Londonderry Mission

 

Noel Shields and I enjoyed a week long gospel mission in Londonderry FPC, preceded by 5 days of door to door evangelism in the immediate area of the church. The following links are to the Sermon Audio recordings of my messages:

* Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16)

* God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:14)

* Bread enough and to spare in the Father's House (Luke 15:17) 

The other mission messages are available on the Londonderry FPC page on Sermon Audio. 

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Bishop Hall

Bishop Joseph Hall

I first came across Bishop Hall, I suppose, about 10-12 years ago when I bought the 3 volume hard back Soli Deo Gloria reprint of "Hall's Contemplations" new for the grand sum of £35.00 (Still a lot of money) CH Spurgeon gave these volumes a great commendation in his Commenting and Commentaries. He wrote:

"Need I commend Bishop Hall's Contemplations to your affection attention? What wit! [wisdom]  What sound sense! What concealed learning! His style is as pithy and witty as that of Thomas Fuller, and it has a sacred unction about it, to which Fuller has no pretension." 

At a recent visit to John Gowan's bookshop, I picked up an odd hard back volume (1/10) of Hall's works for the grand sum of £15.00. It was printed in 1808 and is a very clean copy. It contains 43 of the good Bishop's sermons. Seeing some of these sermons run to about 22 pages, then obviously the good Bishop must have been one of those preachers who had an hour glass beside him and when the sand run done, just turned it over and let it start again. The last sermon I read, however, on Judging not according to appearance, was preached before the King (James I of KJV fame) and ran to just 9 pages in print. I suppose His Majesty wasn't going to tolerate what others tolerated. Spurgeon says it all in his comments above. In the marathon sermons, I tend to read his introduction at one sitting and then his points at separate sittings. It is all good stuff, with plenty of #RealMeat and definitely #NoFluff, although I am not sure where he was going with one sermon in particular (preached in two parts at an annual service - one half one year and the other half the next.) Even great men don't connect all the time. But I would give these sermons a good mark out of 10, taking off a little because of their length. 

Bishop Hall was a Calvinist. He was very Anglican in his views, which meant that he didn't get into the same trouble other Calvinists tended to get into with James I and his sacerdotal friend like Laud. That said, he probably wasn't over appreciated by the Presbyterians and other Non Conformists etc. James I wanted him to go to the Synod of Dort in 1618 to represent Britain in the debate with the Arminians but he fell ill and another took his place. 

The last sermon I read was on the "Deceit of Appearance" from John 7:24 "Judge not from appearance, but judge righteous judgement." After a few (OK quite a few) words of introduction, he got to his main points. If we should judge according to appearance, then we would: 

[i] Think basely of the Saviour of the World
[ii] Scornfully overlook the ordinances of God
[iii] See God's children as woeful and His enemies as great
[iv] Recognize all that glitters as gold and all as dross that does not glisten
[v] See false religion as true and true religion as false
[vi] See good as evil and evil as good

The Puritans or Puritan types regularly had great sermon titles. The next sermon I am due to read is on Jeremiah 17:9 on the heart being deceitful above all things. The first page reads like this:

SERMON IX

THE GREAT IMPOSTOR:

LAID OPEN IN A SERMON AT GRAY'S INN, FEBRUARY 2, 1622

***

TO THE MOST NOBLE, AND WORTHILY HONOURED

SOCIETY OF GRAY'S INN:

AT WHOSE BAR THIS IMPOSTOR WAS OPENLY ARRAIGNED:

JOSEPH HALL 

HUMBLY DEDICATES THIS PUBLIC LIFE OF HIS WEAK AND UNWORTHY LABOUR 

If you can get hold of any of Hall's stuff - whether the reprinted Contemplations or even his sermons and works, then be assured (unless you are paying an exorbitant price) that they will be worth the money. 

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Charles Hodge Sermons

Click on photgraph to enlarge

My light and encouraging reading at the moment is this hard back biography of great Princeton theologian Charles Hodge by his son, A.A. Hodge, which I picked up second hand back in the summer. I have several of Charles Hodge's books including his commentaries on Romans, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians and 2/3 of his Systematic Theology set. The opening line of his biography tells us that his Presbyterian ancestors sailed to the United States from the "north of Ireland" which, to an Ulster Scot like me, is the cherry on the cake. The first book I ever picked up by Charles  I Hodge was his book of outlines of sermons back in the early 1980's which he delivered to the Princeton students on the Sabbath afternoons in that great bastion of Reformed theology. This is still in print. I have always found them useful. 

