64. MOUTH WAS OPENED. as foretold:-Lu. i. 20, § 1, p. 5. promise of opening of the mouth to Ezekiel :-ch. xxix. 21, In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.' the fulfilment:-xxxiii. 22, 'Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening... until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.' vision sealed up:-Is. xxix. 10-.2. 10, For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers bath he covered. 11, And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying. Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12, and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." at length shall speak:-Hab. ii. 2, 3. 2, And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3, For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.' the new song then to be sung:-Is. xlii. 9-12-see eh. xlii., the next column. compare with Rev. v. 10-4. 66. THE HAND OF THE LORD, &c. was with Joseph :-Ge. xxxix. 2, 3. 2, And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3, And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.' with disciples in preaching to the Gentiles:-Ac. xi. 21, And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.' see farther as to John:-Lu. 1. 80, § 3, p. 19. €8. BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. same:-1 Ki. i. 4, And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.'Ps. xli. 13, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.' new covenant blessing promised to Israel:-Je. xxxi. 31-4-see ch. xxxi. p. (39); Eze. xxxiv. 30-see ch. xxxiv. p. (20). only to be enjoyed in Christ:-Ga. iii. 13-29. NUMBERS XXVIII. 1-25. 1, And the LORD spake 2 unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a 4 continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou 5 offer at even [Heb. between the two evenings]; and a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by 7 fire unto the LORD. And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be 8 poured unto the LORD for a drink offering. And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering there10 of this is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without 12 spot; and three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, 13 for one ram; and a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by 14 fire unto the LORD. And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month 15 throughout the months of the year. And one kid of the oats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his 16 drink offering. And in the fourteenth day of the 17 first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days 18 shall unleavened bread be eaten. In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner 19 of servile work therein: but ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the 20 first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: and their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two 21 tenth deals for a ram; a several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 and one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement 23 for you. Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt 21 offering. After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice inade by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, 25 and his drink offering. And on the seventh, &c. sure to Israel:-Is. xli. 8-10. 8, But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,' &c.-see ch. xli. p. (41). their rejoicing when the vision is opened :-Is. xlii. 9—16. ISAIAH XLII. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judg2 ment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up. A 3 nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment 4 unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to 6 them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, 7 for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and thein that 8 sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give 9 to another, neither my praise to graven images. Be hold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you 10 of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the in11 habitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them 12 shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the 13 islands. The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, 14 yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing wo15 man; I will destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up 16 the pools. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the 18 molten images, Ye are our gods. Hear, ye deaf; and 19 look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's 20 servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest 21 not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he 22 will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for 23 a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for 21 the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. 68. VISITED. Israel in Egypt:-Ex. iii. 16, Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.' God visiting man:-Ps. viii. 4, What is man, that,' &c. visited his flock, the house of Judah, but Jerusalem knew not the time of her visitation:-Lu. xix. 44, § 82, And shall lay thee even,' &c. compare: Je. xiv. 8, O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?" shall see him again, when prepared to receive him :Zep. iii. 12-.7-see ver. 51, p. (12), SCATTERED THE PROUD,' under to be fulfilled in,' &c., first column. REDEEMED. sent redemption unto his people:-Ps. cxi. 9, 'He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.' their redemption contemplated:- Is. lxiii. 