
“You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”[a]
3 As for the holy ones in
the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose
another god multiply their sorrows;[b]
their drink offerings of blood I will not
pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen
portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines
have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the Lord who
gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always
before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not
be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is
glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give
me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path
of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 16:2 Jerome Tg:
Meaning of Heb uncertain
b. Psalm 16:4 Cn:
Meaning of Heb uncertain
Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh
drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing
on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to
Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us
away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?
12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us
serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the
Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do
not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will
accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never
see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”
15 Then the Lord said to
Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16 But you
lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that
the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. 17 Then I will harden the
hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain
glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot
drivers. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained
glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.”
19 The angel of God who
was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar
of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came
between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there
with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all
night.
21 Then Moses stretched
out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind
all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22
The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for
them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into
the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24
At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon
the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged[a]
their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said,
“Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against
Egypt.”
The Pursuers Drowned
26 Then the Lord said to
Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back
upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched
out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As
the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the
entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them
remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the
waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved
Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the
seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians.
So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant
Moses.
Footnotes:
a. Exodus 14:25 Sam Gk
Syr: MT removed
Exodus 15: The Song of
Miriam
20 Then the prophet
Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went
out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord, for
he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has
thrown into the sea.”
Exodus 15: The Song of
Moses
1 Then Moses and the
Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the
Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength
and my might,[a]
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I
will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots
and his army he cast into the sea;
his picked officers were sunk in the Red
Sea.[b]
5 The floods covered
them;
they went down into the depths like a
stone.
6 Your right hand, O
Lord, glorious in power—
your right hand, O Lord, shattered the
enemy.
7 In the greatness of
your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;
you sent out your fury, it consumed them
like stubble.
8 At the blast of your
nostrils the waters piled up,
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the
sea.
9 The enemy said, ‘I
will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall
have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy
them.’
10 You blew with your
wind, the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 “Who is like you, O
Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out
your right hand,
the earth swallowed them.
13 “In your steadfast
love you led the people whom you redeemed;
you guided them by your strength to your
holy abode.
Footnotes:
a. Exodus 15:2 Or song
b. Exodus 15:4 Or Sea of
Reeds
Exodus 15:17 You brought
them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession,
the place, O Lord, that you made your
abode,
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have
established.
18 The Lord will reign
forever and ever.”
Isaiah 55: An Invitation
to Abundant Life
1 Ho, everyone who
thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no
money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your
money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not
satisfy?
Listen carefully to me,
and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and
come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an
everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a
witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations
that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run
to you,
because of the Lord your
God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 Seek the Lord while he
may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake
their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the
Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly
pardon.
8 For my thoughts are
not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are
higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and
the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have
watered the earth,
making it bring forth
and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the
eater,
11 so shall my word be
that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish
that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent
it.
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God
is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God[a] is
my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
3 With joy you will draw
water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds
among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing praises to the
Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known[b] in all the earth.
6 Shout aloud and sing
for joy, O royal[c] Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of
Israel.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 12:2 Heb for
Yah, the Lord
b. Isaiah 12:5 Or this
is made known
c. Isaiah 12:6 Or O
inhabitant of
Baruch 3: In Praise of
Wisdom
9 Hear the commandments
of life, O Israel;
give ear, and learn wisdom!
10 Why is it, O Israel,
why is it that you are in the land of your enemies,
that you are growing old in a foreign
country,
that you are defiled
with the dead,
11 that you are counted among those in Hades?
12 You have forsaken the
fountain of wisdom.
13 If you had walked in
the way of God,
you would be living in peace forever.
14 Learn where there is
wisdom,
where there is strength,
where there is understanding,
so that you may at the same
time discern
where there is length of days, and life,
where there is light for the eyes, and
peace.
15 Who has found her
place?
And who has entered her storehouses?
Baruch 3:32 But the one
who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
The one who prepared the
earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
33 the one who sends
forth the light, and it goes;
he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;
34 the stars shone in
their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, “Here we
are!”
They shone with gladness for him who made
them.
35 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.
36 He found the whole
way to knowledge,
and gave her to his servant Jacob
and to Israel, whom he loved.
37 Afterward she
appeared on earth
and lived with humankind.
4:1 She is the book of
the commandments of God,
the law that endures forever.
All who hold her fast
will live,
and those who forsake her will die.
2 Turn, O Jacob, and
take her;
walk toward the shining of her light.
3 Do not give your glory
to another,
or your advantages to an alien people.
4 Happy are we, O
Israel,
for we know what is pleasing to God.
Proverbs 8: The Gifts of
Wisdom
1 Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights, beside
the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in
front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries
out:
4 “To you, O people, I
call,
and my cry is to all that live.
5 O simple ones, learn
prudence;
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
6 Hear, for I will speak
noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
7 for my mouth will
utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my
mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in
them.
Proverbs 8:19 My fruit
is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of
righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 endowing with wealth
those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Proverbs 9:4 “You that
are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity,[a]
and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 9:6 Or
simpleness
Psalm 19: God’s Glory in
Creation and the Law
To the leader. A Psalm
of David.
1 The heavens are
telling the glory of God;
and the firmament[a] proclaims his
handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth
speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech,
nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice[b]
goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens[c] he has
set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a
bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with
joy.
6 Its rising is from the
end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is
perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord
are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the
Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the
Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord
is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the
Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired
are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is
your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect
their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your
servant also from the insolent;[d]
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be
blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 19:1 Or dome
b. Psalm 19:4 Gk Jerome
Compare Syr: Heb line
c. Psalm 19:4 Heb In
them
d. Psalm 19:13 Or from
proud thoughts
Ezekiel 36:24 I will
take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you
into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be
clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I
will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27
I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful
to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall live in the land that I gave to
your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Psalm 42: Longing for
God and His Help in Distress
To the leader. A Maskil
of the Korahites.
1 As a deer longs for
flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for
God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and
behold
the face of God?
3 My tears have been my
food
day and night,
while people say to me
continually,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I
remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the
throng,[a]
and led them in procession to the house of
God,
with glad shouts and
songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down,
O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall
again praise him,
my help 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down
within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan
and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your
billows
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord
commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about
mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?”
10 As with a deadly
wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast
down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall
again praise him,
my help and my God.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 42:4 Meaning of
Heb uncertain
Psalm 43: Prayer to God
in Time of Trouble
1 Vindicate me, O God,
and defend my cause
against an ungodly people;
from those who are
deceitful and unjust
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in
whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about
mournfully
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light
and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to
your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the
altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you
with the harp,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down,
O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall
again praise him,
my help and my God.
Ezekiel 37: The Valley
of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the Lord
came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down
in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them;
there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to
me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then
he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the
word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause
breath[a] to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and
will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath[b]
in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and
as I prophesied, suddenly there
was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I
looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin
had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me,
“Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath:[c] Thus says
the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath,[d] and breathe upon these
slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath
came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then he said to me,
“Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are
dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore
prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your
graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you
back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I
open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put
my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own
soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the
Lord.”
Footnotes:
a. Ezekiel 37:5 Or
spirit
b. Ezekiel 37:6 Or
spirit
c. Ezekiel 37:9 Or wind
or spirit
d. Ezekiel 37:9 Or wind
or spirit
Psalm 143: Prayer for
Deliverance from Enemies
A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O
Lord;
give ear to my supplications in your
faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into
judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has
pursued me,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me sit in darkness like those long
dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints
within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of
old,
I think about all your deeds,
I meditate on the works of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands
to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched
land.Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O
Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face
from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the
Pit.
8 Let me hear of your
steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I
should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Save me, O Lord, from
my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.[a]
10 Teach me to do your
will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit
lead me
on a level path.
11 For your name’s sake,
O Lord, preserve my life.
In
your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast
love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 143:9 One Heb
Ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden
Zephaniah 3: A Song of
Joy
14 Sing aloud, O
daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with
all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken
away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the
Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16 On that day it shall
be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord, your God,
is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you
with gladness,
he will renew you[a] in his love;
he will exult over you
with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival.[b]
I will remove disaster
from you,[c]
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 I will deal with all
your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their
shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will
bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you
renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your
fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.
Footnotes:
a. Zephaniah 3:17 Gk
Syr: Heb he will be silent
b. Zephaniah 3:18 Gk
Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
c. Zephaniah 3:18 Cn:
Heb I will remove from you; they were
Psalm 98: Praise the
Judge of the World
A Psalm.
1 O sing to the Lord a
new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his
holy arm
have gotten him victory.
2 The Lord has made
known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the
sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his
steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the
earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to
the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing
praises.
5 Sing praises to the
Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the
sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the
Lord.
7 Let the sea roar, and
all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap
their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the
Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world
with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
New Testament Reading
and Psalm
Romans 6: 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have
been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of
life.
5 For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so
that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to
sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with
Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ,
being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion
over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he
lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and
alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 114: God’s Wonders
at the Exodus
1 When Israel went out
from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange
language,
2 Judah became God’s[a]
sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and
fled;
Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped
like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why is it, O sea, that
you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you
skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at
the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into
a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 114:2 Heb his
Gospel
Matthew 28: The
Resurrection of Jesus
1 After the sabbath, as
the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went
to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of
the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear
of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the
women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was
crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the
place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been
raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there
you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly
with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met
them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and
worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 28:6 Other
ancient authorities read the Lord
b. Matthew 28:7 Other
ancient authorities lack from the dead
John Wesley’s
Notes-Commentary for
Old Testament Readings
and Psalms
Genesis 1:1-2:4
Verse 1
[1] In the beginning God
created the heaven and the earth.
Observe here. 1. The
effect produced, The heaven and the earth - That is, the world, including the
whole frame and furniture of the universe. But 'tis only the visible part of
the creation that Moses designs to give an account of. Yet even in this there are
secrets which cannot be fathomed, nor accounted for. But from what we see of
heaven and earth, we may infer the eternal power and godhead of the great
Creator. And let our make and place, as men, mind us of our duty, as
Christians, which is always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our
feet. Observe 2. The author and cause of this great work, God. The Hebrew word
is Elohim; which (1.) seems to mean The Covenant God, being derived from a word
that signifies to swear. (2.) The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost. The plural name of God in Hebrew, which speaks of him as
many, tho' he be but one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a favour of death unto
death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it is to us a favour of life unto
life, confirming our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity, which, tho' but
darkly intimated in the Old Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. Observe
3. The manner how this work was effected; God created, that is, made it out of
nothing. There was not any pre-existent matter out of which the world was
produced. The fish and fowl were indeed produced out of the waters, and the
beasts and man out of the earth; but that earth and those waters were made out
of nothing. Observe 4. When this work was produced; In the beginning - That is,
in the beginning of time. Time began with the production of those beings that
are measured by time. Before the beginning of time there was none but that
Infinite Being that inhabits eternity. Should we ask why God made the world no
sooner, we should but darken counsel by words without knowledge; for how could
there be sooner or later in eternity?