Hodge's commentaries received great recommendations from CH Spurgeon who said:

"Hodge's method and matter make him doubly useful in commenting. He is singularly clear, and a great promoter of thought." (Comments on Hodge's Romans commentary)

"The more we use Hodge, the more we value him. This applies to all his commentaries." (Comments on Hodge's I and II Corinthians commentary)

"Most valuable. With no writer do we more fully agree."
(Comments on Hodge's Ephesians commentary)

From Spurgeon's Autobriography, we get the following information:

Mr. Spurgeon desired to possess a specimen of the manuscript of Dr. Charles Hodge, Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.; and, in reply to a note to that effect, addressed to his son, Dr. A. A. Hodge, the latter wrote the kind letter printed next.

“Princeton,
“New Jersey,
“July 1st, 1879.
“Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon,

“Dear Sir,“I thank you very much for your kind note, relating to the Outlines, received yesterday. Your many friends, on this side of the ocean, have been anxious about your health, as we have received irregular, and imperfect, and perhaps irresponsible reports of it from time to time. I sincerely trust that it is re-established fundamentally and permanently. ‘Yet I am sure that God has warned you, as the trusted steward of His gifts, not to work so hard and continuously. “I send you, herewith, two of my father’s papers, prepared for the Conferences held by the Professors and students, every Sabbath afternoon, in our Oratory. ‘Nelson, of Edinburgh, has just published a volume containing 249 of them. These I send you are originals in my father handwriting.

“May the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, bless you with all blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord!
“Give my best respects to Mrs. Spurgeon.

“Yours sincerely,
“A. A. HODGE.”

 Worth getting...



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principle 4

 

SOME POSTCARD ENGLISH SERMON NOTES 

A SERIES ON THE PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION: 
READ: JOHN 6:63 FLESH PROFITS NOTHING

... the flesh profiteth nothing...

Principle: gleaned from one/most controversial passages/Bible. Not our intention to look at this debate (Between Rome and  Protestants on the so called Real Presence) but suffice/say: That the spiritual interpretation (Protestant) will always prevail over the RC one, because Rome wants us to take the fleshly road and our text puts the nail/coffin: Flesh profits nothing. These words/Jesus were spiritual words (v63) and intended to be taken spiritually. But this is a debate for another day. 


When we come to Scripture, we must ever remember that anything done in the flesh - even if done by an otherwise spiritual man/God - can never profit. "FAILURE" written over it, even it appears to be succeeding. Flesh can never profit. 


1) HOW THE FLESH MANIFESTS ITSELF:

The flesh is anything done without the help of the Spirit/God.
Has its origins in the heart/man and although it might appear to be acceptable (heart/man is deceitful) yet it is not so.


A/ Sometimes the flesh is very blatant: Key passage: Galatians 5:19-21 (Quote)
Ought to be pretty obvious when these things appear that they are most unprofitable.

B/ But sometimes the flesh is not so noticeable/apparent.
Devil is a deceiver and where the most blatant fails to prevail, he will rework his approach and try to be less obvious.
If he succeeds in this, then although we might not be outwardly fleshly, yet flesh it is and therefore seen or not, of no profit.
Please consider this:


[i] If you come across a passage where someone is fighting in their own strength, then you cannot interpret it as a profitable thing to do.
Do not imitate them. Examples:
Joshua/Ai (Joshua 7) Routed even with superior manpower.
David ordering the headcount despite Joab's rebuke (2 Samuel 24)
Avoided: Gideon when Lord reduced army of 30,000 to 300.

[ii] Fleshly when men seek to do something in their own wisdom: 

Distinctly told: Lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)
Joshua again failed here: Asked not counsel/mouth of the Lord (9:14) & spared the Gibeonites.
Paul excelled here: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 & so a profitable ministry. "I kept back nothing that was profitable to thee" (Acts 20:20)
How was this? Avoided the flesh. He delivered not his own wisdom, although his Rabbinical training could've kept him supplied. 


