Latest / Commentary on The Book of Genesis / 24 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis

Transcript

24 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Commentary on The Book of Genesis

0:00
Chapter twenty one. In this chapter we have Roman one, Isaac, the
0:06
child of Promise, born into Abraham's family, Verses one to eight. Roman
0:11
two, Ishmael, the son of the bond woman, cast out of it
0:15
Verses nine to twenty one. Roman three. Abraham's league with his neighbor a
0:21
Bimelech Verses twenty two, two thirty two. Roman four. His devotion to
0:27
his God Verse thirty three. The birth of Isaac b. C. Eighteen
0:33
ninety seven, Verses one two eight. And the Lord visited Sarah as he
0:40
had said. And the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For
0:44
Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set
0:48
time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of
0:52
his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
0:57
And Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, being eight days old, as
1:00
God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son
1:07
Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to
1:11
laugh, so that all that here will laugh with me. And she said,
1:17
who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck,
1:22
for I have borne him a son in his old age. And the child
1:26
grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day that
1:30
Isaac was weaned. Long looked for, comes at last. The vision concerning
1:38
the promised seed is for an appointed time, and now at the end it
1:42
speaks and does not lie. Few under the Old Testament were brought into the
1:48
world with such expectation as Isaac was. Not for the sake of any great
1:53
person eminence at which he was to arrive, but because he was to be,
1:57
in this very thing a type of Christ, that seed which the Holy
2:02
God had so long promised and holy men so long expected. In this account
2:07
of the first days of Isaac, we may observe roman Ie the fulfilling of
2:13
God's promise in the conception and birth of Isaac Verses one and two. Note
2:17
God's providences look best and brightest when they are compared with His word, and
2:23
when we observe how God in them all acts as he has said, as
2:27
he has spoken. One. Isaac was born according to the promise. The
2:32
Lord visited Sarah in mercy, as he had said. Note no word of
2:38
God shall fall to the ground. For he is faithful that has promised,
2:42
and God's faithfulness is the stay and support of his people's faith. He was
2:46
born at the set time of which God had spoken. Verse two. Note
2:52
God is always punctual to his time. Though his promised mercies come not at
2:55
the time we set, they will certainly come at the time he sees,
3:00
and that is the best time. Two. He was born by virtue of
3:05
the promise. Sarah, by faith, received strength to conceive Hebrews chapter eleven,
3:09
Verse eleven. God therefore, by promise, gave that strength. It
3:15
was not by the power of common providence, but by the power of a
3:17
special promise, that Isaac was born. A sentence of death was as it
3:23
were passed upon the second causes, Abraham was old and Sarah old, and
3:29
both as good as dead, And then the word of God took place.
3:32
Note true believers, by virtue of God's promises, are unabled to do that
3:38
which is above the power of human nature, for by them they partake of
3:43
a divine nature. Tewod Peter Chapter one, verse four, Roman two.
3:49
Abraham's obedience to God's precept concerning Isaac. One he named him as God commanded
3:55
him. Verse three. God directed him to a name for a memorial Isaac
4:00
laughter, and Abraham, whose office it was, gave him that name,
4:05
though he might have designed some other name of a more pompous signification. Note
4:12
it is fit that the luxuriancy of human intervention should always yield to the sovereignty
4:17
and plainness of divine institution. Yet there was good reason for the name for
4:24
Sub one. When Abraham received the promise of him, he laughed for joy.
4:29
Chapter seventeen, Verse seventeen. Note when the son of comfort has risen
4:33
upon the soul, it is good to remember how welcome the dawning of the
4:36
day was, and with what exultation we embraced the promise. Sub two.