Verse 2
[2] And the earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Where we have an account
of the first matter, and the first Mover. 1. A chaos was the first matter. 'Tis
here called the earth, (tho' the earth, properly taken, was not made 'till the
third day, Genesis 1:10) because it did most resemble that which was afterwards
called earth, a heavy unwieldy mass. 'Tis also called the deep, both for its
vastness, and because the waters which were afterwards separated from the earth
were now mixed with it. This mighty bulk of matter was it, out of which all
bodies were afterwards produced. The Creator could have made his work perfect
at first, but by this gradual proceeding he would shew what is ordinarily the
method of his providence, and grace. This chaos, was without form and void.
Tohu and Bohu, confusion and emptiness, so those words are rendered, Isaiah
34:11. 'Twas shapeless, 'twas useless, 'twas without inhabitants, without
ornaments; the shadow or rough draught of things to come. To those who have
their hearts in heaven, this lower world, in comparison of the upper, still
appears to be confusion and emptiness. And darkness was upon the face of the
deep-God did not create this darkness, (as he is said to create the darkness of
affliction, Isaiah 45:7.) for it was only the want of light. 2. The Spirit of
God was the first Mover; He moved upon the face of the waters - He moved upon
the face of the deep, as the hen gathereth her chicken under her wings, and
hovers over them, to warm and cherish them, Matthew 23:37 as the eagle stirs up
her nest, and fluttereth over her young, ('tis the same word that is here used)
Deuteronomy 32:11.
Verses 3-5
[3] And God said, Let
there be light: and there was light. [4] And God saw the light, that it was
good: and God divided the light from the darkness. [5] And God called the light
Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the
first day.
We have here a farther
account of the first day's work. In which observe, 1. That the first of all
visible beings which God created was light, the great beauty and blessing of
the universe: like the first-born, it doth, of all visible beings, most
resemble its great parent in purity and power, brightness and beneficence. 2.
That the light was made by the word of God's power; He said, Let there be light
- He willed it, and it was done; there was light - Such a copy as exactly
answered the original idea in the eternal mind. 3. That the light which God
willed, he approved of.
God saw the light, that
it was good — 'Twas exactly as he designed it; and it was fit to answer the end
for which he designed it. 4. That God divided the light from the darkness - So
put them asunder as they could never be joined together: and yet he divided
time between them, the day for light, and the night for darkness, in a constant
succession. Tho' the darkness was now scattered by the light, yet it has its
place, because it has its use; for as the light of the morning befriends the
business of the day, so the shadows of the evening befriend the repose of the
night. God has thus divided between light and darkness, because he would daily
mind us that this is a world of mixtures and changes. In heaven there is
perpetual light, and no darkness; in hell utter darkness, and no light: but in
this world they are counter-changed, and we pass daily from one to another;
that we may learn to expect the like vicissitudes in the providence of God. 5.
That God divided them from each other by distinguishing names. He called the
light Day, and the darkness he called night - He gave them names as Lord of
both. He is the Lord of time, and will be so 'till day and night shall come to
an end, and the stream of time be swallowed up in the ocean of eternity. 6.
That this was the first day's work, The evening and the morning were the first
day - The darkness of the evening was before the light of the morning, that it
might set it off, and make it shine the brighter.
Verses 6-8
[6] And God said, Let
there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters
from the waters. [7] And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which
were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it
was so. [8] And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the
morning were the second day.
We have here an account
of the second day's work, the creation of the firmament. In which observe, 1.
The command of God; Let there be a firmament - An expansion; so the Hebrew word
signifies, like a sheet spread, or a curtain drawn out. This includes all that
is visible above the earth, between it and the third heavens, the air, its
higher, middle, and lower region, the celestial globe, and all the orbs of
light above; it reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for
that is called here the firmament of heaven, Genesis 1:14,15, and as low as the
place where the birds fly for that also is called the firmament of heaven,
Genesis 1:20. 2. The creation of it: and God made the firmament. 3. The design
of it; to divide the waters from the waters-That is, to distinguish between the
waters that are wrapt up in the clouds, and those that cover the sea; the
waters in the air, and those in the earth. 4. The naming it; He called the
firmament Heaven - 'Tis the visible heaven, the pavement of the holy city. The
height of the heavens should mind us of God's supremacy, and the infinite
distance that is between us and him; the brightness of the heavens, and their
purity, should mind us of his majesty, and perfect holiness; the vastness of
the heavens, and their encompassing the earth, and influence upon it, should
mind us of his immensity and universal providence.
Verses 9-13
[9] And God said, Let
the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the
dry land appear: and it was so. [10] And God called the dry land Earth; and the
gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
[11] And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and
the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the
earth: and it was so. [12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding
seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself,
after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [13] And the evening and the
morning were the third day.
The third day's work is
related in these verses; the forming the sea and the dry land, and making the
earth fruitful. Hitherto the power of the Creator had been employed about the
upper part of the visible world; now he descends to this lower world, designed
for the children of men, both for their habitation, and their maintenance. And
here we have an account of the fitting of it for both; the building of their
house, and the spreading of their table. Observe, 1. How the earth was prepared
to be a habitation for man by the gathering of the waters together, and making
the dry land appear. Thus, instead of that confusion which was, when earth and
water were mixed in one great mass; now there is order, by such a separation as
rendered them both useful. (1.) The waters which covered the earth were ordered
to retire, and to gather into one place, viz. those hollows which were fitted
for their reception. The waters thus lodged in their proper place, he called
Seas; for though they are many, in distant regions, yet either above ground or
under ground, they have communication with each other, and so they are one, and
the common receptacle of waters, into which all the rivers run. (2.) The dry
land was made to appear, and emerge out of the waters, and was called Earth.
Observe, 2. How the earth was furnished for the support of man, Genesis
1:11,12. Present provision was made, by the immediate products of the earth,
which, in obedience to God's command, was no sooner made but it became fruitful.
Provision was likewise made for time to come, by the perpetuating of the
several species of vegetables, every one having its seed in itself after its
kind, that during the continuance of man upon the earth, food might be fetched
out of the earth, for his use and benefit.
Verses 14-19
[14] And God said, Let
there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the
night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
[15] And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light
upon the earth: and it was so. [16] And God made two great lights; the greater
light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the
stars also. [17] And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light
upon the earth, [18] And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide
the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. [19] And the evening
and the morning were the fourth day.
This is the history of
the fourth day's work, the creating the sun, moon and stars. Of this we have an
account, 1. In general, verse 14, 15. where we have, (1.) The command given
concerning them.
Let there be lights in
the firmament of heaven — God had said, Genesis 1:3 Let there be light, and
there was light; but that was, as it were, a chaos of light, scattered and
confused; now it was collected and made into several luminaries, and so
rendered both more glorious and more serviceable. (2.) The use they were
intended to be of to this earth. [1.] They must be for the distinction of
times, of day and night, summer and winter. [2.] They must be for the direction
of actions: they are for signs of the change of weather, that the husbandman
may order his affairs with discretion. They do also give light upon the earth -
That we may walk John 11:9 and work John 9:4 according as the duty of every day
requires. The lights of heaven do not shine for themselves, nor for the world
of spirits above, they need them not; but they shine for us, and for our
pleasure and advantage. Lord, what is man that he should be thus regarded,
Psalms 8:3,4. 2. In particular, Genesis 1:16,17,18, The lights of heaven are
the sun, moon and stars, and these all are the work of God's hands. (1.) The
sun is the greatest light of all, and the most glorious and useful of all the
lamps of heaven; a noble instance of the Creator's wisdom, power and goodness,
and an invaluable blessing to the creatures of this lower world. (2.) The moon
is a lesser light, and yet is here reckoned one of the greater lights, because,
though in regard of its magnitude, it is inferior to many of the stars, yet in
respect of its usefulness to the earth, it is more excellent than they. (3.) He
made the stars also - Which are here spoken of only in general; for the scriptures
were written not to gratify our curiosity, but to lead us to God. Now, these
lights are said to rule, Genesis 1:16,18; not that they have a supreme dominion
as God has, but they are rulers under him. Here the lesser light, the moon, is
said to rule the night; but Psalms 136:9 the stars are mentioned as sharers in
that government, the moon and stars to rule by night. No more is meant, but
that they give light, Jeremiah 31:35. The best and most honourable way of
ruling is, by giving light, and doing good.
Verses 20-23
[20] And God said, Let
the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl
that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. [21] And God
created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters
brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his
kind: and God saw that it was good. [22] And God blessed them, saying, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply
in the earth. [23] And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
Each day hitherto hath
produced very excellent beings, but we do not read of the creation of any
living creature till the fifth day. The work of creation not only proceeded
gradually from one thing to another, but advanced gradually from that which was
less excellent, to that which was more so. 'Twas on the fifth day that the fish
and fowl were created, and both out of the waters. Observe, 1. The making of
the fish and fowl at first. Genesis 1:20,21 God commanded them to be produced,
he said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly - The fish in the waters, and
the fowl out of them. This command he himself executed, God created great
whales, etc.-Insects which are as various as any species of animals, and their
structure as curious, were part of this day's work, some of them being allied
to the fish, and others to the fowl. Notice is here taken of the various
species of fish and fowl, each after their kind; and of the great numbers of
both that were produced, for the waters brought forth abundantly; and in
particular of great whales the largest of fishes, whose bulk and strength, are
remarkable proofs of the power and greatness of the Creator. Observe, 2, The
blessing of them in order to their continuance. Life is a wasting thing, its
strength is not the strength of stones; therefore the wise Creator not only
made the individuals, but provided for the propagating of the several species,
Genesis 1:22.
God blessed them,
saying, Be fruitful, and multiply — Fruitfullness is the effect of God's
blessing, and must be ascribed to it; the multiplying of the fish and fowl from
year to year, is still the fruit of this blessing here.
Verses 24-25
[24] And God said, Let
the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping
thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. [25] And God made
the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every
thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was
good.
We have here the first
part of the sixth day's work. The sea was the day before replenished with fish,
and the air with fowl; and this day are made the beasts of the earth, cattle,
and the creeping things that pertain to the earth. Here, as before, (1.) The
Lord gave the word: he said, Let The earth bring forth - Let these creatures
come into being upon the earth, and out of it, in their respective kinds. 2. He
also did the work; he made them all after their kind - Not only of divers shapes,
but of divers natures, manners, food, and fashions: In all which appears the
manifold wisdom of the Creator.