[iii] Becomes fleshly when men seek their own timing. 

Hence we are told with great emphasise to "Wait upon the Lord…wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 27:14/37:7) Those men whose lives profited most were those who walked with God i.e. walked in step with God. As we read of Enoch/Noah, then interpret/passage in light of our principle: Flesh profits nothing. There was nothing fleshly in these men. 


[iv] See/flesh when we read of those who adopted their own methods. 

Never right to leave the Book. Emphasised to Moses: See that he do according to the pattern shown him/mount (Hebrews 8:5) When Uzzah helped introduce the new cart for the ark/God, he introduced a new/novel method and  was so fleshly that he died. Ultimate loss. 


[v] Flesh seen, when we read of men seeking their own glory. 

Consider men like Joab/Jehu. Men who fought on the right side, but there was ever an undercurrent of self seeking. Subsequently, Joab failed to make the list of David's mighty men. His glory was fleshly & therefore unworthy of God's praise. 


2) WHY THE FLESH IS SO UNPROFITABLE


A/ If the flesh is the outworking of the heart/man (Those things which are the works/flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 are said to flow from/heart: Mark 7:21-23) then we learn from the fruit that the heart of man is sinful. It never pays to sin. Sin is the ultimate loss maker. It costs to sin. 


B/ The flesh cannot claim the purposes/God. When a man sets out to promote the gospel and holiness etc., he can count on the help/God in this matter, because it is God's declared purpose that one day holiness will reign. Reign/holiness marks the ultimate passing away of sin/fleshiness. Purposes/God oppose the flesh and since the purposes/God always prevail, then flesh/unprofitable.


C/ Similar thought: The flesh cannot claim the support/God. Practical outworking/purposes of God. God always sustains His own work. So David is preserved while Saul perishes. David is supported/preserved while fleshly wise Ahithophel hangs himself. Greedy Judas effectively negotiates his own death. The very thing Ciaphas sought to avoid - destruction by the Romans - came to pass. Why? No support from God. 


D/ Flesh is so unprofitable because it will be burned up. Build your future on those precious stones. To build it on the imaginations of the flesh is to endure a great loss. 


3) HOW WE CAN BEST DEAL WITH THE FLESH

As apply these principles, we are forced to see how we can deal with the flesh. To what end do we interpret our Bibles? Much more than to possess mere head knowledge. As we come across the flesh in the lives/various people in the Bible, we must be forced back to the same Book for principles enabling us to deal with it in our own lives. 


A/ Recognise our proneness to the flesh. Fleshly without the least effort. The battle is to be spiritually fought. Every day, we must fight this battle again. And the next day and the next etc.


B/ Recognise & appropriate the reason why Christ came, died & rose again i.e. that He might destroy the works/Devil i.e. the flesh. We cannot fight the flesh in the flesh. The flesh must win! If you beat yourself at chess, then who won? Who lost? Yourself! By seeking to apply the victory/Calvary, we will be able to resist the flesh & seek to make our decisions etc., in the power/Spirit of God. That's when we start to profit. 


C/ Bible gives us an interesting/decisive instruction as to what to do about the flesh: Best summed up in Galatians 5:24 They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Pretty decisive is it not? It needs to be done every day. OT illustration of it was when Samuel hewed Agag in pieces. Despite Agag's heart wrenching pleas. By contrast, Saul had let him live. Fleshly and  through it Saul lost his throne. Unprofitable. 


D/ These things frighten us and we say: "I can't!" Cry to God in prayer and tell Him and He has vouched you the help you need. 


4) GOD'S ALTERNATIVE TO THE FLESH:

A/ Text: It is the Spirit that quickeneth. Galatians 5 & elsewhere all point us to the help of the Spirit/God. We are to be spirit filled etc., We are to walk in the Spirit etc., 


B/ The Spirit is there for every child/God: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)


So here is another principle/Bible interpretation. The flesh can never profit. It may appear to be most profitable. The prosperity of the wicked was a thorn to several/Bible (Job 21/Psalm 73) but ultimately the wicked died and  perished while those who ever did God's will shall never see death but reign with Him eternally. 

