A Goodly Heritage

When men are so outrageous and behave so ill as to fill us with fear, we may mention their very depravity as a plea before God; for, if we are right, ‘the more cruel and unjust the conduct of our enemies may be, we have proportionally the better ground to believe that God will interpose on our behalf. Horne: “A victory gained by the fear of God over the fear of man is a necessary step, and a happy prelude, to a full and final triumph over every enemy of our salvation.”

If outwardly and to all human appearance the end of one of God’s people should resemble that of David’s foes, and he should fall by the sword, and his bones be scattered on the earth’s surface, as in verse 10; yet there is this for their joy that they sleep in Jesus, that their dust is precious in his eyes, and that their Redeemer lives, and will bring them with him in glory.

How blessed is the believer. At home, abroad, surrounded by friends, menaced by foes, in his own abode, in exile, he has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; “his soul hangeth upon him, as its chief, its only good. With God he sleeps, and with God he awakes, with God he lives, and with God he hopes to die.” He will soon be in glory singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb.

 His glory as a  PROPHET . He spoke with authority, and not as the scribes. He spoke with such power that the very men sent to arrest him were disarmed. When asked how this was, all they could answer was, "Never man spoke like this man." John 7:46. Those who heard him felt that the Searcher of hearts was speaking to them. As he himself was truth, all he said was true, and he was its author. He was also the substance of truth. He made known to us the true nature of God. He said, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9. Nor did any one else ever so reveal the true nature of God: "Neither knows any man the Father, but the Son, and he to whoever the Son will reveal him." Matt. 1:27. The reason why that which was spoken by the prophets was good and pure, was because they spoke by the Spirit of Christ. 1 Pet. 1:11. "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." Psalm 12:6. As he who...

ABSALOM  was the eldest son of David, whose mother was the daughter of a king. His name signifies "the father of peace" or "the peace of a father." It was not given him by prophecy, but only expressed the hopes entertained of him. He was probably a favorite with his father, was not well governed and became a spoiled child.  Many a parent is preparing wormwood and gall for his old age. When he was yet a young man, with much hypocrisy, malice and cunning, Absalom perpetrated the death of his wicked brother Amnon. Stained with his brother’s blood and fearing his father’s displeasure, he fled to his grandfather, Talmai, king of Geshur, who gave him refuge. But David loved Absalom and longed after him. In three years he yielded to an artful stratagem laid by the bloody Joab and executed by a woman of Tekoah for Absalom’s return. He was not, indeed, admitted into his father’s presence for two years.  Ambition is ever restless , and Absalom professed a willingness t...