1-13-see p. (56). joy of the redeemed people:-Is. xxxv. 10, And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-li. 11, Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.' their Redeemer:-Is. liv. 5-8. 5. For thy Maker is thine husband,' &c.-see ch. liv. p. (89). their redemption consummated in the resurrection :Ho. xiii. 14, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.-1 Co. xv. 54, .5. 54, So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ?' 69. HORN. covenant with David :-Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4, 23, .4. 3, I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.' 23, And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague then that hate him. 24, But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.' in Zion shall it be :-Ps. cxxxii. 17, 'There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.' see for this salvation:-Zec. xii. 7-10. 7, The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8, In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9, And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10, And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.'-xiii. 1, 'In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.' 70. AS HE SPAKE. Israel spake of the people who should enjoy the blessing of redemption-Ge. xlviii. 14-22-see ch. xlviii. p. (43). of their Redeemer to come of Judah :-Ge. xlix. 8-10. 8, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9, Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10, The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.' Moses spake of the promised salvation :-De. xxxiii. 26-.9. 26, There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27, The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. 28, Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29, Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.' David spake:-2 Sa. xxiii. 2-5. 2, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4, And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds: as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5, Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.' words of the prophets confirmed by Christ:-Lu. xxiv. 26, .7, § 94 by Peter:-Ac. iii. 11-21-see APPENDIX-2 Pe. i. 21, ⚫ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' by the angel of Jesus:-Rev. xix. 10, And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' 71. SAVED FROM. prediction:-Is. xiv. 12, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!-Je. xxiii. 6, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'-xxx. 8, ' For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers sha' no more serve themselves of him.'-Eze. xxxiv. 25, And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the fand: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.' the salvation was to be by him who first came lowly, &c.: -Zec. ix. 9-see ch. ix. p. (29). 72. REMEMBER.-See Sect. i. pp. 2, 7, Zacharias.' promise to remember his covenant to Jacob, &c. :-Le. xxvi. 42-.5. 42,Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43, The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44, And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45, But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.' with Jerusalem:-Eze. xvi. 60-.3. 60, Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. 61, Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. 62, And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: 63, that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.' the Lord's remembrance of his covenant rejoiced in:Ps. xcviii. 3, He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.'-cv. &-11-see ver. 48, p. (11), under the word to a thousand generations." confirmation :-Ac. iii. 25, .6; Ga. iii. 15.7. 73. THE OATH.-Ge. xxii. 16-8-see' Notes." confirmation:-He. vi. 13. 74. WITHOUT FEAR. nothing to hurt or destroy :-Is. lxv. 25-see ch. lxv. p. (34), The wolf and the,' &c. not learn war any more:-Is. ii. 4-see p. (21), § 4, ver. 15, under LET US."-Mi. iv. 3. confirmation:-Rom. viii. 19-21. THE MOUTH OF THE JUST BRINGETH FORTH WISDOM: 69 his people. And hath-raised-up an horn of-salvation for-us in the house of his ser70 vants David; as he-spake by the-mouth of his holy prophets, which-have-been-since71 the-world -began an' alwvos: that-we-should-be-saved from owτnplav ε our enemies, 72 and from the-hand of-all that-hate us; to-perform the-mercy promised to monoai 73 €λeos μeта our fathers, and to-remember his holy covenant; the-oath which he-sware 74 to our father Abraham, that-he-would-grant Tov dovva unto-us, that-we-being-delivered 75 out-of the-hand of-our enemies might-serve him without-fear, in holiness and righteousMARGINAL READINGS:-8 Child. h Salvation from, &c. To effect mercy with. k Of which to give us. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 68. visited-Israel in Egypt, Ex. iii. 16-God visiting man, Ps. viii. 4-visited his flock, the house of Judah, but Jerusalem knew not the time of her visitation, Lu. xix. 44, § 82-compare Je. xiv. 8-shall see him again when prepared to receive him, Zep. iii. 12–7. Redeemed-sent redemption unto his people, Ps. exi. 9-their redemption contemplated, Is. Ixiii. 1-13 -joy of the redeemed people, Is. xxxv. 10; li. 11their Redeemer, liv. 5, 8-their redemption consummated in the resurrection, Ho. xiii. 14; 1 Co. xv. 54, .5. 69. horn, Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4, 23, .4; cxxxii. 17-see for this salvation, Zec. xii. 7-10; xiii. 1. 70. as he spake-Israel spake of the people who should enjoy the blessing of redemption, Ge. xlviii. 14-22-of their Redeemer to come of Judah, xlix. 8-10-Moses spake of the promised salvation, De. xxxiii. 