Command the Raven

Romans 3:31 [show/hide]Romans 3:31 [31]Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid, yea, we establish the law.

When the believer is adopted into the Lord’s family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant.

Believer, you are God’s child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father.

A servile spirit you have nothing to do with; you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father’s faintest wish, the least intimation of His will.

Does He bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father.

Does He command you to seek the image of Jesus? Is it not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”?

Then not because the law commands, but because your Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in holiness.

Does He bid His saints love one another? Do it, not because the law says, “Love thy neighbour,” but because Jesus says, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments;” and this is the commandment that He has given unto you, “that ye love one another.”

Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk, but because Jesus teaches, “Give to him that asketh of thee.”

Does the Word say, “Love God with all your heart”? Look at the commandment and reply, “Ah! Commandment, Christ hath fulfilled thee already; I have no need, therefore, to fulfil thee for my salvation, but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now, and He has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute.”

May the Holy Ghost make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ’s love, that your prayer may be, “Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”

Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the apologist of sin.

- Evening By Evening : C.H. Spurgeon

Isaiah 55:6-7 [show/hide]Isaiah 55:6-7 [6]"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; [7]let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
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.

This suggests a time when God cannot be found.

6 times sinners cannot find God:

1 - When they turn their hearts away from Him and will not hear [Dt. 30:17-18; 1 Sam. 38:6 [show/hide]ERROR: No passage found for your query.
; 1 Chron. 10:13-14 [show/hide]1 Chronicles 10:13-14 [13]So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. [14]He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (ESV)
; Jer. 11:10-12 [show/hide]Jeremiah 11:10-12 [10]They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. [11]Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them. [12]Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. (ESV)
; Ps. 95:7-11 [show/hide]Psalm 95:7-11 [7]For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, [8]do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, [9]when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. [10]For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways." [11]Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."
; Mt. 13:13-15].

2 - When they mock God and scorn at His dealings until calamity comes [Pr. 1:23-31 [show/hide]Proverbs 1:23-31 [23]If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. [24]Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, [25]because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, [26]I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, [27]when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. [28]Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. [29]Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, [30]would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, [31]therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
].

3 - When they become too proud and stubborn to humble themselves before Him [Num. 16 [show/hide]Numbers 16 Korah's Rebellion [16:1]Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. [2]And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. [3]They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" [4]When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, [5]and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. [6]Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; [7]put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!" [8]And Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi: [9]is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, [10]and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? [11]Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?" [12]And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, "We will not come up. [13]Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? [14]Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up." [15]And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them." [16]And Moses said to Korah, "Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. [17]And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer." [18]So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. [19]Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. [20]And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, [21]"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." [22]And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?" [23]And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [24]"Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram." [25]Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. [26]And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins." [27]So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. [28]And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. [29]If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. [30]But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD." [31]And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. [32]And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. [33]So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. [34]And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!" [35]And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense. [36] Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [37]"Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. [38]As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel." [39]So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, [40]to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company--as the LORD said to him through Moses. [41]But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD." [42]And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. [43]And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, [44]and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [45]"Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces. [46]And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun." [47]So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. [48]And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. [49]Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. [50]And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped. (ESV)
].

4 - When they neglect to settle all matters with Him until judgment falls [Acts 5:1-11 [show/hide]Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira [5:1]But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, [2]and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. [3]But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? [4]While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." [5]When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. [6]The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. [7]After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8]And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." [9]But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." [10]Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. [11]And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (ESV)
].

5 - When they die in sin [Heb. 9:27 [show/hide]Hebrews 9:27 [27]And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (ESV)
].

6 - When they blaspheme the Holy Spirit [Mt. 12:31-32].