THE END 

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principles 2

 

SOME POSTCARD ENGLISH SERMON NOTES 

 A SERIES ON THE PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION:

READ: JOHN 3:19 THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN

  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Last study, we concentrated our thoughts on that great truth which is foundational to every other truth/Bible: Sovereignty/God.  We asked and answered a fundamental question last week: Why is God sovereign? Because He cannot be anything else. Being King/Universe is not what God does. It is what God is. To be anything else/less would mean that He is not God.  This study, we must (for the sake/balance) as eagerly proclaim the parallel truth: MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY.

 Although the doctrine/divine sovereignty is a million miles away from the pagan notion of fatalism, yet unbalanced thinking can drive us into the fatalistic camp. Avoid! If your thoughts/divine sovereignty lead you to sit back and simply wait/God to act without the use/means then you have succumbed to fatalistic thinking and you have no support from the word/God.

When we talk about man's responsibility, we refer to  the fact that he is held responsible by God for the things which he thinks/says/does. He cannot blame anyone else, least of all God, even when God displays His sovereign power. This is fast becoming a lost truth not only in doctrine but in every day life. But we want to re-establish it in this message. 


1) GOD CALLS MAN TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS ACTIONS:

A/ Here is an important truth re: fall/man. Man lost his ability through sin (again: he was responsible for his actions) to serve and please God. Unholy bent/bias towards sin captured Adam's heart when he fell which was also passed on to Adam's seed i.e. the human race.  Three verses put this sinful bias beyond dispute: Genesis 6:5/Jeremiah 17:9/Matthew 7:17-18 


B/ Even though man lost his ability (through his sinful choice) to serve God alright, yet he did not lose his responsibility: an important note. Man cannot sin himself out of responsibility towards God. God cannot surrender up His role as Judge of the Universe.  So man is locked into a situation whereby when he sins - and he always sins willingly - he must be held responsible for his actions & yet he is also a slave to sin. It is this fact which the Lord Jesus highlighted/text. No mitigating circumstances. No clever lawyer to argue man out/his responsibility. Where deeds are reckoned to be sinful, then the doer is held totally responsible.  Consider Cain/Abel: What hast thou done? (Genesis 4:10)  Cain has slain his righteous brother Abel in the field & immediately he is called to account for the fact. He is suitably punished for the deed & the whole tenor/passage is that Cain is guilty. Later testified to in 1 John 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 


C/ Not only does the Book/God testify to man's wickedness and accountability, but also his own conscience. Conscience is God's fifth columnist within your heart. True, it differs from person/person in its regularity/severity etc., but it still operates. Testifies to the wickedness/man when it is declared to be enough to damn the heathen who never hear the gospel: For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another (Romans 2:14-15) 


D/ The coming Day/Judgement will also bear witness to this great fact. Men will be judged on their secrets (Romans 2:16) Their words - idle/otherwise - (Matthew 12:36) - Their deeds (Romans 2:6) Not only acknowledging them, but giving a full account (Romans 14:12) and receiving punishment for them because held responsible. Just as the conscience often terrifies men here on earth to amazing lengths, what can we say of that Great Judgement Day: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17) A Christian who has his conscience purged/blood of Christ does no so fear that day. His sins are forgiven and so will not be mentioned (Ezekiel 33:16) or even remembered again (Hebrews 10:17) 


2) GOD IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY NEVER VIOLATES MAN'S FREE AGENCY:

Having now established these two great truths (God's sovereignty and man's responsibility)…what happens when they appear to clash? God and man just don't go their separate ways and never the twain shall meet. 


A/ God intervenes in the affairs/men. Indeed: According to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11) We know that these all things extend not only to good incidents ("Give us this day our daily bread") but even to wicked things. If it didn't, then Romans 8:28 wouldn't be much of a promise. 


B/ OLD CHESTNUT: How can God ordain wicked events without being the author/sin? We know the Cross was ordained/God: For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. (Acts 4:27-28) Cannot be any clearer/plainer. 