26-.9-David spake, 2 Sa. xxiii. 2-5-words of the prophets confirmed by Christ, Lu. xxiv. 26, .7, § 94-by Peter, Ac. iii. 11-21; 2 Pe. i. 21-by the angel of Jesus, Re. xix. 10. 71. saved from-prediction, Is. xiv. 12; Je. xxiii. 6; xxx. 8; Eze. xxxiv. 25-the salvation was to be by him who first came lowly and riding upon an ass, Zec. ix. 9. 72. remember-see Sect. i. pp. 2. 7, Zacharias'promise to remember his covenant to Jacob, &c., Le. xxvi. 42-5-with Jerusalem, Eze. xvi. 60-3-the Lord's remembrance of his covenant rejoiced in, Ps. xcviii. 3; ev. 8-11-see ver. 54, .5-confirmation, Ac. iii. 25, .6; Ga. iii. 15-.7. 73. the oath-see Scripture Illustrations, p. 3, 'Elisabeth,' Ge. xxii. 16-.8-see Notes-confirm., He. vi. 13. 74. without fear-nothing to hurt or destroy, Is. lxv. 25-not learn war any more, Is. ii. 4; Mi. iv. 3confirmation, Ro. viii. 19-21. NOTES. 09. An horn of salvation. The metaphor may be derived from horned animals, whose strength is in their horns: hence 'horn' was a term commonly used to denote strength, and thus became an emblem of power and principality. [On each of the four corners of the altar there was an eminence, or small projection, called a horn. To this, persons might flee for safety, when in danger, and were safe, 1 Ki. i. 50; ii. 28. So the Redeemer may be called the horn of salvation,' because those who flee to him are safe.] In the house. In the family, or among the descendants of David. 70. Since the world began. All true prophets, from the beginning of the world, bare witness to the coming Messiah. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 72. To perform the mercy. To shew the mercy promised. The expression in the original is, to make mercy with our fathers.' Which seems to point forward to the great result of the work of redemption, through Christ, when all true believers shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God. His holy covenant. The word covenant means compact, or agreement. When the word covenant is used in the Bible, it means sometimes a command, sometimes a promise, sometimes a regular law, as the covenant of the day and night, and sometimes the way in which God dispenses mercy, or the old and new covenants. In the place before us it means the promise made to Abraham. 73. The oath. This oath is recorded, Ge. xxii. 16-.8. 16. By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for be cause thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; 17, That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18, And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.' That oath was fully confirmed by the coming of Messias, through whom the promised mercy will be fully bestowed. [The oath and the memorial of the Lord do both express the same three things, as may be seen by comparing them thus:-The first name, Abraham, corresponds with the first part of the oath; the third name, Jacob, with the second part, which respects the supplanting of the enemy; and the second name, Isaac, is expressive of the third and concluding part of the oath, which speaks of universal happiness as ministered through the promised seed. Zacharias, Memorial of the Lord, Ex. iii. 14, .5. I AM THAT I AM.' 'The God of Abraham,' 'And of Jacob,' Laughter, or great re- This is my name for Elisabeth, Oath of my God, Ge. xxii. 16-.8. By myself have I sworn, That in blessing I will And in thy seed shall all voice.' 74. Without fear. In the sure hope of God's eternal favour; fully confiding in his Almighty protection. God must be served with a filial, but not a slavish, fear without the spirit of bondage. Ro. viii. 15, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [69 ver. When Israel's redemption shall take place, an horn of salvation upon which the shedder of blood may lay hold, will be recognised by the Jew, in Him, who by wicked hands was crucified and slain.] 70 ver. Let us never neglect to recognise the unity of the prophetic word as testifying of Jesus. [71 ver. When Jesus hath saved his people from their sins and brought Judah to the cross, he will also be their salvation from their enemies; and he will remove from off them the hand that hath af flicted them.] 72 ver. The promised redemption to Israel reaches not only to the soul but to the body; not only to the children but the fathers. [73 ver. Our Lord having visited his people was not to break, but to remember, his holy covenant, the oath which he sware to our father Abraham; of the promises made in which oath, we should be the Lord's remembrancers.] REJOICE THE SOUL OF THY SERVANT.-Psalm lxxxvi. 4. [17 BUT THE FROWARD TONGUE SHALL BE CUT out. Prov. x. 31. 19. JUST. light ariseth to such in the darkness:-Ps. cxii. 4, Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.' walketh in his integrity:-Pr. xx. 7, The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.' Simeon, a just man, waited for the consolation of Israel: -Lu. ii. 25, § 4. p. 24. God compassionates the ignorance of the sincere:Cornelius, Ac. x. 22, 'And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.' Paul:-1 Ti. i. 12, .3. 12, 'And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelier.' PUBLIC EXAMPLE. Judah would have dealt severely with Tamar:-Ge. Xxxviii. 24. And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.' the law directed that the adulteress should be stoned: De. xxii. 21, .2. 21, Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. 22, If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman : so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.'