4:43
When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and diffidence. Note when
4:47
God gives us the mercies we begin to despair of We ought to remember with
4:51
sorrow and shame our sinful distrusts of God's power and promise when we were in
4:57
pursuit of them. Sub three. Isaac was himself afterwards laughed at by Ishmael
5:03
verse nine, and perhaps his name bade him expect it. Note God's favorites
5:10
are often the world's laughing stocks. S four. The promise, which he
5:15
was not only the sun but the heir of, was to be the joy
5:19
of all the saints in all ages, and that which would fill their mouths
5:24
with laughter. Two he circumcised him verse four, the covenant being established with
5:30
him, the seal of the Covenant was administered to him. And though a
5:34
bloody ordinance, and he a darling, yet it must not be omitted,
5:39
no nor deferred beyond the eighth day. God had kept time in performing the
5:44
promise, and therefore Abraham must keep time in obeying the precept. Roman three.
5:50
The impressions which this mercy made upon Sarah one, it filled her with
5:57
joy. Verse six. God has made me to laugh. He has given
6:00
me both cause to rejoice and a heart to rejoice. Thus the mother of
6:04
our lord Luke Chapter one, Verses forty six and forty seven. Note Sub
6:10
one. God bestows mercies upon his people to encourage their joy in his work
6:15
and service. And whatever is the matter of our joy, God must be
6:18
acknowledged as the author of it, unless it be the laughter of the fool.
6:24
Sub two. When mercies have been long deferred, they are the more
6:28
welcome when they come. Sub three. It adds to the comfort of any
6:32
mercy, to have our friends rejoice with us in it all that here will
6:36
laugh with me, for laughing is catching see Luke, chapter one, verse
6:41
fifty eight. Others will rejoice in this instance of God's power and goodness and
6:46
be encouraged to trust in Him see Psalm one hundred and nineteen, verse seventy
6:49
four. Two. It filled her with wonder verse seven. Observe here sub
6:57
one what it was she thought so wonderful that Sarah should give children suck,
7:02
that she should not only bear a child, but be so strong and hearty
7:06
at the age as to give it suck. Note Mothers, if they be
7:12
able, ought to be nurses to their own children. Sarah was a person
7:15
of quality, was aged. Nursing might be thought prejudicial of herself or to
7:21
the child, or to both. She had the choice of nurses, no
7:26
doubt in her own family, and yet she would do her duty in this
7:30
matter, and her daughters the good wives are while they thus do well.
7:33
First Peter chapter three, verses five and six. See Lamentations chapter four,
7:39
verse three, s two. How she expressed her wonder Who would have said
7:44
it? The thing was so highly improbable, so near to impossible that if
7:48
any one but God had said it, we could not have believed it.
7:51
Note God's favors to his covenant people are such as surpass both their own and
7:57
other's thoughts and expectations. Who could imagine that God should do so much for
8:01
those that deserve so little, nay for those that deserve so ill see Ephesians
8:07
chapter three, verse twenty second Samuel chapter seven, verses eighteen nineteen. Who
8:13
would have said that God should send his son to die for us, his
8:16
spirit to sanctify us, his angels to attend us. Who would have said
8:20
that such great sins should be pardoned, such mean service excepted, and such
8:26
worthless worms taken into covenant and communion with the Great and Holy God. Roman
8:33
four A short account of Isaac's infancy. The child grew verse eight. Special
8:39
notice is taken of this, though a thing, of course, to intimate
8:43
that the children of the promise are growing children. See Luke chapter one,
8:48
verse eighty, Chapter two, verse forty. Those that are born of God
8:52
shall increase of God. Colossians chapter two, verse nineteen. He grew so
8:56
as not always to need milk, but was able to bear strong meat,
9:01
And then he was weaned see Hebrews chapter five, verses thirteen fourteen. And
9:07
then it was that Abraham made a great feast for his friends and neighbors,
9:11
in thankfulness to God for his mercy to him. He made this feast not
9:15
on the day that Isaac was born. That would have been too great a
9:18
disturbance to Sarah, nor on the day that he was circumcised, that would
9:22
have been too great a diversion from the ordinance, but on the day that
9:26
he was weaned. Because God's blessing upon the nursing of children and the preservation
9:31
of them throughout the perils of the infant age are a signal instances of the
9:35
care and tenderness of the divine providence, which ought to be acknowledged to its
9:39
praise. See Psalm twenty two, verses ninety ten. Hoseiah chapter eleven,
9:45
verse one. Hagar and Ishmael expelled b. C. Eighteen ninety two,
9:54
verses nine to thirteen. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian,
9:58
which he had borne unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said, unto
10:03
Abraham, cast out this bond woman and her son, for the son of
10:07
this bond woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
10:11
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And
10:16
God said unto Abraham, let it not be grievous in thy sight because of
10:20
the lad and because of thy bond woman. In all that, Sarah hath
10:24
said unto thee hearken under her voice, For in Isaac shall thy seed be
10:28
called. And also of the son of the bondwoman, I will make a
10:31
nation, because he is thy seed. The casting out of Ishmael is here
10:37
considered of and resolved on Roman I. Ishmael himself gave the occasion by some
10:43
affronts he gave to Isaac, his little brother. Some think on the day
10:46
that Abraham made the feast for joy, that Isaac was safely weaned, which
10:52
the Jews say was not till he was three years old. Others say five.