God did not make the best of a bad job at Calvary. Whole event was ordained. Christ suffered as it was determined before of God that he would. And yet it would be better for Judas (who betrayed Him) had Judas never be born (Luke 22:22) Again, although Christ was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)  God's sovereignty and yet man's responsibility were preached with equal clarity and fervently to unsaved people. How reconciled?  Ans:- Although God ordains sinful events, making them absolute certain, yet He never coerces wicked men against their will. We know that often He restrains wicked men (Psalm 76:10) This is a mercy to all - perpetrator/victim alike - but sometimes He just takes the brake off and lets them at it. They are acting freely and so accountably and yet God is using the event for His own righteous ends. May be the same event etc., but they are working from two different standpoints & so one is holy (God) & one (man) is sinful. When Peter spoke of the God ordained betrayal of Christ by Judas, he rightly concluded: Judas by transgression fell (Acts 1:25) Put responsibility were it belonged i.e. on wicked Judas.


3) MAN IS CALLED UPON TO REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL:

A/ The gospel does something before it saves. Tacitly condemns. A man who applies for gospel help admits he cannot save himself (Luke 5:31-32) Other notions keep him from the gospel. A man who seeks/gospel is convinced of two things:

[i] His own sinfulness and accountability:
[ii] His own total and utter helplessness.

We preach both. We believe that even repentance/faith lie beyond sinful man's natural ability (Ephesians 2:1) yet we still (Apostolic succession) urge both upon men. Why?

[i] Inability does not negate responsibility. Man forfeits by his sin his spiritual eyesight etc., Willingly ignorant (2 Peter 3:5) It is not for us to forgo such preaching. God has claims on men whether they can meet them or not.

[ii] Evident that through such preaching that God uses these means to impart the very things he requires. Not for us to work out how or why. Fact: He does: Romans 10:17/James 1:18


B/ When we so preach the gospel, we do so in a way that brings man's responsibility/fore. So we plead with men as responsible beings. We reason with and seek to persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11) Not just a matter of setting forth a few truths and  let them have them if they will. Men are not robots, void of any responsibility. We seek (by the secret help/God) to galvanise men into evangelical action i.e. to strive to enter in (by faith) into everlasting life. 


4) IF MAN IS LOST…HE CAN ONLY BLAME HIMSELF:

 A/ The gospel offer cannot be any wider than it is (Romans 10:13)
No man has the right to assume/no salvation for him. Sin/unbelief holds him back.  


B/ Bible uses language that is consistent with this line/reasoning: Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11 ) 

Again: Wicked shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12)
Why be lost? Appeal. 

THE END

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book5

Title of the Book: Sermons in Times of Persecution in Scotland
Author: Various Publisher: Tentmaker
Publisher's address or where the book may be obtained: Gowan Books, Springfield, Co. Fermanagh
Year of publication: 1880 (reprint 2003)
Number of pages: 674 Hardback or paperback: Hardback
Price: £20.00 ISBN: 1-899003 -95-9

Note: From time to time, I review books for the British Church Newspaper.  Here is the review I wrote for this John Bunyan Classic.

A picture on the front cover helps set the scene for us as we read these sermons. A large crowd of Presbyterian Covenanters are on bended knee in solemn prayer as a preacher pleads with the God of Heaven for their Beloved and Covenanted land of Scotland. Judging from their countenances, they are confessing their sins, while the presence of armed look outs at the back of the picturing denotes the great danger that they are in for merely gathering together in such a fashion i.e. death for treason and rebellion.

You need to be acquainted with Alexander's Smellie's "Men of the Covenant" or Jock Purves' "Fair Sunshine" which tells the story of the Covenanters to fully appreciate these sermons. The godly in Scotland (along with England and Ireland) had covenanted to give their land to God and obey His laws and reject Popery and Prelacy and all manner of sin. Those in authority, notably the treacherous Stuart line of kings, but also with their Scottish collaborators (even in the ministry) declined to do so, despite their own oaths. As far as the Covenanters were concerned, this breaking of the covenant brought the wrath of God upon them. This was seen in the fact that many Covenanters (the salt o' the earth and the gospel licht in the midst of their present evil world) were hunted down like beasts and shot. There are sermons here by those who would, within days or weeks, become martyrs for Jesus Christ.