Verses 26-28
[26] And God said, Let
us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
We have here the second
part of the sixth day's work, the creation of man, which we are in a special
manner concerned to take notice of. Observe, 1. That man was made last of all
the creatures, which was both an honour and a favour to him: an honour, for the
creation was to advance from that which was less perfect, to that which was
more so and a favour, for it was not fit he should be lodged in the palace
designed for him, till it was completely fitted and furnished for his
reception. Man, as soon as he was made, had the whole visible creation before
him, both to contemplate, and to take the comfort of. 2. That man's creation
was a mere signal act of divine wisdom and power, than that of the other
creatures. The narrative of it is introduced with solemnity, and a manifest
distinction from the rest. Hitherto it had been said, Let there be light, and
Let there be a firmament: but now the word of command is turned into a word of
consultation, Let us make man - For whose sake the rest of the creatures were
made. Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made.
Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth must be put together in him, and he must be
allied to both worlds. And therefore God himself not only undertakes to make,
but is pleased so to express himself, as if he called a council to consider of
the making of him; Let us make man - The three persons of the Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, consult about it, and concur in it; because man, when he
was made, was to be dedicated and devoted to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 3.
That man was made in God's image, and after his likeness; two words to express
the same thing. God's image upon man, consists, 1. In his nature, not that of
his body, for God has not a body, but that of his soul. The soul is a spirit,
an intelligent, immortal spirit, an active spirit, herein resembling God, the
Father of spirits, and the soul of the world. 2. In his place and authority.
Let us make man in our image, and let him have dominion. As he has the
government of the inferior creatures, he is as it were God's representative on
earth. Yet his government of himself by the freedom of his will, has in it more
of God's image, than his government of the creatures. 3. And chiefly in his
purity and rectitude. God's image upon man consists in knowledge,
righteousness, and true holiness, Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10. He was
upright, Ecclesiastes 7:29. He had an habitual conformity of all his natural
powers to the whole will of God. His understanding saw divine things clearly,
and there were no errors in his knowledge: his will complied readily and
universally with the will of God; without reluctancy: his affections were all regular,
and he had no inordinate appetites or passions: his thoughts were easily fixed
to the best subjects, and there was no vanity or ungovernableness in them. And
all the inferior powers were subject to the dictates of the superior. Thus
holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of God upon them.
But how art thou fallen, O son of the morning? How is this image of God upon
man defaced! How small are the remains of it, and how great the ruins of it!
The Lord renew it upon our souls by his sanctifying grace! 4. That man was made
male and female, and blessed with fruitfulness. He created him male and female,
Adam and Eve: Adam first out of earth, and Eve out of his side. God made but
one male and one female, that all the nations of men might know themselves to
be made of one blood, descendants, from one common stock, and might thereby be
induced to love one another. God having made them capable of transmitting the
nature they had received, said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth - Here he gave them, 1. A large inheritance; replenish the earth, in
which God has set man to be the servant of his providence, in the government of
the inferior creatures, and as it were the intelligence of this orb; to be
likewise the collector of his praises in this lower world, and lastly, to be a
probationer for a better state. 2. A numerous lasting family to enjoy this
inheritance; pronouncing a blessing upon them, in the virtue of which, their
posterity should extend to the utmost corners of the earth, and continue to the
utmost period of time. 5. That God gave to man a dominion over the inferior
creatures, over fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air - Though man
provides for neither, he has power over both, much more over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth - God designed hereby to put an honour upon man,
that he might find himself the more strongly obliged to bring honour to his
Maker.
Verses 29-30
[29] And God said,
Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all
the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;
to you it shall be for meat. [30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every
fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there
is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
We have here the third
part of the sixth day's work, which was not any new creation, but a gracious
provision of food for all flesh, Psalms 136:25.-Here is, 1. Food provided for
man, Genesis 1:29. herbs and fruits must be his meat, including corn, and all
the products of the earth. And before the earth was deluged, much more before
it was cursed for man's sake, its fruits no doubt, were more pleasing to the
taste, and more strengthening and nourishing to the body. 2. Food provided for
the beasts, Genesis 1:30. Doth God take care of oxen? Yes, certainly, he
provides food convenient for them; and not for oxen only that were used in his
sacrifices, and man's service, but even the young lions and the young ravens
are the care of his providence, they ask and have their meat from God.
Verse 31
[31] And God saw every
thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the
morning were the sixth day.
We have here the
approbation and conclusion of the whole work of creation. Observe, 1. The
review God took of his work, he saw every thing that he had made - So he doth
still; all the works of his hands are under his eye; he that made all sees all.
2. The complacency God took in his work. When we come to review our works we
find to our shame, that much has been very bad; but when God reviewed his, all
was very good. 1. It was good. Good, for it is all agreeable to the mind of the
creator. Good, for it answers the end of its creation. Good, for it is
serviceable to man, whom God had appointed lord of the visible creation. Good,
for it is all for God's glory; there is that in the whole visible creation
which is a demonstration of God's being and perfections, and which tends to
beget in the soul of man a religious regard to him. 2. It was very good - Of
each day's work (except the second) it was said that it was good, but now it is
very good. For, 1. Now man was made, who was the chief of the ways of God, the
visible image of the Creator's glory, 2. Now All was made, every part was good,
but all together very good. The glory and goodness, the beauty and harmony of
God's works both of providence and grace, as this of creation, will best appear
when they are perfected. 3. The time when this work was concluded.
The evening and the
morning were the sixth day — So that in six days God made the world. We are not
to think but that God could have made the world in an instant: but he did it in
six days, that he might shew himself a free agent, doing his own work, both in
his own way, and in his own time; that his wisdom, power and goodness, might
appear to us, and be meditated upon by us, the more distinctly; and that he
might set us an example of working six days, and resting the seventh. And now
as God reviewed his work, let us review our meditations upon it; let us stir up
ourselves, and all that is within us, to worship him that made the, heaven,
earth, and sea, and the fountains of waters. All his works in all places of his
dominion bless him, and therefore bless thou the Lord, O my soul.
Verses 1-3
[1] Thus the heavens and
the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [2] And on the seventh day
God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all
his work which he had made. [3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified
it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and
made.
We have here, (1.) The
settlement of the kingdom of nature, in God's resting from the work of creation,
Genesis 2:1,2. Where observe, 1. That the creatures made both in heaven and
earth, are the hosts or armies of them, which speaks them numerous, but
marshalled, disciplined, and under command. God useth them as his hosts for the
defence of his people, and the destruction of his enemies. 2. That the heavens
and the earth are finished pieces, and so are all the creatures in them. So
perfect is God's work that nothing can be added to it or taken from it,
Ecclesiastes 3:14. 3. That after the end of the first six days, God ceased from
all work of creation. He hath so ended his work, as that though in his
providence he worketh hitherto, John 5:17. preserving and governing all the
creatures, yet he doth not make any new species of creatures. 4. That the eternal
God, tho' infinitely happy in himself, yet took a satisfaction in the work of
his own hands. He did not rest as one weary, but as one well-pleased with the
instances of his own goodness. (2.) The commencement of the kingdom of grace,
in the sanctification of the sabbath day, Genesis 2:3. He rested on that day,
and took a complacency in his creatures, and then sanctified it, and appointed
us on that day to rest and take a complacency in the Creator; and his rest is
in the fourth commandment made a reason for ours after six days labour.
Observe, 1. That the solemn observation of one day in seven as a day of holy
rest, and holy work, is the indispensible duty of all those to whom God has
revealed his holy sabbaths. 2. That sabbaths are as ancient as the world. 3.
That the sabbath of the Lord is truly honourable, and we have reason to honour
it; honour it for the sake of its antiquity, its great author, and the
sanctification of the first sabbath by the holy God himself, and in obedience
to him, by our first parents in innocency.
Verses 4-7
[4] These are the
generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day
that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, [5] And every plant of the
field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew:
for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a
man to till the ground. [6] But there went up a mist from the earth, and
watered the whole face of the ground. [7] And the LORD God formed man of the
dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living soul.
In these verses, 1. Here
is a name given to the Creator, which we have not yet met with, Jehovah. The
LORD in capital letters, is constantly used in our English translation, for
Jehovah. This is that great and incommunicable name of God, which speaks his having
his being of himself, and his giving being to all things. It properly means, He
that was, and that is, and that is to come. 2. Further notice taken of the
production of plants and herbs, because they were made to be food for man. 3. A
more particular account of the creation of man, Genesis 2:7. Man is a little
world, consisting of heaven and earth, soul and body. Here we have all account
of the original of both, and the putting of both together: The Lord God, the
great fountain of being and power, formed man. Of the other creatures it is
said, they were created and made; but of man, that he was formed, which notes a
gradual process in the work with great accuracy and exactness. To express the
creation of this new thing, he takes a new word: a word (some think) borrowed
from the potter's forming his vessel upon the wheel. The body of man is
curiously wrought. And the soul takes its rise from the breath of heaven. It
came immediately from God; he gave it to be put into the body, Ecclesiastes
12:7 as afterwards he gave the tables of stone of his own writing to be put
into the ark. 'Tis by it that man is a living soul, that is, a living man. The
body would be a worthless, useless carcase, if the soul did not animate it.
Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26
Verse 2
[2] O give thanks unto
the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The God of gods — Who is
infinitely superior to all that are called gods, whether angels, or princes, or
idols.
Verse 22
[22] Even an heritage
unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Israel — He speaks of
all that people as of one man, because they were united together in one body in
the worship of God.
Verse 25
[25] Who giveth food to
all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Food — To all living
creatures. For which God deserves great praises, which the psalmist teaches us
to render to God for them, because those who are most concerned, either cannot,
or do not perform this duty.
Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18
Verse 1
[1] And the LORD said
unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous
before me in this generation.
Here is a gracious
invitation of Noah and his family into a place of safety, now the flood of
waters was coming.
For thee have I seen
righteous before me in this generation — Those are righteous indeed that are
righteous before God; that have not only the form of godliness by which they
appear righteous before men, who may easily be imposed upon; but the power of
it, by which they approve themselves to God, who searcheth the heart.