10:56
Sarah herself was an eye witness of the abuse. She saw the son
11:00
of the Egyptian mocking verse nine, mocking Isaac no doubt, for it is
11:03
said with reference to this Galatians chapter four, verse twenty nine, that he
11:09
that was born after the flesh persecuted him, that was born after the spirit
11:13
Ishmael is here called the son of the Egyptian because, as some think,
11:18
the four hundred years affliction of the seed of Abraham by the Egyptians began now
11:24
and was to be dated. Hence a chapter fifteen, verse thirteen. She
11:28
saw him playing with Isaac so the seventy and in playing mocking him. Ishmael
11:37
was fourteen years older than Isaac, and when children are together, the elders
11:39
should be careful and tender of the younger. But it is argued a very
11:45
base and sordid disposition in Ishmael to be abusive to a child that was in
11:48
no way a match for him. Note One, God takes notice of what
11:54
children say and do in their play, and will reckon with them if they
11:58
say or do amiss their parents do not. Two. Mocking is a great
12:03
sin and very provoking to God. Three there is a rooted, remaining enmity
12:09
in the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman. The children
12:13
of Promise must expect to be mocked. This is persecution which those that will
12:18
live godly must count upon. Four. None are rejected and cast out from
12:22
God, but those who have first deserved it. Ishmael is continued in Abraham's
12:28
family till he becomes a disturbance, grief and scandal to it. Roman,
12:33
too, Sarah made the motion cast out this bond woman verse ten. This
12:39
seems to be spoken in some heat, yet it is quoted Galatians chapter four,
12:43
verse thirty, as if it had been spoken by a spirit of prophecy.
12:46
And it is the sentence passed on all hypocrites and carnal people, though
12:52
they have a place and a name in the Visible Church, all that are
12:56
born after the flesh and not born again, that rest in the law and
13:00
reject the Gospel promise shall certainly be cast out. It is made to point
13:05
particularly at the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, who, though they were the
13:09
seat of Abraham, yet because they submitted not to the Gospel Covenant, were
13:13
unchurched and disenfranchised. And that which, above anything provoked God to cast them
13:20
off was their mocking and persecuting the Gospel Church, God's Isaac in its infancy.
13:26
First Thessalonians chapter two, verse sixteen note there are many who are familiarly
13:31
conversant with the children of God in this world, and yet shall not partake
13:35
with them in the inheritance of the sons. Ishmael might be Isaac's playfellow and
13:39
his schoolfellow, and yet not his fellow heir Roman three. Abraham was adverse
13:46
to it. The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight, Verse eleven.
13:52
One. It grieved him that Ishmael had given such a provocation. Note children
13:58
ought to consider that the more their parents love them, the more they are
14:01
grieved at their misconduct, and particularly at their quarrels among themselves. Two.
14:07
He grieved him that Sarah insisted upon such a punishment. Might it not suffice
14:11
to correct him? Would nothing less serve than to expel him? Note Even
14:18
the needful extremities which must be used with wicked and incorrigible children are very grievous
14:22
to tender parents, who cannot thus afflict willingly. Roman iv. God determined
14:30
it Verses twelve and thirteen. We may well suppose Abraham to be greatly agitated
14:35
about this matter, loathe to displease Sarah, and yet loathe to expel Ishmael.