- Dake A.R.B. Page 782

“These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation:’ (Acts 16 [show/hide]Acts 16 Timothy Joins Paul and Silas [16:1]Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. [2]He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. [3]Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. [4]As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5]So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. The Macedonian Call [6]And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7]And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. [8]So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [9]And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." [10]And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. The Conversion of Lydia [11]So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, [12]and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. [13]And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. [14]One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. [15]And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. Paul and Silas in Prison [16]As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17]She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." [18]And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. [19]But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. [20]And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. [21]They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice." [22]The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23]And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24]Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. The Philippian Jailer Converted [25]About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, [26]and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. [27]When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. [28]But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." [29]And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. [30]Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31]And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." [32]And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33]And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. [34]Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. [35]But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." [36]And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace." [37]But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." [38]The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. [39]So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. [40]So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (ESV)
17).
“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm:’ (Dan. 6:3 [show/hide]Daniel 6:3 [3]Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (ESV)
).

Such was the influence of Ron Davies, the missionary who was later killed in Kashmir, that his mere passing through a coffee¬room caused a university undergraduate of pronounced Unitarian views to exclaim: “There goes a Christian.” The most prejudiced had to admit the loveliness of his life.

Morley Punshon has aptly said: “Don’t let the question ever be asked about you, • Is such an one a Christian?’ The very necessity to ask suggests a negative answer. Some painters in the rude times of art are said to have put under their works, • This is a horse.’ Of course! it was necessary for no one could possibly recognise it without being told. But it is a poor sign when either a work of art or a work of grace needs to be labelled. Who thought of asking where Moses had been when he came down from the mount? They looked at him, and they saw the glory.

Let your consistency be thus steadfast and pure. If you know that the • writing is signed’ which will throw you upon the world’s pity or cruel scorn because you will keep your conscience inviolate, take heart from the example of Daniel. Don’t shut your lattice¬window. Men may ridicule you, but they will respect you not¬withstanding. And if they do not, you can afford to do without their good opinion, while God looks down upon you with com¬placency, and the light of His countenance shines, broad and bright upon your soul.”

From scheme and creed the light goes out, The saintly fact survives;
The blessed Master none can doubt Revealed in holy lives.

-Whittier.

” If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 [show/hide]Romans 8:31 God's Everlasting Love [31]What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)
). ” All these things are against me.” (Gen. 42:36 [show/hide]Genesis 42:36 [36]And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me." (ESV)
).

Do not let us simply bemoan our circumstances. In some cases the believer’s testimony is, ” All things are against me.” That was old Jacob’s testimony. Then he added, “Joseph is dead “-but he was not!-” Simeon is dead “-but he was not!-” and now they are going to take Benjamin.” Now Jacob, yield all to God; leave it all in God’s hands. And if you do, you will hear the returning cavalcade, which will bring you the news that Joseph is not dead, but is the governor of Egypt; that Simeon is in the spare bedroom of the palace; that Benjamin is in the seat of honour; and there is a warm place for the old man.-Reader Harris.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head. –Cowper.
Difficulties on all sides confronted the missionaries in Burma. And now Adoniram Judson was being taken to prison. As he was being led along, a man spat at him out of the darkness and sneeringly said, “How bright are the prospects of your mission now?” “As bright as the promises of God, my friend,” came the saintly reply. That is true faith that can believe God’s wonderful promises when all is dark without and there is little outward evidence of the great success we have been promised in our ventures for God.

“If the Lord lifts up the light of His countenance upon you as He has done upon me this day, all your mountains will become molehills.”

-Samuel Pearce.

Psalm 23:2 [show/hide]Psalm 23:2 [2]He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He maketh me to lie down.
Matthew 6:6 [show/hide]Matthew 6:6 [6]But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)

Shut thy door.

The Lord in His Sermon on the Mount told men to “shut their door and pray to their father”. How often this command is set aside because so many good and legitimate things call for our attention !

Committees call; home duties press; the voices of men in need call, and we are running from morning until night, until God shuts us in. He shuts the door that we ought to have shut in daily intervals. He does not do so in anger, but in kindness.

If we are still murmuring long enough we will hear His voice in the enclosed, hedged-in place, “My child, you have been too busy. I long to have a chance to speak to you. You are doing good things, but you are not achieving the best.”