Verse 2
[2] Of every clean beast
thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that
are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Here are necessary
orders given concerning the brute creatures that they were to be preserved
alive with Noah in the ark. He must carefully preserve every species, that no
tribe, no, not the least considerable, might entirely perish out of the
creation. Observe in this: (1.) God's care for man. Doth God take care for
oxen? 1 Corinthians 9:9, or was it not rather for man's sake that this care was
taken? (2.) Even the unclean beasts were preserved alive in the ark, that were
least valuable. For God's tender mercies are over all his works, and not only
over those that are of most use. (3.) Yet more of the clean were preserved than
of the unclean. 1. Because the clean were most for the service of man; and
therefore in favour to him, more of them were preserved and are still
propagated. Thanks be to God there are not herds of lions as there are of oxen,
nor flocks of tigers as there are of sheep. 2. Because the clean were for
sacrifice to God; and therefore, in honour to him, more of them were preserved,
three couple for breed, and the odd seventh for sacrifice, Genesis 8:20.
Verse 4
[4] For yet seven days,
and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and
every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the
earth.
Yet seven days and I
will cause it to rain — It shall be seven days yet before I do it, After the
120 years were expired, God grants them a reprieve of seven days longer, both
to shew how slow he is to anger, and to give them some farther space for
repentance. But all in vain; these seven days were trifled away after all the
rest, they continued secure until the day that the flood came. While Noah told
them of the judgment at a distance, they were tempted to put off their
repentance: but now he is ordered to tell them that it is at the door; that
they have but one week more to turn them in, to see if that will now at last
awaken them to consider the things that belong to their peace. But it is common
for those that have been careless for their souls during the years of their
health, when they have looked upon death at a distance, to be as careless
during the days, the seven days of their sickness, when they see it
approaching, their hearts being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Verse 11
[11] In the six
hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the
month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the
windows of heaven were opened.
The six hundredth year
of Noah's life, was 1656 years from the creation.
In the second month, the
seventeenth day of the month — Which is reckoned to be about the beginning of
November; so that Noah had had a harvest just before, from which to victual his
ark.
The same day the
fountains of the great deep were broken up — There needed no new creation of
waters; God has laid up the deep in store-houses, Psalms 33:7, and now he broke
up those stores. God had, in the creation, set bars and doors to the waters of
the sea, that they might not return to cover the earth, Psalms 104:9; Job
38:9-11, and now he only removed these ancient mounds and fences, and the
waters of the sea returned to cover the earth, as they had done at first,
Genesis 1:9. And the windows of heaven were opened - And the waters which were
above the firmament were poured out upon the world; those treasures which God
has reserved against the time of trouble, the day of battle and war, Job
38:22,23. The rain, which ordinarily descends in drops, then came down in
streams. We read, Job 26:8. That God binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not rent under them; but now the bond was loosed, the cloud
was rent, and such rains descended as were never known before or since.
Verse 12
[12] And the rain was
upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
It rained without
intermission or abatement, forty days and forty nights - And that upon the
whole earth at once.
Verse 14
[14] They, and every
beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his
kind, every bird of every sort.
And every beast after
his kind — According to the phrase used in the history of the creation, Genesis
1:21,24,25, to intimate, that just as many species as were created at first
were saved now, and no more.
Genesis 8:6-18
Verse 7
[7] And he sent forth a
raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the
earth.
Noah sent forth a raven
through the window of the ark, which went forth, as the Hebrew phrase is, going
forth and returning, that is, flying about, but returning to the ark for rest;
probably not in it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction: therefore,
Verse 8
[8] Also he sent forth a
dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the
ground;
He sent forth a dove —
Which returned the first time with no good news, but probably wet and dirty;
but the second time she brought an olive leaf in her bill, which appeared to be
fresh plucked off; a plain indication that now the trees began to appear above
water. Note here, that Noah set forth the dove the second time, seven days
after the first time, and the third time was after seven days too: and probably
the first sending of her out was seven days after the sending forth of the
raven. The olive branch is an emblem of peace.
Verse 13
[13] And it came to pass
in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the
month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the
covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
Noah removed the
covering of the ark — Not the whole covering, but so much as would suffice to
give him a prospect of the earth about it: and behold the face of the ground
was dry.
Verse 14
[14] And in the second
month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
The earth was dried — So
as to be a fit habitation for Noah.
Genesis 9:8-13
Verse 9
[9] And I, behold, I
establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
We have here the general
establishment of God's covenant with this new world, and the extent of that
covenant.
Verse 11
[11] And I will
establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by
the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the
earth.
There shall not any more
be a flood — God had drowned the world once, and still it is as provoking as
ever; yet he will never drown it any more, for he deals not with us according
to our sins. This promise of God keeps the sea and clouds in their decreed
place, and sets them gates and bars, Hitherto they shall come, Job 38:10,11. If
the sea should flow but for a few days, as it doth twice every day for a few
hours, what desolations would it make? So would the clouds, if such showers as
we have sometimes seen, were continued long. But God by flowing seas, and
sweeping rains, shews what he could do in wrath; and yet by preserving the
earth from being deluged between both, shews what he can do in mercy, and will
do in truth.
Verse 13
[13] I do set my bow in
the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
I set my bow in the
clouds — The rainbow, 'tis likely was seen in the clouds before, but was never
a seal of the covenant 'till now. Now, concerning this seal of the covenant,
observe, (1.) This seal is affixed with repeated assurances of the truth of
that promise, which it was designed to be the ratification of; I do set my bow
in the cloud, Genesis 9:13. It shall be seen in the cloud, Genesis 9:14. and it
shall be a token of the covenant, Genesis 9:12,13. And I will remember my
covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, Genesis 9:15. Nay, as
if the eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it that I may
remember the everlasting covenant, Genesis 9:16. (2.) The rainbow appears when
the clouds are most disposed to wet; when we have most reason to fear the rain
prevailing, God shews this seal of the promise that it shall not prevail. (3.)
The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which imitates mercy
remembered in the midst of wrath, and the clouds are hemmed as it were with the
rainbow, that it may not overspread the heavens, for the bow is coloured rain,
or the edges of a cloud gilded. As God looks upon the bow that he may remember
the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant
with faith and thankfulness.
Psalm 46
Verse 2
[2] Therefore will not
we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea;
Though — Though there
should be nothing but confusion, and desolations round about us: which are
often expressed by such metaphors.
Verse 4
[4] There is a river,
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the
tabernacles of the most High.
A river — This may
design the gracious presence, and blessing of the Lord, which is frequently
described under the name of waters.
Make glad — Shall not
barely preserve it from danger, but give great occasion for rejoicing and
thanksgiving.
The city — Jerusalem,
the place where God's holy tabernacle is settled.
Verse 7
[7] The LORD of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. /*Selah*/.
Raged — Against God, and
against his people.
Uttered — He spake to
them in his wrath.
The earth — The inhabitants
of the earth were consumed.
Verse 8
[8] Come, behold the
works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Desolations — Among
those who were vexatious to God's people.
Verse 9
[9] He maketh wars to
cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in
sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
To cease — He hath
settled as in a firm and well-grounded peace.
The land — Of Israel:
from one end of it to the other.
The bow — The bows and
spears, and chariots of their enemies.
Verse 11
[11] The LORD of hosts
is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. /*Selah*/.
Be still — Stir no more
against my people.
God — The only true and
almighty God; your gods are but dumb and impotent idols.
Exalted — I will make
myself glorious by my great and wonderful works.
Genesis 22:1-18
Verse 1
[1] And it came to pass
after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and
he said, Behold, here I am.
Here is the trial of
Abraham's faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious,
after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when by it
he left his country: then it appeared that he loved God better than his father;
now, that he loved him better than his son.
After these things —
After all the other exercises he had had, all the difficulties he had gone
through: now perhaps he was beginning to think the storms were blown over but
after all, this encounter comes, which is stranger than any yet.
God did tempt Abraham —
Not to draw him to sin, so Satan tempts; but to discover his graces, how strong
they were, that they might be found to praise and honour and glory. The trial
itself: God appeared to him as he had formerly done, called him by name
Abraham, that name which had been given him in ratification of the promise:
Abraham, like a good servant, readily answered, Here am I; what saith my Lord
unto his servant? Probably he expected some renewed promise, like those,
Genesis 15:1; 17:1, but to his great amazement that which God hath to say to
him is in short, Abraham, go kill thy son: and this command is given him in
such aggravating language as makes the temptation abundantly more grievous.
When God speaks, Abraham, no doubt, takes notice of every word, and listens
attentively to it: and every word here is a sword in his bones; the trial is
steel'd with trying phrases. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that he should
afflict? No, it is not; yet when Abraham's faith is to be tried, God seems to
take pleasure in the aggravation of the trial.
Verse 2
[2] And he said, Take
now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land
of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains
which I will tell thee of.
And he said, take thy
son — Not thy bullocks and thy lambs; how willingly would Abraham have parted
with them by thousands to redeem Isaac! Not thy servant, no, not the steward of
thine house.
Thine only son — Thine
only son by Sarah. Ishmael was lately cast out, to the grief of Abraham, and
now Isaac only was left and must he go too? Yes: take Isaac, him by name, thy
laughter, that son indeed. Yea, that son whom thou lovest - The trial was of Abraham's
love to God, and therefore it must be in a beloved son: in the Hebrew 'tis
expressed more emphatically, and I think might very well be read thus, Take now
that son of thine, that only son of thine, whom thou lovest, that Isaac.
And get thee into the
land of Moriah — Three days journey off: so that he might have time to consider
it, and if he do it, must do it deliberately.
And offer him for a
burnt offering — He must not only kill his son, but kill him as a sacrifice,
with all that sedateness and composedness of mind, with which he used to offer
his burnt-offering.
Verse 3
[3] And Abraham rose up
early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with
him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up,
and went unto the place of which God had told him.
The several steps of
this obedience, all help to magnify it, and to shew that he was guided by
prudence, and governed by faith, in the whole transaction. (1.) He rises early
- Probably the command was given in the visions of the night, and early the
next morning he sets himself about it, did not delay, did not demur. Those that
do the will of God heartily will do it speedily. (2.) He gets things ready for
a sacrifice, and it should seem, with his own hands, cleaves the wood for the
burnt-offering. (3.) He left his servants at some distance off, left they
should have created him some disturbance in his strange oblation. Thus when
Christ was entering upon his agony in the garden, he took only three of his
disciples with him.
Verse 6
[6] And Abraham took the
wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the
fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
Isaac's carrying the
wood was a type of Christ, who carried his own cross, while Abraham, with a
steady and undaunted resolution, carried the fatal knife and fire.
Verse 7
[7] And Isaac spake unto
Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he
said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Behold the fire and the
wood, but where is the lamb? — This is, 1. A trying question to Abraham; how
could he endure to think that Isaac is himself the lamb? 2. 'Tis a teaching
question to us all, that when we are going to worship God, we should seriously
consider whether we have every thing ready, especially the lamb for a
burnt-offering. Behold, the fire is ready; that is, the Spirit's assistance,
and God's acceptance: the wood is ready, the instituted ordinances designed to
kindle our affections, which indeed, without the Spirit, are but like wood
without fire, but the Spirit works by them. All things are now ready, but where
is the lamb? Where is the heart? Is that ready to be offered up to God, to ascend
to him as a burnt-offering?