14:41
In this difficulty, God tells him what his will is, and then
14:45
he is satisfied. Note a good man desires no more in doubtful cases than
14:50
to know his duty and what God would have him do. And when he
14:54
is clear in this, he is or should be easy to make Abraham.
14:58
So God sets this matter before him in a true light and shows him one
15:03
that the casting out of Ishmael was necessary to the establishment of Isaac. In
15:07
the rights and privileges of the Covenant. In Isaac, shall thy seed be
15:11
called Both Christ and the Church must descend from Abraham through the loins of Isaac.
15:16
This is the entail of the promise upon Isaac, and is quoted by
15:20
the apostle Romans, chapter nine, verse seven to show that not all who
15:26
come from Abraham's loins were the heirs of Abraham's covenant. Isaac, the promised
15:31
son, must be the father to the promised seed. Therefore, away with
15:35
Ishmael. Send him far enough, lest he corrupt the manners or attempt to
15:39
invade the rights of Isaac. It will be his security to have his rival
15:45
banished. The covenant seat of Abraham must be a peculiar people, a people
15:50
by themselves from the very first, distinguished, not mingled with those that were
15:56
out of covenant. For this reason, Ishmael must be separated. Abraham was
16:00
called alone, and so must Isaac. Be see Isaiah chapter fifty one,
16:04
verse two. It is probable that Sarah thought little of this John chapter eleven,
16:11
verse fifty one. But God took what she said and turned it into
16:15
an oracle as afterwards Chapter twenty seven, verse ten two. That the casting
16:22
out of Ishmael should not be his ruin verse thirteen, he shall be a
16:26
nation because he is Thy seed. We are not sure that it was his
16:30
eternal ruin. It is presumption to say that all those who are left out
16:34
of the external dispensation from all his mercies, those may be saved who are
16:40
not thus honored. However, we are sure it was not his temporal ruin.
16:45
Though he was chased out of the church, he was not chased out
16:48
of the world. I will make him a nation. Note sup One.
16:53
Nations are of God's making. He founds them, he forms them, he
16:57
fixes them. Many are full of the blessings of God's providence that are strangers
17:04
to the blessings of His covenant. Sub Three. Children of this world often
17:10
fare the better as outward things for their relation to the children of God.
17:15
God's mercy to Hagar and Ishmael b. C. Eighteen ninety two, Verses
17:21
fourteen to twenty one. And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took
17:26
bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it
17:29
on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away. And she
17:33
departed and wandered in the wilderness of Baersheba, and the water was spent in
17:37
the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs, and
17:41
she went and sat down over against him, a good way off, as
17:45
it were a bow shot. For she said, let me not see the
17:49
death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up
17:53
her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the Lad, and
17:56
the Angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said, unto her,
18:00
what aileth thee Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice
18:04
of the lad where he is arise, Lift up the lad and hold him
18:08
in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation. And God
18:12
opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went
18:15
and filled the bottle with water and gave the lad drink. And God was
18:21
with the lad, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness and became an
18:25
archer, and he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took
18:27
him a wife out of the land of Egypt. Here is Roman won the
18:33
casting out of the bond woman and her son from the family of Abraham Verse
18:37
fourteen. Abraham's obedience to the divine command in this matter with speedy early in
18:44
the morning, we may suppose immediately after he had, in the Knight's visions,
18:48
received orders to do this. It was also submissive. It was contrary
18:52
to his judgment, at least to his own inclination to do it. Yet
18:56
as soon as he perceives that it is the mind of God, he makes
18:59
no objections, but silently does as he is bidden, as one trained up
19:03
to an implicit obedience, in sending them away without any attendance on foot slenderly
19:08
provided for, it is probable that he observed the directions given him. If
19:14
Hagar and Ishmael had conducted themselves well in Abraham's family, they might have continued
19:18
there. But they threw themselves out by their own pride and insolence, which
19:22
were thus justly chastised. Note by abusing our privileges, we forfeit them those
19:29
that know not when they are well off in such a desirable place as Abraham's
19:33
family deserve to be cashiered and to be made to know the worth of mercies
19:38
by the want of them roman Io. Their wandering in the wilderness, missing
19:45
their way to the place Abraham designed them for a settlement one, they were
19:51
reduced to great distress. There. Their provisions were spent and Ishmael was sick.