Please do not call me shut-in
When my eyes can see a star,
My ears can hear soft music,
My soul can travel far…..
Within these walls of home –
I travel with my mind. – E. Strickland

Samuel Chadwick wrote of his periods of forced retirement: “Sleepy Hollow has often been to me a place of vision, voices and vocation. It was in sickness that there came the call of God to the work of the ministry while I was yet a lad in obscure poverty. Nothing seemed less likely, but I cherished the vision and the call till God set before me an open door. On another occasion, an Angel of the Lord found me baffled, beaten and bruised after my first encounter with the kingdoms of darkness; and it was he who instructed me in the way of the Lord, and showed me my way about in the Scriptures. In the darkness I have found treasures of light, and in weakness the strength of God has found its opportunity.”

“Dr. R.F. Horton observes that in his life every call to special service has been preceded by a period of prostration. We owe much to the places where the Good Shepherd makes us lie down. It was not until God touched the flesh of the writhing, wriggling, wrestling Jacob that He could get him to be still and listen. It may be that the Patriarch might have been spared his limp if he had been a better listener.”

The Lord says to a long-time healthy man, “Come apart, I have something to say to thee. I have things to show thee which thou hast forgotten, or which thou hast never seen.” And then the man is detached by sickness from the immediate labors to which he has been applying himself with fierce and blinding quest. And what frequently happens as the outcome of his seclusion, is a transformed conception of life and destiny: “I see things quite differently now !” He had been engrossed in fireworks, and had forgotten the stars. He had been busy building and enlarging his barns and had overlooked his mighty soul. He had been feverish about the transient and negligent of the eternal. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now …….” In the season of seclusion he obtained a corrected vision.-J.H.Jowett.

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: BUT NOW MINE EYE SEETH THEE.” [Job 42:5 [show/hide]Job 42:5 [5]I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
].
Royal Purposes : E.F. & L. Harvey

Isaiah 46:10 [show/hide]Isaiah 46:10 [10]declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Again, reference is made to God’s eternal plan for man from the beginning to the end [v10; 40:21; 31:4, 26; 48:3-7, 16; 64:4; Acts 15:18 [show/hide]Acts 15:18 [18]known from of old.'
; Eph. 2:7 [show/hide]Ephesians 2:7 [7]so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
; 3:9-11; Col. 1:15-18 [show/hide]Colossians 1:15-18 The Preeminence of Christ [15]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16]For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. [17]And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18]And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV)
; Heb. 1:1-3 [show/hide]Hebrews 1:1-3 The Supremacy of God's Son [1:1]Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2]but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3]He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (ESV)
].

The Bible is the revelation of God’s plan from eternity past to eternity future; and it cannot be rightly understood without a knowledge of that plan.

One must become acquainted with the ages and dispensations, their outstanding features, purposes, and above all, the ultimate purpose of God in having a universal kingdom over which He will preside forever without the threat of new and continued rebellions among free moral agents, as the case has been since the fall of Lucifer, the pre-Adamites, and Adam of the present race on earth.

Thousands of predictions accurately tell future events; and the plan and purpose of God are unchangeable.

If He had no plan He could not predict future events.

In this passage God declares that He is powerful enough to predict and bring events to pass as predicted; and this clearly shows DESIGN IN HIS PLAN.

Dake Annotated Reference Bible – Page 477.

2 Chronicles 31:21 [show/hide]2 Chronicles 31:21 [21]And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. (ESV)

He did it with all his heart and prospered.

This is no unusual occurrence; it is the general rule of the moral universe that those men proper who do their work with all their hearts, while those are almost certain to fail who go to their labor leaving half their hearts behind them.

God does not give harvests to idle men, except harvests of thistles, nor is He pleased to send wealth to those who will not dig in the field to find its hid treasure.

It is generally confessed that if a man would proper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is in other things. If you would proper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart work, and let it be done with all your heart. Put as much force, energy, heartiness, and earnestness into religion as ever you do into business, for it deserves far more.