-Jno. viii. 4, 5, § 55. Jesus allowed such to be put away:-Mt. v. 32, § 19, Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication,' &c. and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9, The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10, All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.'-Pr. iii. 5, 6. 5, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'-Is. xxvi. 7, The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.' DREAM. Jacob's:-Ge. xxviii. 12-see ch. xxviii. p. (88). Joseph's:-Ge. xxxvii. 5-11. 5, And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6, And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7, for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8, And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9, And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10, And he told it to his father, and to his brethren : and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother thee to the earth? 11, And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.' Solomon's:-1 Ki. iii. 5-15. 5, In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 6, And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou the house of Israel had been so dealt with:-Je. iii. 8, hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backslid-7, And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy serving Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8, ant king instead of David my father: and I am but a given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.' And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou -See ch. iii. p. (39). hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9, Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10, And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11, And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12, behold, I have done according to thy heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neiwords: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding ther after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13, And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour : so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14, And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will hold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and lengthen thy days. 15, And Solomon awoke; and, bestood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and and made a feast to all his servants.' offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, yet the Lord hated putting away:-Mal. ii. 10.6. 10, Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11, Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12, The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts. 13, And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14, Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15, And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16, For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.' and promised to espouse her unto himself in faithfulness: Ho. ii. 1423see ch. ii. p. (31). 14, ( Therefore, &c. gave himself for his church:-Ep. v. 25-33. 25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28, So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church : 30, for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32, This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33, Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.' use of them:-Job xxxiii. 15-7. 17, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride,' &c. promise with regard to -Joel ii. 28, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young Pilate's wife:-Mt. xxvii. 19, § 90. men shall see visions.' FEAR NOT. to Jacob:-Ge. xlvi. 3, And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.' And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand with the command to go forward:-Ex. xiv. 13.5. 13, still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14, The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, peace. 15, And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore that they go forward.'-And see Lu. i. 13, § 1, p. 4. UNTO THE UPRIGHT THERE ARISETH LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. (G. 6.) Mary returns home, and is taken into the house of Joseph as his espoused wife. Matt. i. 18-25. Luke i. 56. At Nazareth. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on-this-wise: when-as his mother Mary wasespoused to Joseph, before they came-together, she-was-found with-child of the-Holy 19 Ghost. Then" de Joseph her husband, being a-just man, and not wiling to make-her20 a-publick-example, Tapaderuatioal was-minded to-put- her-away privily. But And while-he-thought-on autou evovun@evTOs these-things, behold, the-angel of-the-Lord appeared unto-him in a-dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of-David, fear not to-take-unto 21 thee Mary thy wife: for that which-is-conceived in her is of the-Holy Ghost. she-shall-bring-forth a-son, and-thou-shalt-call his name JESUS: for he shall-save his MARGINAL READINGS:- However or moreover. b While anxiously-meditating. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. public example-Judah would have dealt severely with Tamar, Ge. xxxviii. 24-the law directed that the adulteress should be stoned, De. xxii. 21, .2; Jno. viii. 4, 5, § 55-Jesus allowed such to be put away, Mt. v. 32, § 19-the house of Israel had been so dealt with, Je. iii. 8-yet the Lord hated putting away, Mal. ii. 10-6-and promised to espouse her to himself in faithfulness, Ho. ii. 14-23-gave himself for his church, Ep. v. 25-33. 20. while he thought-the Lord teaches the meek, Ps. xxv. 8-10; Pr. iii. 5, 6; Is. xxvi. 7. 5-11-Solomon's, 1 Ki. iii. 5-15-use of them, Job dream--Jacob's, Ge. xxviii. 12-Joseph's, xxxvii. xxxiii. 