Verse 8
[8] And Abraham said, My
son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of
them together.
My son, God will provide
himself a lamb — This was the language either, 1. Of his obedience; we must
offer the lamb which God has appointed now to be offered; thus giving him this
general rule of submission to the divine will to prepare him for the application
of it to himself. Or, 2. Of his faith; whether he meant it so or no, this
proved to be the meaning of it; a sacrifice was provided instead of Isaac.
Thus, 1. Christ the great sacrifice of atonement was of God's providing: when
none in heaven or earth could have found a lamb for that burnt-offering, God
himself found the ransom. 2. All our sacrifices of acknowledgement are of God's
providing too; 'tis he that prepares the heart. The broken and contrite spirit
is a sacrifice of God, of his providing.
Verse 9
[9] And they came to the
place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the
wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the
wood.
With the same resolution
and composedness of mind, he applies himself to the compleating of this
sacrifice. After many a weary step, and with a heavy heart, he arrives at
length at the fatal place; builds the altar, an altar of earth, we may suppose,
the saddest that ever be built; lays the wood in order for Isaac's funeral
pile; and now tells him the amazing news. Isaac, for ought appears, is as
willing as Abraham; we do not find that he made any objection against it. God
commands it to be done, and Isaac has learned to submit. Yet it is necessary
that a sacrifice be bound; the great Sacrifice, which, in the fulness of time,
was to be offered up, must be bound, and therefore so must Isaac. Having bound
him he lays him upon the altar, and his hand upon the head of the sacrifice. Be
astonished, O heavens, at this, and wonder, O earth! here is an act of faith
and obedience which deserves to be a spectacle to God, angels and men;
Abraham's darling, the church's hope, the heir of promise, lies ready to bleed
and die by his own father's hands! Now this obedience of Abraham in offering up
Isaac is a lively representation, 1. Of the love of God to us, in delivering up
his only begotten Son to suffer and die for us, as a sacrifice. Abraham was
obliged both in duty and gratitude to part with Isaac and parted with him to a
friend, but God was under no obligations to us, for we were enemies. 2. Of our
duty to God in return of that love we must tread in the steps of this faith of
Abraham. God, by his word, calls us to part with all for Christ, all our sins,
tho' they have been as a right hand, or a right eye, or an Isaac; all those
things that are rivals with Christ for the sovereignity of our heart; and we
must chearfully let them all go. God, by his providence, which is truly the
voice of God, calls us to part with an Isaac sometimes, and we must do it by a
chearful resignation and submission to his holy will.
Verse 11
[11] And the angel of
the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he
said, Here am I.
The Angel of the Lord —
That is, God himself, the eternal Word, the Angel of the covenant, who was to
be the great Redeemer and Comforter.
Verse 12
[12] And he said, Lay
not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know
that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son
from me.
Lay not thine hand upon
the lad — God's time to help his people is, when they are brought to the
greatest extremity: the more eminent the danger is, and the nearer to be put in
execution, the more wonderful and the more welcome is the deliverance.
Now know I that thou
fearest God — God knew it before, but now Abraham had given a memorable
evidence of it. He need do no more, what he had done was sufficient to prove
the religious regard he had to God and his authority. The best evidence of our
fearing God is our being willing to honour him with that which is dearest to
us, and to part with all to him, or for him.
Verse 13
[13] And Abraham lifted
up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his
horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt
offering in the stead of his son.
Behold a ram — Tho' that
blessed Seed was now typified by Isaac, yet the offering of him up was
suspended 'till the latter end of the world, and in the mean time the sacrifice
of beasts was accepted, as a pledge of that expiation which should be made by
that great sacrifice. And it is observable, that the temple, the place of
sacrifice, was afterward built upon this mount Moriah, 2 Chronicles 3:1, and
mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was not far off.
Verse 14
[14] And Abraham called
the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of
the LORD it shall be seen.
And Abraham called the
place Jehovah-jireh — The Lord will provide. Probably alluding to what he had
said, Genesis 22:8.
God will provide himself
a lamb — This was purely the Lord's doing: let it be recorded for the
generations to come; that the Lord will see; he will always have his eyes upon
his people in their straits, that he may come in with seasonable succour in the
critical juncture. And that he will be seen, be seen in the mount, in he
greatest perplexities of his people; he will not only manifest but magnify his
wisdom, power and goodness in their deliverance. Where God sees and provides,
he should be seen and praised. And perhaps it may refer to God manifest in the
flesh.
Verse 15
[15] And the angel of
the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
And the Angel — Christ.
Called unto Abraham —
Probably while the ram was yet burning. Very high expressions are here of God's
favour to Abraham, above any he had yet been blessed with.
Verse 16
[16] And said, By myself
have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Because thou hast done
this thing, and hast not with-held thy son, thine only son — He lays a mighty
emphasis upon that, and Genesis 22:18, praises it as an act of obedience, in it
thou hast obeyed my voice.
By myself have I sworn —
For he could swear by no greater.
Verse 17
[17] That in blessing I
will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of
the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall
possess the gate of his enemies;
Multiplying I will
multiply thee — Those that part with any thing for God, shall have it made up
to them with unspeakable advantage. Abraham has but one son, and is willing to
part with that one in obedience to God; well, saith God, thou shalt be recompensed
with thousands and millions. Here is a promise, 1. Of the Spirit, In blessing I
will bless thee - The Gift of the Holy Ghost; the promise of the Spirit was
that blessing of Abraham which was to come upon the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ, Galatians 3:14. 2. Of the increase of the church; that believers, his
spiritual seed, should be many as the stars of heaven. 3. Of spiritual
victories; Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies - Believers by their
faith overcome the world, and triumph over all the powers of darkness. Probably
Zacharias refers to this part of the oath, Luke 1:74. That we being delivered
out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear. But the crown of
all is the last promise, 4. Of the incarnation of Christ; In thy seed (one
particular person that shall descend from thee, for he speaks not of many but
of one, as the apostle observes, Galatians 3:16.) shall all the nations of the
earth be blessed - Christ is the great blessing of the world. Abraham was ready
to give up his son for a sacrifice to the honour of God, and on that occasion
God promised to give his son a sacrifice for the salvation of man.
Psalm 16
Verse 2
[2] O my soul, thou hast
said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
To thee — Thou dost not
need me or my service, nor art capable of any advantage from it.
Verse 3
[3] But to the saints
that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
But — I bear a singular
respect and love to all saints, for thy sake, whose friends and servants they
are, and whose image they bear. This more properly agrees to David, than to
Christ, whose goodness was principally designed for, and imparted to sinners.
Verse 4
[4] Their sorrows shall
be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood
will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Sorrows — Having shewed
his affection to the servants of the true God, he now declares what an
abhorrency he has for those that worship idols.
Offerings — In which the
Gentiles used sometimes to drink part of the blood of their sacrifices.
Names — Of those other
gods mentioned before.
Verse 5
[5] The LORD is the
portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
The Lord — I rejoice in
God as my portion, and desire no better, no other felicity.
Cup — The portion which
is put into my cup, as the ancient manner was in feasts, where each had his
portion of meat, and of wine allotted to him.
Lot — My inheritance
divided to me by lot, as the custom then was.
Verse 6
[6] The lines are fallen
unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Lines — My portion,
which was measured with lines.
Are fallen — In a land
flowing with milk and honey, and above all, blessed with the presence and
knowledge of God.
Verse 7
[7] I will bless the
LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night
seasons.
The Lord — Hath inspired
that wisdom into me, by which I have chosen the Lord for my portion, and am so
fully satisfied with him.
Reins — My inward
thoughts and affections, being inspired and moved by the holy spirit.
Instruct — Direct me how
to please God, and put my whole trust in him.
Night — Even when others
are asleep, my mind is working upon God, and improving the silence and solitude
of holy meditations.
Verse 8
[8] I have set the LORD
always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
I have set — I have
always presented him to my mind, as my witness and judge, as my patron and
protector. Hitherto David seems to have spoken with respect to himself, but now
he is transported by the spirit of prophecy, and carried above himself, to
speak as a type of Christ, in whom this and the following verses were truly
accomplished. Christ as man did always set his father's will and glory before
him.
Right-hand — To
strengthen, protect, assist, and comfort me: as this assistance of God was
necessary to Christ as man.
Moved — Though the
archers shoot grievously at me, and both men and devils seek my destruction,
and God sets himself against me as an enemy, yet I am assured he will deliver
me out of all my distresses.
Verse 9
[9] Therefore my heart
is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
My glory — My tongue,
which is a man's glory and privilege, above all other living creatures.
Rejoiceth — Declares my
inward joy. For this word signifies not so much eternal joy, as the outward
demonstrations of it.
My flesh — My body shall
quietly rest in the grave.
Shall rest — in
confident assurance of its incorruption there, and of its resurrection to an
immortal life: the flesh or body is in itself, but a dead lump of clay; yet
hope is here ascribed to it figuratively, as it is to the brute creatures,
Romans 8:19.
Verse 10
[10] For thou wilt not
leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption.
Hell — In the state of
the dead.
Holy one — Me thy holy
son, whom thou hast sanctified and sent into the world. It is peculiar to
Christ, to be called the holy one of God.
To see — To be corrupted
or putrefied in the grave, as the bodies of others are.
Verse 11
[11] Thou wilt shew me
the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there
are pleasures for evermore.
Life — Thou wilt raise
me from the grave, and conduct me to the place and state of everlasting
felicity.
Presence — In that
heavenly paradise, where thou art gloriously present, where thou dost clearly
and fully discover the light of thy countenance; whereas in this life thou
hidest thy face and shewest us only thy back-parts.
Right-hand — Which he
mentions as a place of the greatest honour, the place where the saints are
placed at the last day, and where Christ himself is said to sit, Psalms 110:1.
Pleasures — All our joys
are empty and defective: But in heaven there is fulness of joy. Our pleasures
here are transient and momentary; but those at God's right hand are pleasures
for evermore. For they are the pleasures of immortal souls, in the enjoyment of
an eternal God.
Exodus 14:10-31
Verse 10
[10] And when Pharaoh
drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the
Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of
Israel cried out unto the LORD.
They were sore afraid —
They knew the strength of the enemy, and their own weakness; numerous indeed
they were, but all foot, unarmed, undisciplined, dispirited, by long servitude,
and now pent up, so that they could not escape. On one hand was Pi-hahiroth, a
range of craggy rocks unpassable; on the other hand were Migdol and
Baal-zephon, forts upon the frontiers of Egypt; before them was the sea, behind
them were the Egyptians; so that there was no way open for them but upwards,
and thence their deliverance came.