By limiting the choice of sermons to the various "Killing Times" in Scotland, the compiler hems us in to a particular type of sermon. Although there are some choice sermons here that open up the beauty of Jesus Christ and the freeness of the gospel offer etc., and are enjoyable, many of them are warning sermons. Doubtless needful in their day and indicative of the consistent belief among these heroes of the rightness of their cause, but to read (as I have done) several dozen of them served to depress more than to uplift. Perhaps a smaller selection would have been more appropriate, accompanied with as many of their more positive sermons, free of the constant reminder of their historical setting. In other words, any gripe I have is with the compiler rather than the various preachers.

The reviewer is an Ulster Scots Presbyterian whose folk came from the lowlands of Scotland. I would like to think that my ancestors were indeed on the Covenanting side of the battle. These were the people who gave us Samuel Rutherford and Richard Cameron and the two Margaret known as the Whigtown Martyrs.  Perhaps they were instead among the persecutors or the moderate Presbyterians who conformed to the demands of the authorities. I cannot tell. But I can read the various biographical notes of the various preachers here and remember that to live for Jesus Christ in any day and age is to swim against the tide, even if the toleration levels are considerably higher than back in the 17th Century in the Mitherland.  

THE END

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vision

1 SAMUEL 3:1-21 TEXT: v1 "NO OPEN VISION/THOSE DAYS"

  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli.  And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

Here is proof: the Lord can be served in all kinds of circumstances:

[i] Samuel was but a child and so limited in many ways. The Holy Spirit records that he ministered unto the Lord

[ii] Samuel served under the tutelage (again with restraints) of old Eli. Whilst this might have been of some advantage, yet Eli's life/testimony left much to be desired (2:29) Would be unfair to be very hard on Eli - his advice to Samuel when the Lord was speaking to him was invaluable advice (v9) 

[iii] There was no open vision in those days. Not only did he not have a full canon/Scripture (only completed around 96AD when John finished writing revelation) but there was no ongoing revelation either at that time: (text)

Important to note that Samuel did have access to some Scripture. He had at least the 5 books of Moses, and chronologically at least, the Book of Joshua, Judges and Ruth. You can't serve God without some knowledge. Acceptable service is built on and flows from faith and true faith is built on knowledge: I know whom I have believed and am persuaded…

But in those days, the going was exceedingly tough, and yet Samuel still maintained a veritable testimony for God: 2:21/2:26

I accept that the Bible says that Samuel did not yet know the Lord (v7) but I do not take this to mean re: salvation. He did not know the Lord speaking to Him in a prophetic sense - a consequence of the word/Lord being precious or rare in those days.

It is this last part - the scarcity of prophesies from the Lord- that we will examine. 

1) THE REASONS WHY THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION AT THAT TIME:
A number of reasons may be advanced why this is so:

A/ God is sovereign in the dispensing/timing of His revelations.
Man cannot work his way towards creating conditions when God MUST reveal something more about Himself and His purposes.
God speaks when and how He will and always when it suits Him.
If God did not speak, then we know little about Him.
As it is:  Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? (Job 26:14)
E.W. Bullinger renders this verse:
"Lo, these are but the outlines of His way, a whisper only, that we hear of Him: His wondrous power, who then, can comprehend?"

Flesh/blood has not revealed unto the doctrines we now contend for.
Eye hath not seen nor ear heard…but the Spirit has revealed them unto us and has done so in a sovereign manner.

B/ Another reason why there was no open vision then was that God did not give us a full revelation all at one time.
He, very wisely, filtered all information to us over a long period/time.
Sometimes, it came very slowly - Other times, it flowed freely: Consider the many Psalms which came to us in David's lifetime Consider the many Proverbs which came to us in Solomon's  lifetime

In Galatians 4, Paul described this process as being like the pupil sitting under a Schoolmaster
No one learns by being swamped with tonnes/information at one time.

C/ But there was another, more sinister, element at play also:
We have already considered God's sovereign ways…but now we have man's responsibilities.
We must view the relative silence/God here in the light/context.
Which is this: Israel at this time had sunk into great sin against God.