The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, but He does not encourage idleness; He loves active believers. Who are the most useful men in the Christian church? The men who do what they undertake with all their hearts. Who are the most successful Sabbath-school teachers? The most talented? No, the most zealous; the men whose hearts are on fire, those are the men who see their Lord riding forth prosperously in the majesty of His salvation.

Whole-heartedness shows itself in perseverance; there may be failure at first, but the earnest worker will say, “It is the Lord’s work, and it must be done; my Lord had bidden me do it, and in His strength I will accomplish it.”

Christian, art thou thus “with all thine heart” serving thy Master? Remember the earnestness of Jesus! Think what heart-work was His!

He could say, “The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up.” When He sweat great drops of blood, it was no light burden He had to carry upon those blessed shoulders; and when He poured out His heart, it was no weak effort He was making for the salvation of His people.

Was Jesus in earnest, and are we lukewarm?

Evening by Evening – C.H. Spurgeon

Genesis 9:24-27 [show/hide]Genesis 9:24-27 [24]When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, [25]he said, "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." [26]He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. [27]May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant."

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Here, I. Noah comes to himself: He awoke from his wine. Sleep cured him, and, we may suppose, so cured him that he never relapsed into that sin afterwards. Those that sleep as Noah did should awake as he did, and not as that drunkard (Prov. xxiii. 35) who says when he awakes, I will seek it yet again.

II. The spirit of prophecy comes upon him, and, like dying Jacob, he tells his sons what shall befal them, ch. xlix. 1.

1. He pronounces a curse on Canaan the son of Ham (v. 25), in whom Ham is himself cursed, either because this son of his was now more guilty than the rest, or because the posterity of this son was afterwards to be rooted out of their land, to make room for Israel. And Moses here records it for the animating of Israel in the wars of Canaan; though the Canaanites were a formidable people, yet they were of old an accursed people, and doomed to ruin. The particular curse is, A servant of servants (that is, the meanest and most despicable servant) shall he be, even to his brethren. Those who by birth were his equals shall by conquest be his lords. This certainly points at the victories obtained by Israel over the Canaanites, by which they were all either put to the sword or put under tribute (Josh. ix. 23; Judg. i. 28, 30, 33, 35), which happened not till about 800 years after this. Note,

(1.) God often visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, especially when the children inherit the fathers’ wicked dispositions, and imitate the fathers’ wicked practices, and do nothing to cut off the entail of the curse.

(2.) Disgrace is justly put upon those that put disgrace upon others, especially that dishonour and grieve their own parents. An undutiful child that mocks at his parents is no more worthy to be called a son, but deserves to be made as a hired servant, nay, as a servant of servants, among his brethren.

(3.) Though divine curses operate slowly, yet, first or last, they will take effect. The Canaanites were under a curse of slavery, and yet, for a great while, had the dominion; for a family, a people, a person, may lie under the curse of God, and yet may long prosper in the world, till the measure of their iniquity, like that of the Canaanites, be full. Many are marked for ruin that are not yet ripe for ruin. Therefore, Let not thy heart envy sinners.

2. He entails a blessing upon Shem and Japheth.

(1.) He blesses Shem, or rather blesses God for him, yet so that it entitles him to the greatest honour and happiness imaginable, v. 26. Observe,

[1.] He calls the Lord the god of Shem; and happy, thrice happy, is that people whose God is the LORD, Ps. cxliv. 15. All blessings are included in this. This was the blessing conferred on Abraham and his seed; the God of heaven was not ashamed to be called their God, Heb. xi. 16. Shem is sufficiently recompensed for his respect to his father by this, that the Lord himself puts this honour upon him, to be his God, which is a sufficient recompence for all our services and all our sufferings for his name.

[2.] He gives to God the glory of that good work which Shem had done, and, instead of blessing and praising him that was the instrument, he blesses and praises God that was the author. Note, The glory of all that is at any time well done, by ourselves or others, must be humbly and thankfully transmitted to God, who works all our good works in us and for us. When we see men’s good works we should glorify, not them, but our Father, Matt. v. 16. Thus David, in effect, blessed Abigail, when he blessed God that sent her (1 Sam. xxv. 32, 33), for it is an honour and a favour to be employed for God and used by him in doing good.