Verse 13
[13] And Moses said unto
the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which
he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye
shall see them again no more for ever.
Moses answered not these
fools according to their folly: Instead of chiding he comforts them, and with
an admirable pretence of mind, not disheartened either by the threatenings of
Egypt, or the tremblings of Israel, stills their murmuring, Fear ye not, It is
our duty, when we cannot get out of our troubles, yet to get above our fears,
so that they may only serve to quicken our prayers and endeavours, but may not
prevail to silence our faith and hope. Stand still, and think not to save
yourselves either by fighting or flying; wait God's orders, and observe them;
Compose yourselves, by an entire confidence in God, into a peaceful prospect of
the great salvation God is now about to work for you. Hold your peace, you need
not so much as give a shout against the enemy: the work shall be done without
any concurrence of yours. In times of great difficulty, it is our wisdom to
keep our spirits calm, quiet, and sedate, for then we are in the best frame
both to do our own work, and to consider the work of God.
Verse 15
[15] And the LORD said
unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel,
that they go forward:
Wherefore criest thou
unto me — Moses though he was assured of a good issue, yet did not neglect
prayer. We read not of one word he said in prayer, but he lifted up his heart
to God, and God well understood, and took notice of. Moses's silent prayer
prevailed more with God, than Israel's loud out-cries. But is God displeased
with Moses for praying? No, he asks this question, Wherefore criest thou unto
me? Wherefore shouldst thou press thy petition any farther, when it is already
granted? Moses has something else to do besides praying, he is to command the
hosts of Israel.
Speak to them that they
go forward — Some think Moses had prayed not so much for their deliverance, he
was assured of that; as for the pardon of their murmurings, and God's ordering
them to go forward, was an intimation of the pardon. Moses bid them stand still
and expect orders from God: and now orders are given. They thought they must
have been directed either to the right hand, or to the left; no, saith God,
speak to them to go forward, directly to the sea-side; as if there had lain a
fleet of transport ships ready for them to embark in. Let the children of
Israel go as far as they can upon dry ground, and then God will divide the sea.
The same power could have congealed the waters for them to pass over, but infinite
wisdom chose rather to divide the waters for them to pass through, for that way
of salvation is always pitched upon which is most humbling.
Verse 19
[19] And the angel of
God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and
the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
The angel of God — Whose ministry was made use
of in the pillar of cloud and fire, went from before the camp of Israel, where
they did not now need a guide; there was no danger of missing their way through
the sea, and came behind them, where now they needed a guard, the Egyptians
being just ready to seize the
hindmost of them. There it was of use to the Israelites, not only to protect
them, but to light them through the sea; and at the same time it confounded the
Egyptians, so that they lost sight of their prey, just when they were ready to
lay hands on it. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side
towards sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side towards those that are
Israelites indeed.
Verse 21
[21] And Moses stretched
out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong
east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were
divided.
We have here the history
of that work of wonder which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New
Testament. An instance of God's almighty power in dividing the sea, and opening
a passage through the waters. It was a bay, or gulf, or arm of the sea, two or
three leagues over. The God of nature has not tied himself to its laws, but
when he pleases dispenseth with them, and then the fire doth not burn, nor the
water flow. They went through the sea to the opposite shore; they walked upon
dry land in the midst of the sea; and the pillar of cloud being their rereward,
the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. Moses
and Aaron it is likely ventured first, into this untrodden path, and then all
Israel after them; and this march through the paths of the great waters would
make their march afterwards through the wilderness less formidable. This march
through the sea was in the night, and not a moon-shine night, for it was seven
days after the full moon, so that they had no light but what they had from the
pillar of fire. This made it the more awful, but where God leads us, he will
light us; while we follow his conduct we shall not want his comforts.
Verse 23
[23] And the Egyptians
pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's
horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And the Egyptians went
in after them into the midst of the sea — They thought, why might they not
venture where Israel did? They were more advantageously provided with chariots
and horses, while the Israelites were on foot.
Verse 24
[24] And it came to
pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians
through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the
Egyptians,
The Lord — Called the
angel before, looked - With indignation, upon the Egyptians, and troubled the
Egyptians - With terrible winds and lightnings and thunders, Exodus 15:10;
Psalms 77:18,19. Also with terror of mind.
Verse 25
[25] And took off their
chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let
us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the
Egyptians.
They had driven
furiously, but now they drove heavily, and found themselves embarrassed at
every step; the way grew deep, their hearts grew sad, their wheels dropt off,
and the axle-trees failed. They had been flying upon the back of Israel as the
hawk upon the dove; but now they cried, Let us flee from the face of Israel.
Verse 26
[26] And the LORD said
unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again
upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
And the Lord said unto
Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea — And give a signal to the waters to
close again, as before upon the word of command they had opened to the right
and the left. He did so, and immediately the waters returned to their place, and
overwhelmed all the host of the Egyptians. Pharaoh and his servants, that had
hardened one another in sin, now fell together, and not one escaped. An ancient
tradition saith, That Pharaoh's magicians Jannes and Jambres perished with the
rest. Now God got him honour upon Pharaoh, a rebel to God, and a slave to his
own barbarous passions; perfectly lost to humanity, virtue, and all true
honour; here be lies buried in the deep, a perpetual monument of divine
justice: here he went down to the pit, though he was the terror of the mighty
in the land of the living.
Verse 28
[28] And the waters
returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of
Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of
them.
After them — That is,
after the Israelites.
Verse 30
[30] Thus the LORD saved
Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians
dead upon the sea shore.
And Israel saw the
Egyptians dead upon the shore — The Egyptians were very curious in preserving
the bodies of their great men, but here the utmost contempt is poured upon all
the grandees of Egypt; see how they lie heaps upon heaps, as dung upon the face
of the earth.
Verse 31
[31] And Israel saw that
great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the
LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
And Israel feared the
Lord, and believed the Lord and his servant Moses — Now they were ashamed of
their distrusts and murmurings; and in the mind they were in, they would never
again despair of help from heaven; no not in the greatest straits! They would
never again quarrel with Moses; nor talk of returning to Egypt. How well were
it for us, if we were, always in as good a frame, as we are in sometimes!
Exodus 15:20-21
Verse 20
[20] And Miriam the
prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women
went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Miriam (or Mary, it is
the same name) presided in an assembly of the women, who (according to the
common usage of those times) with timbrels and dances, sung this song. Moses
led the psalm, and gave it out for the men, and then Miriam for the women.
Famous victories were wont to be applauded by the daughters of Israel, 1 Samuel
18:6,7, so was this. When God brought Israel out of Egypt, it is said, Micah
6:4, he sent before them Moses, Aaron, and Miriam; though we read not of any
thing remarkable that Miriam did but this. But those are to be reckoned great
blessings to a people, that go before them in praising God.
Verse 21
[21] And Miriam answered
them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his
rider hath he thrown into the sea.
And Miriam answered them
— The men: They sung by turns, or in parts.
Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18
Verse 1
[1] Then sang Moses and
the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing
unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath
he thrown into the sea.
Then sang Moses — Moses
composed this song, and sang it with the children of Israel. Doubtless he wrote
it by inspiration, and sang it on the spot. By this instance it appears that
the singing of psalms, as an act of religious worship, was used in the church
of Christ before the giving of the ceremonial law, therefore it is no part of
it, nor abolished with it: singing is as much the language of holy joy, as
praying is of holy desire.
I will sing unto the
Lord — All our joy must terminate in God, and all our praises be offered up to
him, for he hath triumphed - All that love God triumph in his triumphs.
Verse 2
[2] The LORD is my
strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will
prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Israel rejoiceth in God,
as their strength, song, and salvation - Happy therefore the people whole God
is the Lord: They are weak themselves, but he strengthens them, his grace is
their strength: they are oft in sorrow, but in him they have comfort, he is their
song: sin and death threaten them, but he is, and will be, their salvation. He
is their fathers God - This they take notice of, because being conscious of
their own unworthiness, they had reason to think that what God had now done for
them was for their fathers sake, Deuteronomy 4:37.
Verse 3
[3] The LORD is a man of
war: the LORD is his name.
The Lord is a man of war
— Able to deal with all those that strive with their maker.
Verse 4
[4] Pharaoh's chariots
and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in
the Red sea.
He hath cast — With
great force, as an arrow out of a bow, so the Hebrew word signifies.
Verse 7
[7] And in the greatness
of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou
sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
In the greatness of
thine excellency — By thy great and excellent power.
Verse 8
[8] And with the blast
of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as
an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
With the blast of thy
nostrils — By thine anger: The depths were congealed - Stood still, as if they
had been frozen: In the heart of the sea - The midst of it.
Verse 9
[9] The enemy said, I
will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be
satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
My lust — My desire both
of revenge and gain.
Verse 11
[11] Who is like unto
thee, O LORD, among the gods who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in
praises, doing wonders?
The gods — So called:
Idols, or Princes: Glorious in holiness - In justice, mercy and truth: Fearful
in praises - To be praised with reverence.
Verse 12
[12] Thou stretchedst
out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
The earth swallowed them
— Their dead bodies sunk into the sands on which they were thrown, which sucked
them in.
Verse 13
[13] Thou in thy mercy
hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in
thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
Thou in thy mercy hast
led forth the People — Out of the bondage of Egypt, and out of the perils of
the Red-sea.
Thou hast guided them to
thy holy habitation — Thou hast put them into the way to it, and wilt in due
time bring them to the end of that way.
Verse 17
[17] Thou shalt bring
them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O
LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which
thy hands have established.
Thou shalt bring them in
— If he thus bring them out of Egypt, he will bring them into Canaan; for has
he begun, and will he not make an end? Thou wilt plant them in the place which
thou hast made for thee to dwell in - It is good dwelling where God dwells, in
his church on earth, and in his church in heaven.
In the mountains — In
the mountainous country of Canaan: The sanctuary which thy hands have
established - Will as surely establish as if it was done already.
Verse 18
[18] The LORD shall
reign for ever and ever.
The Lord shall reign for
ever and ever — They had now seen an end of Pharaoh's reign, but time itself
shall not put a period to Jehovah's reign, which like himself is eternal.
Isaiah 55:1-11
Verse 1
[1] Ho, every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and
eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Thirsteth — For the
grace of God and the blessings of the gospel. This thirst implies a vehement,
and active, and restless desire after it.
No money — Those who are
most worthless and wicked, if they do but thirst may be welcome.
Buy — Procure or receive
that which is freely offered.