[i] Among the God fearing people - Samuel's mother was 1/2 wives of his father (1:1-2) 

Polygamy always brought sorrow/Bible.

[ii] The sons/Eli as priests were very wicked people (2:12-17/22-25)
They were eventually judged for their sin (2:25/3:11-14/4:11)

[iii] Eli, although basically a good man, was lax about his sons (2:29)

And this sad typical scene/Israel may be attributed: scarcity/word.

2) THE CONSEQUENCES OF NO OPEN VISION:

A/ Positively, the word/God was precious - what the saints did have, they held dear to themselves, meditating often upon it and cherishing it, feeding upon it and esteeming it more than their meat and drink

B/ Negatively…it had a most adverse affect upon the people:
Where there is no vision…the people perish (Proverbs 29:18)

 
Seen again: Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD. (Lamentation 2:9)

 
Lord Grey said: "The lamps were going out all over Europe"  - a reference to the beckoning WWI when millions perished.

Likewise…when the demand for the word/God plummets (as it is doing all over Europe again and the West in general) then men/women die in their sins - uninstructed, unconverted and unsaved (Romans 10:14-17)

C/ Let us not think that such a calamity affects only the heathens whether of the East/West - that only unsaved folk suffer.
It is true too of the Church/Jesus Christ.
Any discernible thirsting for the word/God among professing saints?
Many Evangelical churches no longer preach the word/God!
Might believe it, but only because it has been preached faithfully in the past
They are living on their capital - they have substituted a fun/games mentality for the word/God. Any Bible study is a superficial tag on.
This will lead to the demise of that church - just as giving up eating wholesome food has a detrimental effect on your health.

D/ Soon the Lord was to speak again
He spoke through a man of God to Eli (2:27ff)
He would speak again through Samuel, who seems to be put at the head of a whole line of prophets: Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.  (Acts 3:24)
Often his messengers were prophets speaking of wrath, but at least, the voice/Lord was heard in the land and preached repentance, which at the  very least suggests pardon/mercy from a gracious God.

3) THE BLESSINGS OF AN OPEN VISION IN OUR DAY:

A/ We have already considered the idea of a partial revelation, given over a long period/time. It took about 4,000 years to write the OT.
It took only 100 years to write the whole/NT.

We have now a complete canon/Scripture - No more revelations from God - and so a rejection of the Charismatic Movement and the likes of Benny Hinn and other "faith prophets" 

We have a complete Bible.
We are not looking for the Lord to give more revelations, but to instruct us as to what is already written in the full canon/Scripture.
Hence our prayer: Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes…etc.,

B/ What advantages we have at this time

[i] Our knowledge of the Lord Jesus and His work is much more than even the Prophets.
Although, it is to the prophets we turn (in the Bible) yet we do so in the light/gospel narratives and the epistles.
We don't read Isaiah 53 and ask: Of whom spake the prophet? (Acts 8:34)

[ii] The prophets desired to see/hear the things we now take for granted (Matthew 13:16-17) See also Hebrews 11:39-40.

[iii] Again, we have a fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit than them.
Although we should not minimise their experiences, yet we should recognise/appreciate and make the most of ours.
Think of how stale the Jewish church went in the days/our Lord.
Think of the writings/commentaries that buried the Bible's message.
By comparison: Think of the hundreds of mighty commentaries - Matthew Henry/Calvin/Spurgeon etc., we have in our day

All because we have the full canon/Scripture in our day.

4) THE RESPONSIBILITIES  THAT ACCOMPANY OUR BLESSINGS:

A/ Israel/Samuel's day did not take full advantage of their privileges.
That cannot remain a static situation - soon despised the Giver (2:30)
It is our responsibility (as well as our joy/pleasure) to take full advantage of all that we have in our full revelation age.

B/ How well do you know your Bible? 

Do you read it daily? 

Do you read it to learn more about its Glorious Author? 

Do you obey it?
Does this Book keep you from sin or does sin keep you from this Book? (Bunyan)
Do you meditate upon it?

Is your experience that of Solomon: When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. (Proverbs 6:22)
If not: It should be and it can be and it can be now.
Jesus said: Search the Scriptures (John 5:39)
Let's cry out to God for a hunger/thirst for His word.