[3.] He foresees and foretels that God’s gracious dealings with Shem and his family would be such as would evidence to all the world that he was the God of Shem, on which behalf thanksgivings would by many be rendered to him: Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.

[4.] It is intimated that the church should be built up and continued in the posterity of Shem; for of him came the Jews, who were, for a great while, the only professing people God had in the world.

[5.] Some think reference is here had to Christ, who was the Lord God that, in his human nature, should descend from the loins of Shem; for of him, as concerning the flesh, Christ came.

[6.] Canaan is particularly enslaved to him: He shall be his servant. Note, Those that have the Lord for their God shall have as much of the honour and power of this world as he sees good for them.

(2.) He blesses Japheth, and, in him, the isles of the Gentiles, which were peopled by his seed: God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, v. 27. Now,

[1.] Some make this to belong wholly to Japheth, and to denote either, First, His outward prosperity, that his seed should be so numerous and so victorious that they should be masters of the tents of Shem, which was fulfilled when the people of the Jews, the most eminent of Shem’s race, were tributaries to the Grecians first and afterwards to the Romans, both of Japheth’s seed. Note, Outward prosperity is no infallible mark of the true church: the tents of Shem are not always the tents of the conqueror. Or, Secondly, It denotes the conversion of the Gentiles, and the bringing of them into the church; and then we should read it, God shall persuade Japheth (for so the word signifies), and then, being so persuaded, he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, that is, Jews and Gentiles shall be united together in the gospel fold. After many of the Gentiles shall have been proselyted to the Jewish religion, both shall be one in Christ (Eph. ii. 14, 15), and the Christian church, mostly made up of the Gentiles, shall succeed the Jews in the privileges of church-membership; the latter having first cast themselves out by their unbelief, the Gentiles shall dwell in their tents, Rom. xi. 11, &c. Note, It is God only that can bring those again into the church who have separated themselves from it. It is the power of God that makes the gospel of Christ effectual to salvation, Rom. i. 16. And again, Souls are brought into the church, not by force, but by persuasion, Ps. cx. 3. They are drawn by the cords of a man, and persuaded by reason to be religious.

[2.] Others divide this between Japheth and Shem, Shem having not been directly blessed, v. 26. First, Japheth has the blessing of the earth beneath: God shall enlarge Japheth, enlarge his seed, enlarge his border. Japheth’s prosperity peopled all Europe, a great part of Asia, and perhaps America. Note, God is to be acknowledged in all our enlargements. It is he that enlarges the coast and enlarges the heart. And again, many dwell in large tents that do not dwell in God’s tents, as Japheth did. Secondly, Shem has the blessing of heaven above: He shall (that is, God shall) dwell in the tents of Shem, that is “From his loins Christ shall come, and in his seed the church shall be continued.” The birth-right was now to be divided between Shem and Japheth, Ham being utterly discarded. In the principality which they equally share Canaan shall be servant to both. The double portion is given to Japheth, whom God shall enlarge; but the priesthood is given to Shem, for God shall dwell in the tents of Shem: and certainly we are more happy if we have God dwelling in our tents than if we had there all the silver and gold in the world. It is better to dwell in tents with God than in palaces without him. In Salem, where is God’s tabernacle, there is more satisfaction than in all the isles of the Gentiles. Thirdly, They both have dominion over Canaan: Canaan shall be servant to them; so some read it. When Japheth joins with Shem, Canaan falls before them both. When strangers become friends, enemies become servants.

GENESIS 9: 28-29
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Here see, 1. How God prolonged the life of Noah; he lived 950 years, twenty more than Adam and but nineteen less than Methuselah: this long life was a further reward of his signal piety, and a great blessing to the world, to which no doubt he continued a preacher of righteousness, with this advantage, that now all he preached to were his own children.