Wine and milk — All
gospel-blessings; in particular, that peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, which
are better than wine, and that love of God which nourishes the soul, as milk
does the body.
Verse 2
[2] Wherefore do ye
spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which
satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and
let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Money — All your time,
and strength, and cost.
Not bread — For those
things which can never nourish or satisfy you, such as worldly goods, or
pleasures.
Eat ye — That which is
truly and solidly, and everlastingly good.
In fatness — In this
pleasant food of gospel-enjoyments.
Verse 3
[3] Incline your ear,
and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
An everlasting covenant
— That everlasting covenant of grace and peace which I made with Abraham, and
his seed.
Of David — Even that
covenant which was made first with Abraham, and then with David, concerning
those glorious and sure blessings which God hath promised to his people, one
and the chief of which was giving Christ to die for their sins. David here
seems to be put for the son of David.
Verse 4
[4] Behold, I have given
him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Behold — I have
appointed, and will in due time actually give.
Him — The David last
mentioned, even Christ.
A witness — To declare
the will of God concerning the duty and salvation of men, to bear witness to
truth, to confirm God's promises, and, among others, those which respect the
calling of the Gentiles: to be a witness of both parties of that covenant made between
God and men.
The people — To all
people.
Verse 5
[5] Behold, thou shalt
call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run
unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he
hath glorified thee.
Thou — Thou, O Messiah.
Call — To the knowledge
of thyself.
Knewest not — With that
special knowledge which implies approbation.
Because — Because the
Lord shall by many tokens, manifest himself to be thy God, and thee to be his
son and faithful servant.
Glorify thee — By
confirming thy word with illustrious signs and miracles, and particularly by
thy resurrection, and glorious ascension.
Verse 6
[6] Seek ye the LORD
while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Seek — Labour to get the
knowledge of God's will, and to obtain his grace and favour.
While — In this day of
grace, while he offers mercy and reconciliation.
Near — Ready and
desirous to receive you to mercy.
Verse 7
[7] Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.
Return — By sincere
repentance, and faith.
Verse 8
[8] For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For — If any man injure
you, especially if he do it greatly and frequently, you are slow and backward
to forgive him. But I am ready to forgive all penitents, how many, and great,
and numberless soever their sins be.
Verse 10
[10] For as the rain
cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater:
The snow — Which in its
season contributes to the fruitfulness of the earth.
Returneth not — Without
effect.
And bread — That it may
bring forth store of bread-corn, both for mens present supplies, and for seed
for the next year.
Verse 11
[11] So shall my word be
that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto
I sent it.
My word — My promises,
concerning the pardon of the greatest sinners.
Void — Without success.
Verse 12
[12] For ye shall go out
with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break
forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their
hands.
Therefore — Ye shall be
released from your bondage.
Peace — Safely and
triumphantly.
Clap — There shall be a
general rejoicing, so that even the senseless creatures shall seem to rejoice
with you.
Verse 13
[13] Instead of the
thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the
myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign
that shall not be cut off.
Instead — Whereas your
land was filled with thorns and briars, as was foretold, they shall be rooted
out, and it shall be planted with fir-trees and myrtle-trees, and such other
trees, as are useful either for fruit or for delight. The church shall be
delivered from pernicious things, and replenished with all divine graces and
blessings.
It — This wonderful
change shall bring much honour to God.
A sign — For a monument,
of God's infinite power, and faithfulness, and love to his people to all
succeeding generations.
Isaiah 12:2-6
Verse 2
[2] Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength
and my song; he also is become my salvation.
God — My salvation hath
not been brought to pass by man, but by the almighty power of God.
Verse 3
[3] Therefore with joy
shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
With joy — Your thirsty
souls shall be filled with Divine graces and comforts, which you may draw from
God, in the use of gospel-ordinances.
Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4
Not Found
Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21
Verse 1
[1] Doth not wisdom cry?
and understanding put forth her voice?
Wisdom — It is a great
question what this wisdom is. Some understand it of the Divine wisdom; others
of the second person in the Godhead: and it cannot be denied that some passages
best agree to the former, and others to the latter opinion. Possibly both may
be joined together, and the chapter may be understood of Christ considered
partly in his personal capacity, and partly in regard of his office, which was
to impart the mind and will of God to mankind.
Verse 2
[2] She standeth in the
top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
High place — Where she
may be best seen and heard.
Paths — Where many paths
meet, where there is a great concourse, and where travellers may need
direction.
Verse 3
[3] She crieth at the
gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Gates — The places of
judgment, and of the confluence of people.
The entry — To invite
passengers at their first coming and to conduct them to her house.
The doors — Of her
house.
Verse 4
[4] Unto you, O men, I call;
and my voice is to the sons of man.
O men — To all men
without exception.
Verse 5
[5] O ye simple,
understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Ye simple — Who want
knowledge, and experience.
Fools — Wilful sinners.
Verse 21
[21] That I may cause
those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Substance — Substantial
happiness: opposed to all worldly enjoyments, which are but mere shadows.
Proverbs 9:4b-6
Verse 4
[4] Whoso is simple, let
him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Simple — Ignorant, and
weak.
Psalm 19
Verse 1
[1] The heavens declare
the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
The heavens — They are
as a legible book, wherein he that runs may read it.
The glory — His eternal
power and Godhead, his infinite wisdom and goodness.
Firmament — Or, the
expansion, all the vast space extended from the earth to the highest heavens,
with all its goodly furniture.
Verse 2
[2] Day unto day
uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Day — Every day and
night repeats these demonstrations of God's glory.
Uttereth — Or, poureth
forth, constantly and abundantly, as a fountain doth water; So this Hebrew word
signifies.
Knowledge — Gives us a
clear knowledge or discovery of God their author.
Verse 3
[3] There is no speech
nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Heard — Or, understood;
there are divers nations in the world, which have several languages, so that one
cannot discourse with, or be understood by another, but the heavens are such an
universal teacher, that they can speak to all people, and be clearly understood
by all.
Verse 4
[4] Their line is gone
out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them
hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Line — Their lines, the
singular number being put for the plural. And this expression is very proper,
because the heavens do not teach men audibly, or by speaking to their ears, but
visibly by propounding things to their eyes, which is done in lines or
writings.
Gone — Is spread abroad.
Earth — So as to be seen
and read, by all the inhabitants of the earth.
Words — Their
magnificent structure, their exquisite order, and most regular course, by which
they declare their author, no less than men discover their minds by their
words.
Sun — Which being the
most illustrious and useful of all the heavenly bodies, is here particularly
mentioned.
Verse 5
[5] Which is as a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a
race.
Bridegroom — Gloriously
adorned with light as with a beautiful garment, and smiling upon the world with
a pleasant countenance.
Chamber — In which he is
poetically supposed to have rested all night, and thence to break forth as it
were on a sudden.
Strong man — Conscious
and confident of his own strength.
Verse 6
[6] His going forth is
from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is
nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The ends — His course is
constant from east to west, and thence to the east again. So that there is no
part of the earth which doth not one time or other feel the benefit of his
light and heat.
Verse 7
[7] The law of the LORD
is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise
the simple.
The law — The doctrine
delivered to his church, whether by Moses, or by other prophets. Having
discoursed hitherto of the glory of God shining forth in, the visible heavens,
he now proceeds to another demonstration of God's glory, which he compares with
and prefers before the former.
Perfect — Completely
discovering both the nature and will of God, and the whole duty of man, what he
is to believe and practice, and whatsoever is necessary to his present and
eternal happiness. Whereas the creation, although it did declare so much of
God, as left all men without excuse, yet did not fully manifest the will of
God, nor bring men to eternal salvation.
Converting — From sin to
God, from whom all men are naturally revolted.
Testimony — His law, so
called because it is a witness between God and man, what God requires of man,
and what upon the performance of that condition, he will do for man.
Sure — Heb. faithful or
true, which is most necessary in a witness: it will not mislead any man, but
will infallibly bring him to happiness.
Simple — Even persons of
the lowest capacities.
Verse 8
[8] The statutes of the
LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
Right — Both in
themselves, and in their effect, as guiding men in the ready way to eternal
happiness.
Rejoicing — By the
discoveries of God's love to sinful men, in offers and promises of mercy.
Commandment — All his
commands.
Pure — Without the least
mixture of error.
The eyes — Of the mind,
with a compleat manifestation of God's will and man's duty: both which, the
works of nature, and all the writings of men discover but darkly and
imperfectly.
Verse 9
[9] The fear of the LORD
is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous
altogether.
The fear — The law and
word of God, because it is both the object and the rule, and the cause of holy
fear.
Clean — Sincere, not
adulterated with any mixture. Constant and unchangeable, the same for substance
in all ages.
Judgments — God's laws
are frequently called his judgments, because they are the declarations of his
righteous will, and as it were his judicial sentence by which he expects that
men should govern themselves, and by which he will judge them at the last day.
Verse 12
[12] Who can understand
his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Who — Thy law, O Lord,
is holy and just and good. But I fall infinitely short of it.
Cleanse — Both by
justification, through the blood of thy son; and by sanctification thro' thy
holy spirit. Though the first may seem to be principally intended, because he
speaks of his past sins.
Secret — From the guilt
of such sins as were secret either, from others; such as none knows but God and
my own conscience: or, from myself; such as I never observed, or did not
discern the evil of. Pardon my unknown sins, of which I never repented
particularly, as I should have done.
Verse 13
[13] Keep back thy
servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then
shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Presumptuous — From
known and evident sins, such as are committed against knowledge, against the
checks of conscience, and the motions of God's spirit.
Dominion — If I be at
any time tempted to such sins, Lord let them not prevail over me, and if I do
fall into them, let me speedily rise again.
Verse 14
[14] Let the words of my
mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my
strength, and my redeemer.
Let — Having prayed that
God would keep him from sinful actions, he now prays that God would govern, and
sanctify his words and thoughts: and this was necessary to preserve him from
presumptuous sins, which have their first rise in the thoughts.
Redeemer — This
expression seems to be added emphatically, and with special respect to Christ,
to whom alone this word Goel can properly belong.
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Verse 25
[25] Then will I
sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Sprinkle — "This
signifies both the blood of Christ sprinkled upon their conscience, to take
away their guilt, as the water of purification was sprinkled, to take away
their ceremonial uncleanness and the grace of the spirit sprinkled on the whole
soul, to purify it from all corrupt inclinations and dispositions."
Verse 26
[26] A new heart also
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away
the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
A new heart — A new
frame of soul, a mind changed, from sinful to holy, from carnal to spiritual. A
heart in which the law of God is written, Jeremiah 31:33. A sanctified heart,
in which the almighty grace of God is victorious, and turns it from all sin to
God.