19:55
He that used to be full fed in Abraham's house, where he waxed,
20:00
fat and kicked, now fainted and sunk when he was brought to short
20:03
allowance. Hagar is in tears and sufficiently mortified. Now she wishes for the
20:10
crumbs she had wasted and made light of at her master's table. Like one
20:14
under the power of the spirit of bondage, she despairs of relief, counts
20:18
upon nothing but the death the child Verses fifteen and sixteen. Though God had
20:22
told her before he was born that he should live to be a man,
20:26
a great man, we are apt to forget former promises when present providences seem
20:30
to contradict them, for we live by sense two. In this distress,
20:37
God graciously appeared for their relief. He heard the voice of the lad Verse
20:41
seventeen. We read not a word he said, but his sighs and groans,
20:47
and calamitous estate cried aloud in the ears of mercy. An angel was
20:52
sent to comfort Hagar, and it was not the first time that she had
20:55
met with God's comforts in a wilderness. She had thankfully acknowledged the former visit
21:00
which God had made his in such a case Chapter sixteen, verse thirteen.
21:04
And therefore God now visited her again with seasonable suckers. P. Sub one.
21:11
The angel assures her of the cognizance God took of her distress. God
21:15
has heard the voice of the lad where he is, though he is in
21:18
a wilderness. For wherever we are there is a way open heavenward. Therefore,
21:25
lift up the lad and hold him in thy hand Verse eighteen. Note
21:30
God's readiness to help us when we are in trouble must not slacken, but
21:33
quicken our endeavors to help ourselves. Soup two. He repeats the promise concerning
21:40
her son, that he should be a great nation, as a reason why
21:42
she should bestir herself to help him. Note it should engage our care and
21:48
pains about children and young people to consider that we know not what God has
21:52
designed for them, nor what great youse Providence may make of them. Stup
21:56
three, He directs her to a present supply. Nineteen He opens her eyes,
22:02
which were swollen and almost blinded with weeping, and then she saw a
22:06
well of water. Note many that have reason enough to be comforted go mourning
22:11
from day to day because they do not see the reason they have for comfort.
22:15
There is a well of water by them in the Covenant of Grace,
22:19
but they are not aware of it. They have not the benefit of it
22:22
till the same God that opened their eyes to see their wounds opens them to
22:26
see the remedy. John chapter sixteen, Verses six and seven. Now the
22:32
apostle tells us that those things concerning Hagar and Ishmael are aligor rumina Galatians chapter
22:38
four, verse twenty four. They are to be allegorized. This, then,
22:44
will serve to illustrate the folly one of those who, like the unbelieving
22:48
Jews, seek for righteousness by the law and the carnal ordinances of it,
22:53
and not by the promise made in Christ. Thereby running themselves into a wilderness
22:57
of want and despair. Their comforts are soon exhausted, and if God save
23:03
them not by his special prerogative and by a miracle of mercy upon their eyes,
23:07
and undeceive them. They are undone. Two of those who seek for
23:12
satisfaction and happiness in the world and the things of it, Those that forsake
23:17
the comforts of the covenant and communion with God, and choose their portion in
23:22
this earth take up with a bottle of water, poor and slender provision,
23:26
and that soon spent. They wander endlessly in pursuit of satisfaction, and at
23:32
length sit down short of it. Rouman three the settlement of Ishmael at last
23:37
in the wilderness of Paran, Verses twenty and twenty one. A wild place
23:42
fittest for a wild man, and such a one he was. Chapter sixteen,
23:48
verse twelve. Those that are born after the flesh take up with the
23:52
wilderness of this world, while the children of the promise aim at the heavenly
23:56
Canaan and cannot be at rest till they are there. Observe one. He
24:00
had some tokens of God's presence. God was with the lad His outward prosperity
24:06
was owing to this too. By trade, he was an archer, which
24:10
intimates that craft was his excellency, and sport his business rejected. Esau was
24:15
a cunning hunter. Three he matched among his mother's relations. She took him
24:21
a wife out of Egypt. As great an archer as he was, he
24:25
did not think he could take his aim well in the business of marriage if
24:29
he proceeded without his mother's advice and consent. A Bimelech's Covenant with Abraham b.