2. How God put a period to his life at last. Though he lived long, yet he died, having probably first seen many that descended from him dead before him. Noah lived to see two worlds, but, being an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, when he died he went to see a better than either.
- Matthew Henry Commentary

Genesis 9:18-23 [show/hide]Genesis 9:18-23 Noah's Descendants [18]The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) [19]These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. [20]Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. [21]He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. [22]And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. [23]Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. (ESV)

18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

Here is,
I. Noah’s family and employment. The names of his sons are again mentioned (v. 18, 19) as those from whom the whole earth was overspread, by which it appears that Noah, after the flood, had no more children: all the world came from these three. Note, God, when he pleases, can make a little one to become a thousand, and greatly increase the latter end of those whose beginning was small. Such are the power and efficacy of a divine blessing. The business Noah applied himself to was that of a husbandman, Heb. a man of the earth, that is, a man dealing in the earth, that kept ground in his hand, and occupied it. We are all naturally men of the earth, made of it, living on it, and hastening to it: many are sinfully so, addicted to earthly things. Noah was by his calling led to trade in the fruits of the earth. He began to be a husbandman, that is, some time after his departure out of the ark, he returned to his old employment, from which he had been diverted by the building of the ark first, and probably afterwards by the building of a house on dry land for himself and family. For this good while he had been a carpenter, but now he began again to be a husbandman. Observe, Though Noah was a great man and a good man, an old man and a rich man, a man greatly favoured by heaven and honoured on earth, yet he would not live an idle life, nor think the husbandman’s calling below him. Note, Though God by his providence may take us off from our callings for a time, yet when the occasion is over we ought with humility and industry to apply ourselves to them again, and, in the calling wherein we are called, faithfully to abide with God, 1 Cor. vii. 24.

II. Noah’s sin and shame: He planted a vineyard; and, when he had gathered his vintage, probably he appointed a day of mirth and feasting in his family, and had his sons and their children with him, to rejoice with him in the increase of his house as well as in the increase of his vineyard; and we may suppose he prefaced his feast with a sacrifice to the honour of God. If this was omitted, it was just with God to leave him to himself, that he who did not begin with God might end with the beasts; but we charitably hope that it was not: and perhaps he appointed this feast with a design, at the close of it, to bless his sons, as Isaac, ch. xxvii. 3, 4, That I may eat, and that my soul may bless thee. At this feast he drank of the wine; for who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit of it? But he drank too liberally, more than his head at this age would bear, for he was drunk. We have reason to think he was never drunk before nor after; observe how he came now to be overtaken in this fault. It was his sin, and a great sin, so much the worse for its being so soon after a great deliverance; but God left him to himself, as he did Hezekiah (2 Chron. xxxii. 31), and has left this miscarriage of his upon record, to teach us,

1. That the fairest copy that ever mere man wrote since the fall had its blots and false strokes. It was said of Noah that he was perfect in his generations (ch. vi. 9), but this shows that it is meant of sincerity, not a sinless perfection.

2. That sometimes those who, with watchfulness and resolution, have, by the grace of God, kept their integrity in the midst of temptation, have, through security, and carelessness, and neglect of the grace of God, been surprised into sin, when the hour of temptation has been over. Noah, who had kept sober in drunken company, is now drunk in sober company. Let him that thinks he stands take heed.

3. That we have need to be very careful, when we use God’s good creatures plentifully, lest we use them to excess. Christ’s disciples must take heed lest at any time their hearts be overcharged, Luke xxi. 34. Now the consequence of Noah’s sin was shame. He was uncovered within his tent, made naked to his shame, as Adam when he had eaten forbidden fruit. Yet Adam sought concealment; Noah is so destitute of thought and reason that he seeks no covering. This was a fruit of the vine that Noah did not think of. Observe here the great evil of the sin of drunkenness.

(1.) It discovers men. What infirmities they have, they betray when they are drunk, and what secrets they are entrusted with are then easily got out of them. Drunken porters keep open gates.

(2.) It disgraces men, and exposes them to contempt. As it shows them, so it shames them. Men say and do that when drunk which when they are sober they would blush at the thoughts of, Hab. ii. 15, 16.