THE END

INDEXES:

* CALVINIST INDEX
* PROTESTANT INDEX
* CH SPURGEON INDEX
* EVANGELISM INDEX
* HERE AND THERE INDEX

jobdelivered

Hast thou considered my righteous servant, Job?

.READING: JOB 42:1-17 TEXT: v10 

JOB'S CAPTIVITY REVERSED

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 

The NT commentary on Job's many/varied experiences: James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Job's sufferings/experiences had become proverbial - cp. even today

4 main points:

1) JOB'S EXPERIENCES HAD BEEN A TIME OF CAPTIVITY:

A/ Captivity is usually an involuntary thing.
People are carried away into captivity (Psalm 137:3)
Job never knocked Heaven's door and asked to be so afflicted

B/ Satan was Job's captor (chapters 1-2)
A more cruel, vicious, malignant jailer could hardly be found
Away above any physical afflictions, he wanted Job to curse God and die
Came to Job (cp Adam/Eve) through his wife (2:9-10)

C/ It had been long, wearisome and very painful for Job
Job's longings for death etc., all catalogued and may be mulled over

D/ No earthly help had been afforded to Job during this time:
His wife & family (as seen) was no help
His friends (Job's comforters) were no comfort at all
He relates his social problems: compare/contrast style (29/30)

E/ Who is to say that it could not happen again?
Or similar to any of us? Hence: Romans 15:4/1 Corinthians 10:11

2) THE LORD REVERSED JOB'S TIME/CAPTIVITY: 

A/ Not enough to say that God was able to do so.
Allies were able to defeat Hitler, but only after a great effort, much delay and bloodshed

Touch and go

Humanly speaking, Hitler could've won

B/ God was able to do so, because God had given Satan permission in the first place to so afflict/captivate Job (1/2)
It was all planned/executed and totally controlled by a Sovereign God
 

[i] Bible teaches this everywhere/Scripture: Eph 1:11/
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
Not only in a general sense…but particular sense re: saints:
Romans 8:28/Psalm 37:23

[ii] Job admitted to such: 1:21 The Lord...taketh away
(Dake's notes say Job was greatly mistaken here…not so)
It was this which kept Job during those long, painful hours

[iii] Had this been out of control at any time,God would have ceased to have been sovereign and therefore ceased to be God! 

.C/ At the correct moment, God brought the trial/Job to an end
Satan had to back off - a defeated foe, exposed (again) as a shameless liar and tin pot wannabe god! 

.3) JOB PROSPERED SPIRITUALLY DURING HIS TIME/CAPTIVITY:

A/ Although Job was in pretty good shape spiritually (1:1) before the captivity begun, there is no doubt it took its toll upon him.
If Elihu was sent of God (Some commentators dispute that he was) then Job stood in need of some rebuke (32:2) [Note: Elihu was not condemned/God] 

B/ Yet even in the midst of his sufferings/failures, Job yields us gems like the following:
Though He slay me…yet will I trust in Him (13:15)
I know my Redeemer liveth etc., (19:25-27)

C/ Job himself gives a wonderful picture of why he was tested: To come forth/gold (23:10) He would be a better believer

D/ Even/text: He was able to pray for his 3 so called friends who instead of bringing him comfort, only added to his afflictions (v9-10)

.4) JOB PROSPERED MATERIALLY AFTER  HIS TIME/CAPTIVITY:

A/ Given twice as much as before
Two lots of "head counts" are in 1:3/42:10-13

B/ It need not be necessarily so
No health/wealth gospel here!
 

[i] But it can be so, according as God sees our fitness to cope with such added responsibilities
 

[ii] Better it is not so, if such riches would pierce us through with many sorrows etc., (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
 

[iii] A good desire: Proverbs 30:8-9
Give us this day, our daily bread
But if God goes a lot further, let us use it as Job would (ch. 31) 

Conclude:
How good it is to be in God's hands and under the great promise of Romans 8:28 and the following verses, not least v37! 

THE END

ALL INDEXES:

* PROTESTANT INDEX 
* CALVINISM INDEX 
* CH SPURGEON INDEX  
* EVANGELISM INDEX  
* HERE AND THERE INDEX