24:37
C. Eighteen ninety two, Verses twenty two, two thirty two.
24:42
And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Fickal, the chief
24:45
captain of his host, spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with Thee
24:51
in all that thou doest. Now therefore swear unto me here by God,
24:56
that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor
25:00
with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done unto
25:03
Thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast
25:07
sojourned. And Abraham said, I will swear. And Abraham reproved a Bimelech
25:12
because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. And
25:18
a Bimelech said I WoT not who hath done this thing. Neither didst thou
25:22
tell me, neither yet heard I of it. But to day and Abraham
25:27
took sheep and oxen and gave them unto a Bimelech, and both of them
25:32
made a covenant. And Abraham set seven eu lambs of the flock by themselves.
25:37
And a Bimelech said, unto Abraham, what mean thee seven e lambs
25:41
which thou hast set by themselves? And he said, for these seven you
25:45
lambs, shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness
25:49
unto me that I have digged this well. Wherefore he called that place bear
25:55
Sheba, because there they swore, both of them. Thus they made a
25:59
covenant Bearsheba. Then Abimelech rose up and Fikaal the chief captain of his host,
26:04
and they returned to the land of the Philistines. We have here an
26:11
account of the treaty between Abimelech and Abraham, in which appears the accomplishment of
26:15
that promise Chapter twelve, verse two, that God would make his name great.
26:21
His friendship is valued, is courted though a stranger, though a tenant
26:26
at will to the Canaanites and Perizites Roman I. The league is proposed by
26:33
Abimelech and Phaikal, his prime minister of state and general of his army.
26:37
One. The inducement to it was God's favorite Abraham verse twenty two. God
26:42
is with thee and all that thou doest, and we cannot but take notice
26:45
of it. Note sub one. God in his providence, sometimes shows his
26:51
people such tokens for good that their neighbors cannot but take notice of it.
26:56
Psalm eighty six, verse seventeen. Their affairs do you so visibly prosper?
27:00
And they have such remarkable success in their undertakings that a confession is extorted from
27:06
all about them of God's presence with them. So two, it is good
27:11
being in favor with those that are in favor with God, and having an
27:14
interest in those that have an interest in heaven. Zachariah chapter eight, verse
27:18
twenty three. We will go with you, for we have heard that God
27:22
is with you. We do well for ourselves if we have fellowship with those
27:26
that have fellowship with God. First John chapter one, verse three two.
27:32
The tenor of it was in general that there should be a firm and constant
27:36
friendship between the two families, which should not, upon any account be violated.
27:40
This bond of friendship must be strengthened by the bond of an oath,
27:42
in which the True God was appealed to both as a witness of their sincerity
27:47
and an avenger in case either cyber treacherous. Verse twenty three observed. Sub
27:52
one, he desires the entail of this league upon his posterity, and the
27:56
extension of it to his people. He would have his son, and his
28:00
son's son and his land likewise to have the benefit of it. Good men
28:06
should secure an alliance and communion with the favorites of Heaven, not for themselves
28:11
only, but for theirs also. So two. He reminds Abraham of the
28:15
fair treatment he had found among them, according to the kindness I have done
28:19
unto thee as those that have received kindness must return it, So those that
28:23
have shown kindness may expect it roman too. It is consented to by Abraham
28:30
with a particular clause inserted about a well in Abraham's part of this transaction.