III. Ham’s impudence and impiety: He saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren, v. 22. To see it accidentally and involuntarily would not have been a crime; but,

1. He pleased himself with the sight, as the Edomites looked up on the day of their brother (Obad. 12), pleased, and insulting. Perhaps Ham had sometimes been himself drunk, and reproved for it by his good father, whom he was therefore pleased to see thus overcome. Note, It is common for those who walk in false ways themselves to rejoice at the false steps which they sometimes see others make. But charity rejoices not in iniquity, nor can true penitents that are sorry for their own sins rejoice in the sins of others.

2. He told his two brethren without (in the street, as the word is), in a scornful deriding manner, that his father might seem vile unto them. It is very wrong,

(1.) To make a jest of sin (Prov. xiv. 9), and to be puffed up with that for which we should rather mourn, 1 Cor. v. 2. And,

(2.) To publish the faults of any, especially of parents, whom it is our duty to honour. Noah was not only a good man, but had been a good father to him; and this was a most base disingenuous requital to him for his tenderness. Ham is here called the father of Canaan, which intimates that he who was himself a father should have been more respectful to him that was his father.

IV. The pious care of Shem and Japheth to cover their poor father’s shame, v. 23. They not only would not see it themselves, but provided that no one else might see it, herein setting us an example of charity with reference to other men’s sin and shame; we must not only not say, A confederacy, with those that proclaim it, but we must be careful to conceal it, or at least to make the best of it, so doing as we would be done by.

1. There is a mantle of love to be thrown over the faults of all, 1 Pet. iv. 8.

2. Besides this, there is a robe of reverence to be thrown over the faults of parents and other superiors.
- Matthew Henry Commentary

Genesis 9:12-17 [show/hide]Genesis 9:12-17 [12]And 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 cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. [14]When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, [15]I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. [16]When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." [17]God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth." (ESV)

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Articles of agreement among men are usually sealed, that the covenants may be the more solemn, and the performances of the covenants the more sure, to mutual satisfaction. God therefore, being willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his councils, has confirmed his covenant by a seal (Heb. vi. 17), which makes the foundations we build on stand sure, 2 Tim. ii. 19. The seal of this covenant of nature was natural enough; it was the rainbow, which, it is likely, was seen in the clouds before, when second causes concurred, but was never a seal of the covenant till now that it was made so by a divine institution. Now, concerning this seal of the covenant, observe,

1. This seal is affixed with repeated assurances of the truth of that promise of which it was designed to be the ratification: I do set my bow in the cloud (v. 13); it shall be seen in the cloud (v. 14), that the eye may affect the heart and confirm the faith; and it shall be the token of the covenant (v. 12, 13), and I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, v. 15. Nay, as if the Eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, v. 16. Thus here is line upon line, that we might have sure and strong consolation who have laid hold of this hope.

2. The rainbow appears when the clouds are most disposed to wet, and returns after the rain; when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, then God shows this seal of the promise that it shall not prevail. Thus God obviates our fears with such encouragements as are both suitable and seasonable.

3. The thicker the cloud the brighter the bow in the cloud. Thus, as threatening afflictions abound, encouraging consolations much more abound, 2 Cor. i. 5.

4. The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath; and the clouds are hemmed as it were with the rainbow, that they may not overspread the heavens, for the bow is coloured rain or the edges of a cloud gilded.

5. The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun, which intimates that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness, who is also described with a rainbow about his throne (Rev. iv. 3), and a rainbow upon his head (Rev. x. 1), which intimates, not only his majesty, but his mediatorship.

6. The rainbow has fiery colours in it, to signify that though God will not again drown the world, yet, when the mystery of God shall be finished, the world shall be consumed by fire.

7. A bow bespeaks terror, but this bow has neither string nor arrow, as the bow ordained against the persecutors has (Ps. vii. 12, 13), and a bow alone will do little execution. It is a bow, but it is directed upwards, not towards the earth; for the seals of the covenant were intended to comfort, not to terrify.

8. 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.
- Matthew Henry Commentary