CONTENTS This Chapter contains an interesting account of the appearance of an angel, with a message from God to Israel. The sacred historian also takes a retrospective view of Israel's conduct under Joshua, by way of pointing out their sad departure after his death. The people ' s behavior on the s... [ Continue Reading ]
I beg the Reader to remark with me the leading feature in the character of this angel, and then let him determine for himself whether it was not the Angel of the Covenant, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Who but God could make use of this language, I made you to go up out of Egypt? And who was it that s... [ Continue Reading ]
The effect of the Sermon of the angel was as might be supposed. They were stung to the heart in the recollection of God's mercy, and their unworthiness; and they wept. Bochim means weepers. Was not this sacrifice offered with an eye to the one great sacrifice? Let the Reader compare this passage wit... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses have a retrospective view to the history of Joshua, as before related. And perhaps the subject is here again introduced, by way of contrasting the sad apostasy of Israel, to what their conduct had been during the life of Joshua, and that generation. Alas! when good men perish from the e... [ Continue Reading ]
Here begins the sad account which the Holy Ghost hath caused to be recorded, of Israel's whoredom and idolatry, and which runs through all the future periods of their history, until they were unchurched. Sad, sad relation of poor human nature! And the more so, when we consider the resemblance it bea... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe in the Lord's punishment, what a correspondence between their sin and suffering. Thy backslidings shall reprove thee. Jeremiah 2:19. Reader! do not overlook the interest all God's people bear in this. Trace divine chastisements in your own experience, and you will not be far to learn, if so... [ Continue Reading ]
What a beautiful illustration is this of divine mercy? How sweetly doth it come in here, in proof of God's covenant love? Let the Reader never lose sight of it. And, if he wishes to bring into one and the same point of view, another precious example, let him read that most interesting representation... [ Continue Reading ]
All these verses fold up in their contents the two great leading points of the gospel doctrine, namely, human depravity, and divine benignity. In the forbearance of God, and the continued provocations of man, the language of the prophet meets us in all directions, and cries aloud, in all that is goi... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS MY soul! read again, and again, thine own history in this account of Israel's departure and backsliding. Can any portrait be more strikingly drawn! How hath the Lord overlooked and passed by thy disobedience! By how many messages of grace, like the angel from Gilgal, hath the Lord sent... [ Continue Reading ]