28:36
Observe one. He was ready to enter into this league with a bimelech,
28:40
finding him to be a man of honor, and conscience, and that had
28:44
the fear of God before his eyes, I will swear verse twenty four.
28:48
Note sub one, religion does not make men morose and unconversible. I am
28:55
sure it ought not. We must not, under color of shunning bad company,
28:59
be set to all company and jealous of everybody except two. An honest
29:03
mind does not startle at giving assurances. If abrahams say that he will be
29:08
true to Abimelech, he is not afraid to swear it. An oath is
29:12
for confirmation. Two. He prudently settled the matter concerning a well about which
29:18
Abemelech's servants had quarreled with him. Whiles of water, it seems, were
29:22
choice goods in that country. Thanks be to God that they are not so
29:26
scarce in ours. Ccept One, Abraham mildly told Abimelek of it Verse twenty
29:32
five. Note, if our brother trespass against us, we must, with
29:36
the meekest of wisdom, tell him his fault, that the matter may be
29:40
fairly accommodated and an end made of it. Matthew Chapter eighteen, verse fifteen,
29:44
Scept. Two. He acquiesced in Abimelech's justification of himself in this matter.
29:48
I WoT not who has done this thing verse twenty six. Many are
29:52
suspected of injustice and unkindness that are perfectly innocent, and we ought to be
29:56
glad when they clear themselves. The faults of servants must not be imputed to
30:00
their masters unless they know of them and justify them. And no more can
30:06
be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right as
30:08
soon as he knows that he is done wrong. Sub Three. He took
30:14
care to have his title to the well cleared and confirmed, to prevent any
30:18
disputes or quarrels for the future Verse thirty. It is justice as well as
30:22
wisdom to do this in perpetuum rey e memorium, that the circumstances may be
30:29
perpetually remembered. Three He made a very handsome present to Abimelech Verse twenty seven.
30:37
It was not any curious or fine thing that he presented to him,
30:41
but that which was valuable and useful sheep and oxen in gratitude for Abimelech's kindness
30:45
to him, and in token of hearty friendship between them. The interchanging of
30:49
kind offices is the improving of love. That which is mine is my friends
30:56
four, he ratified the covenant by an oath and registered it by giving a
31:00
new name to the place. Verse thirty one Bearsheba the well of the Oath
31:06
in remembrance of the Covenant they swore to that they might be ever mindful of
31:11
it, or the well of seven in remembrance of the seven lambs, given
31:15
to a Bimelech as consideration for his confirming Abraham's title to that well. Note
31:21
Bargain's maid must be remembered, that we may make them good and may not
31:26
break our word through oversight, Verses thirty three and thirty four. And Abraham
31:33
planted a grove in Bearsheba and called there on the name of the Lord,
31:37
the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistine's land. Many days observed
31:44
one Abraham, having got into a good neighborhood, knew when he was well
31:48
off, and continued a great while there. There he planted a grove for
31:52
a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit trees. And
31:56
there, though we cannot say, he settled for God. God would have
32:00
him while he lived be a stranger and a pilgrim. Yet he sojourned many
32:04
days, as many as would consist with his character as Abraham the Hebrew or
32:09
passenger. Two. There he made not only a constant practice, but an
32:15
open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord,
32:20
the Everlasting God, probably in the grove he planted, which was his
32:23
oratory or house of prayer. Christ prayed in a garden on a mountain.
32:30
Sub One. Abraham kept up public worship, to which probably his neighbors resorted
32:36
that they might join with him. Note good men should not only retain their
32:40
goodness wherever they go, but do all they can to propagate it and make
32:45
others good. Sub two. In calling on the Lord, we must eye
32:50
him as the Everlasting God, the God of the world. So some though
32:54
God had made himself known to Abraham as his God in particular and in covenant
33:00
with him, yet he forgets not to give glory to him as the Lord
33:04
of all, the everlasting God, who was before all worlds and will be
33:08
when time and days shall be no more. See Isaiah chapter forty, verse
33:14
twenty eight, end of chapter twenty one.