A new spirit — A new,
holy frame in the spirit of man; which is given to him, not wrought by his own
power.
The stony — The
senseless unfeeling.
Out of your flesh — Out
of you.
Of flesh — That is,
quite of another temper, hearkening to God's law, trembling at his threats,
moulded into a compliance with his whole will; to forbear, do, be, or suffer
what God will, receiving the impress of God, as soft wax receives the impress
of the seal.
Verse 27
[27] And I will put my
spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my
judgments, and do them.
My spirit — The holy
spirit of God, which is given to, and dwelleth in all true believers.
And cause you — Sweetly,
powerfully, yet without compulsion; for our spirits, framed by God's spirit to
a disposition suitable to his holiness, readily concurs.
Ye shall keep — Be
willing; and able to keep the judgments, and to walk in the statutes of God,
which is, to live in all holiness.
Verse 28
[28] And ye shall dwell
in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will
be your God.
Ye shall dwell —
Observe: then, and not before, are these promises to be fulfilled to the house
of Israel.
And I will be your God —
This is the foundation of the top-stone of a believer's happiness.
Psalm 42
Verse 1
[1] As the hart panteth
after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Panteth — After the
enjoyment of thee in thy sanctuary.
Verse 2
[2] My soul thirsteth
for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Thirsteth — Not after
vain useless idols, but after the only true and living God.
Appear — In the place of
his special presence and publick worship.
Verse 4
[4] When I remember
these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I
went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a
multitude that kept holyday.
Remember — My banishment
from God's presence, and mine enemies triumphs.
In me — I breathe out my
sorrows and complaints to God within my own breast.
The multitudes —
Israelites, who went thither in great numbers.
Holy-day — Or that kept
the feast, the three solemn festival solemnities, which they kept holy unto the
Lord.
Verse 5
[5] Why art thou cast
down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I
shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
For — Heb. for the
salvations of his face, for those supports, deliverances and comforts which I
doubt not I shall enjoy both in his presence and sanctuary, and from his
presence, and the light of his countenance.
Verse 6
[6] O my God, my soul is
cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Therefore — Therefore
that I may revive my drooping spirits.
Remember — I will
consider thy infinite mercy and power, and faithfulness.
Mizar — From all the
parts of the land, to which I shall be driven; whether from the parts beyond
Jordan on the east: or mount Hermon, which was in the northern parts.
Verse 7
[7] Deep calleth unto
deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone
over me.
Deep — One affliction comes
immediately after another, as if it were called for by the former. A metaphor
taken from violent and successive showers of rain; which frequently come down
from heaven, as it were at the noise, or call of God's water spouts.
Verse 8
[8] Yet the LORD will
command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be
with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
Command — Will
effectually confer upon me.
Loving-kindness — His
blessings, the effects of his loving-kindness.
Verse 10
[10] As with a sword in
my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy
God?
As — As a sword, which
cutteth the very bones, so painful are their reproaches.
Psalm 43
Verse 1
[1] Judge me, O God, and
plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and
unjust man.
Nation — So he calls the
company of his enemies for their great numbers.
Man — Probably
Achitophel or Absalom.
Verse 3
[3] O send out thy light
and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to
thy tabernacles.
Send out — That is,
actually discover them.
Truth — Thy favour, or
the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or the
true-light, the illumination of thy spirit, and the direction of thy gracious
providence, whereby I may be led in the right way, to thy holy hill.
Hill — Of Zion, the
place of God's presence and worship.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Verse 1
[1] The hand of the LORD
was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in
the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
And set me down — So it
seemed to me in the vision. Which is a lively representation of a threefold
resurrection: 1. Of the resurrection of souls, from the death of sin, to the
life of righteousness: 2. The resurrection of the church from an afflicted
state, to liberty and peace: 3. The resurrection of the body at the great day,
especially the bodies of believers to life eternal.
Verse 3
[3] And he said unto me,
Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
And he — The Lord.
Verse 7
[7] So I prophesied as I
was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking,
and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Prophesied — Declared
these promises.
As I prophesied — While
I was prophesying.
A noise — A rattling of
the bones in their motion.
A shaking — A trembling
or commotion among the bones, enough to manifest a divine presence, working
among them.
Came together — Glided
nearer and nearer, 'till each bone met the bone to which it was to be joined.
Of all the bones of all those numerous slain, not one was missing, not one
missed its way, not one missed its place, but each knew and found its fellow.
Thus in the resurrection of the dead, the scattered atoms shall be arranged in
their proper place and order, and every bone come to his bone, by the same
wisdom and power by which they were first formed in the womb of her that is
with child.
Verse 8
[8] And when I beheld,
lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them
above: but there was no breath in them.
Came up — Gradually
spreading itself.
Verse 9
[9] Then said he unto
me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these
slain, that they may live.
Prophesy — Declare what
my will is.
O breath — The soul,
whose emblem here is wind; which, as it gently blew upon these lifeless
creatures, each was inspired with its own soul or spirit.
Verse 10
[10] So I prophesied as
he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up
upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
And the breath — The
spirit of life, or the soul, Genesis 2:7.
Verse 11
[11] Then he said unto
me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say,
Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
The whole house — The
emblem of the house of Israel.
Are dried — Our state is
as hopeless, as far from recovery, as dried bones are from life.
Verse 12
[12] Therefore prophesy
and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open
your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into
the land of Israel.
I will open — Though
your captivity be as death, your persons close as the grave, yet I will open
those graves.
Psalm 143
Verse 2
[2] And enter not into
judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Justified — Upon terms
of strict justice.
Verse 3
[3] For the enemy hath
persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me
to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
For — This is not a
reason of what he last said, but an argument to enforce his petition delivered,
verse 1.
Soul — My life; nothing
less will satisfy him.
Dead — I am in as
hopeless a condition in the eye of man, as those that have lain long in the
grave.
Verse 5
[5] I remember the days
of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
The days — What thou
hast done for thy servants in former times.
Verse 6
[6] I stretch forth my
hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. /*Selah*/.
As land — Thirsteth for
rain.
Verse 8
[8] Cause me to hear thy
lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Morning — Seasonably and
speedily.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Verse 15
[15] The LORD hath taken
away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the
LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
Taken away — Abolished,
and put an end to the judgments thy sins brought upon thee.
Thine enemy — The
Babylonian.
Is in the midst — He is
returned to redeem and govern thee.
Any more — While thy
carriage is as becomes my presence with thee, thou shalt neither fear, nor feel
the like evils.
Verse 18
[18] I will gather them
that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the
reproach of it was a burden.
Sorrowful — That mourn
their distance from the solemn worship of God.
Who are of thee — Thy
children.
Reproach — The taunts of
their enemies.
Verse 19
[19] Behold, at that
time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and
gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every
land where they have been put to shame.
Undo — I will break
their power and dissolve their kingdom.
That halteth — Who is in
trouble and ready to fall.
Driven out — Into remote
countries.
Verse 20
[20] At that time will I
bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name
and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity
before your eyes, saith the LORD.
A praise — So the
universal church of the first-born will be, in the great day. And then the
Israel of God be made a name and a praise to all eternity.
Psalm 98
Verse 2
[2] The LORD hath made
known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of
the heathen.
Salvation — The
redemption of the world by the Messiah: which was hitherto reserved was a
secret among the Jews, yea was not throughly known by the most of the Jews
themselves.
Righteousness — His
faithfulness in accomplishing this great promise.
New Testament Reading
and Psalm
Romans 6:3-11
Verse 3
[3] Know ye not, that so
many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
As many as have been
baptized into Jesus Christ have been baptized into his death — In baptism we,
through faith, are ingrafted into Christ; and we draw new spiritual life from
this new root, through his Spirit, who fashions us like unto him, and particularly
with regard to his death and resurrection.
Verse 4
[4] Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life.
We are buried with him —
Alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion.
That as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory — Glorious power. Of the Father, so we also,
by the same power, should rise again; and as he lives a new life in heaven, so
we should walk in newness of life. This, says the apostle, our very baptism
represents to us.
Verse 5
[5] For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection:
For — Surely these two
must go together; so that if we are indeed made conformable to his death, we
shall also know the power of his resurrection.
Verse 6
[6] Knowing this, that
our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Our old man — Coeval
with our being, and as old as the fall; our evil nature; a strong and beautiful
expression for that entire depravity and corruption which by nature spreads
itself over the whole man, leaving no part uninfected. This in a believer is
crucified with Christ, mortified, gradually killed, by virtue of our union with
him.
That the body of sin —
All evil tempers, words, and actions, which are the "members" of the
"old man," Colossians 3:5, might be destroyed.
Verse 7
[7] For he that is dead
is freed from sin.
For he that is dead —
With Christ. Is freed from the guilt of past, and from the power of present,
sin, as dead men from the commands of their former masters.
Verse 8
[8] Now if we be dead
with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Dead with Christ —
Conformed to his death, by dying to sin.
Verse 10
[10] For in that he
died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
He died to sin — To
atone for and abolish it.
He liveth unto God — A glorious
eternal life, such as we shall live also.
Psalm 114
Verse 2
[2] Judah was his
sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
Judah — Or Israel, one
tribe being put for all. Judah he mentions as the chief of all the tribes.
Verse 4
[4] The mountains skipped
like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
The mountains — Horeb
and Sinai, two tops of one mountain, and other neighbouring mountains.
Verse 7
[7] Tremble, thou earth,
at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Tremble — The mountains
did more than what was fit at the appearance of the great God.
Gospel
Matthew 28:1-10
Verse 2
[2] And, behold, there
was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and
came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
An angel of the Lord had
rolled away the stone and sat upon it — St. Luke and St. John speak of two
angels that appeared: but it seems as if only one of them had appeared sitting
on the stone without the sepulchre, and then going into it, was seen with another
angel, sitting, one where the head, the other where the feet of the body had
lain.
Verse 6
[6] He is not here: for
he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Come, see the place
where the Lord lay — Probably in speaking he rose up, and going before the
women into the sepulchre, said, Come, see the place. This clearly reconciles
what St. John relates, John 20:12, this being one of the two angels there
mentioned.
Verse 7
[7] And go quickly, and
tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before
you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
There shall ye see him —
In his solemn appearance to them all together. But their gracious Lord would
not be absent so long: he appeared to them several times before then.
Lo, I have told you — A
solemn confirmation of what he had said.
Verse 9
[9] And as they went to
tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and
held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Hail — The word in its
primary sense means, "Rejoice:" in its secondary and more usual
meaning, "Happiness attend you."
Verse 10
[10] Then said Jesus
unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and
there shall they see me.
Go tell my brethren — I
still own them as such, though they so lately disowned and forsook me.
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