15-7-promise with regard to, Joel ii. 28Pilate's wife's, Mt. xxvii. 19, § 90. fear not-to Jacob, Ge. xlvi. 3-with the command to go forward, Ex. xiv. 13-.5.-See Lu. i. 13, p. 4. 21. bring forth-see promise to Sarah, Ge. xvii. 19, 21 -the Shunammite, 2 Ki. iv. 16, .7.-See Lu. i. 31, p. 9. save his people, &c. - redeem Israel from all his iniquities, Ps. cxxx. 7, 8-all the ends of the earth to look to Jesus, Is. xlv. 22, .3-confirm., Jno. xii. 32, § 82.-See Jesus,' Lu. i. 31, § 2, p. 10. NOTES. (Mt. i. 18-25.) 18. Was espoused to Joseph. Espousing was a solemn engagement or contract of marriage, made before witnesses; after which the parties were accounted husband and wife, although they might live for some time after separate. [No woman of Israel was married unless she had been first espoused. Generally six months or a year intervened between the espousals and nuptials, De. xx. 7.] 19. A just man. A lover of justice, and a man of uprightness and integrity. Strict in his obedience to all God's commandments; and so could not associate with Mary, were she guilty, as he supposed. A public example. To expose her to public shame or infamy. Joseph was not only just, but merciful, and so was desirous that the separation he esteemed just, should be in a manner the least injurious to Mary. The infidelity of a betrothed woman was punished with death by stoning. [To put her away privily. The law of Moses gave the husband the power of divorce, De. xxiv. 1. It was customary in a bill of divorce to specify the causes for which the divorce was made, and witnesses were also present to testify to the divorce. But in this case, it seems, Joseph resolved to put her away with out specifying the cause: for he was not willing to make her a public example.] [It was not necessary that it should be a public transaction. The man could give the woman a bill of divorce in private, delivering it into her hand or her bosom. Two witnesses only were necessary; it was not needful that any cause should be assigned.] He 20. But while he thought on these things. reflected, meditated, turned the matter in his mind. His not acting rashly, but listening thus to the voice of mercy, gave occasion for the voice of mercy to reach himself. [In the patriarchal times, as well as in the earlier ages of Judaism, God often revealed his will by dreams or visions, not only to his own people, but to the nations at large. The ancients in general much regarded them; and rules for their interpretation were formed, both among Jews and Gentiles; the former of whom were, however, forbidden to seek their interpretation from any but the prophets of the Lord, or the high priest. These significative dreams are supposed to have ceased from the time of Malachi, but this channel of communication from God was now reopened in the prophetic dream of Joseph.] Joseph, thou son of David. He was of the house and lineage of David: of whom the Messiah was promised. Thy wife. The Hebrews called the betrothed of a man, his wife, De. xxii. 24. JESUS.-See Reflections,' p. 9, and infra, 21 ver. 21. He shall save. This expresses the same as the name, and on this account the name was given to him. He saves men by having died to redeem them; by giving the Spirit to renew them, Jno. xvi. 7, 8, § 87; by his power in enabling them to overcome their spiritual enemies; in defending them from danger; in guiding them in the path of duty; in sustaining them in trials & in death; & in rescuing them from the prison of the grave, & raising them up at the last day, to exalt them to be with him in his kingdom. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. (Mat. i. 18-25.) 18 ver. In the bestowment of his best of blessings, God is not restrained by the distinctions of rank that take place among men; she who was favoured among women, was an obscure but pious virgin, espoused to a just man, who was a carpenter. Virtue is sometimes tried, not only by temptations, but most painfully by unjust and cruel suspicions; and sometimes even by unmerited punishment and disgrace. [We should not be rash in forming an uncharitable judgment of those with whom we have entered into friendly relations: those circumstances which at first appear the most suspicious, may arise from a cause the most opposite to that which was suspected.] [19 ver. We should be careful lest our very sense of justice lead us, iu our ignorance, to commit that which is most unjust, lest our very desire to shew mercy impel us to act with the greatest cruelty, as it would have been in Joseph to put away Mary with out her being given an opportunity of explaining her innocence.] and humble submission, to leave our case in the [20 ver. It is best, in the spirit of ready obedience hands of Him, who hath all wisdom & power to vindicate the cause of those who put their trust in Him.] The ways of God are various in communicating his will unto men: it was by vision to Zacharias and Mary; by the spirit of prophecy to Mary and Elisabeth; and now in a dream to Joseph. 21 ver. Let us never forget why the child of Mary was to be called Jesus, and see that it be legibly written in our lives, in our being indeed saved from our sins, otherwise we have not the evidence of being truly his people. Our Lord hath his name Jesus, not merely because he delivers from the wrath to come, but especially because he saves his people from their sins. He hath taken them away, justifyingly, by his blood; and he takes them away, sanctifyingly, by his Spirit, as applying to all who believe the good word of his grace. SHEW ME THY WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME THY PATHS.-Psalm xxv. 4. [13 HE IS GRACIOUS, AND FULL OF COMPASSION, AND RIGHTEOUS.-Psalm cxii. 4. |