Reflections on Psalm 45

“Discoveries of Jesus’ glory powerfully animate our hearts, and tune our tongues to commend him. How glorious is his person as God-man! Rich in grace are the qualities of his heart and the words of his mouth. In him it pleased the Father that all fullness of blessings for man should dwell. In almighty power, by his word and influences of his Spirit, he conquered multitudes in the apostolic age to the obedience of faith: and by the strokes of his vengeance did and shall destroy his Jewish and other implacable opposers. Having by himself purged our sins, he, as our righteous Sovereign, sat down at the right hand of God, as the reward of his holy service; and is, in the most transcendent manner filled with the Holy Ghost to shed on us abundantly. In a most glorious and heart-engaging manner, his manhood, mediatorial offices, and righteousness, appear in the heavens above, and in his church and ordinances below. And his people, adorned with gifts and graces, are raised up together, and made to sit together with him. His chosen one, both Jews and Gentiles, in the day of his power, are made to hear his voice in the gospel, to renounce all others, and devote themselves entirely to him and his service, as the object of his gracious and everlasting delight. In shining robes of righteousness, grace and holy conversation, each in their order are adorned; and after serving their generation by the will of God, they shall be brought and admitted into his heavenly palace with exceeding joy. Instead of Jewish fathers there shall be Gentile converts; and instead of glorified saints shall there be another generation, begotten by the power of his grace, all made kings and priests unto God! Thus, by the spread and influence of the gospel, shall Jesus’ renown and honour be perpetuated on earth, while those in heaven above shall praise him for ever and ever.” 

John Brown of Haddington, 

Self-Interpreting Bible, 

Reflections Upon Psalm XLV.  

Concluding Remarks on Nahum

Concluding Remarks on the Book of Nahum

The prophecies concerning Nineveh furnish a striking historical evidence of the divine origin of Holy Scriptures. It was certainly one of the greatest and strongest cities in the world – it was the capital of a well organized government space – space the commercial emporium of the world. The Euphrates and Tigris gave access to the ocean; and the city lay in the most direct track for caravans of the East. Yet, as the prophet foretold, it is “empty, and void, and waste.” Lucian, who lived in the 2^nd century after Christ, affirms that “Nineveh was utterly perished; that there was no trace of it remaining; nor could anyone tell where it once was situated.” Opposite to Mosul, which is situated on the western bank of the Tigris, there are, no doubt, extensive ruins; but this is, most probably, the site of the Persian, and not the Assyrian Nineveh. What an invitation to the attentive study of prophecy in the light of history! What a conviction to infidels! What an example to commercial and ambitious nations! What a warning to implement and luxurious rulers! Above all, what a message to the churches of Europe, to be where of the “witchcrafts” of false doctrine, of worldliness and of “covetousness, which is idolatry;” lest the Lord remove their candlestick, and leave them as the 7 churches in Asia, “empty, void and waste.”

Reflections on Nahum 3

Reflections on Chapter 3

Enormous wickedness ordinarily attends great confluences of men. And curses, shame, contempt, and destruction, are the certain and final issue. Little reason than have been to be proud of what can be so quickly taken from them, or rendered their plague. But if our companions in guilt or grandeur have been ruined, it is time for us to take warning and repent. And if God be against us, who can be for us! Useless are all means of preservation in the day of His wrath. Unstable are the most exalted stations on earth. And they, who have rendered others miserable, will certainly be themselves reduced to misery at last.

Reflections on Nahum 2

Reflections on Chapter 2

Alas, what fearful punishment do injuries done to God’s people incur! And at what expense and labor demand destroy one another! But terrible are the weakest nations when God animates them; and pitiful and dastardly the most mighty and numerous when he fights against them. Unavailing are honor, wealth, number, or valor, in the day of his wrath. And it is terrible to have our consciences laden with guilt in an evil day, in which everything dear is taken from us. Awful is it for men to damn their souls by fraudulent attempts to aggrandize themselves and families: and dreadful is the case of oppressors, murderers, and blasphemers, when God rises up to punish them, and death and hell shut their mouths.

Reflections on Nahum 1

The devotional reflections in the next 3 posts, on Nahum, Chapters 1-3 respectively, as well as the concluding observations are from the Self-Interpreting Bible, by John Brown of Haddington (1722-1787). My copy was printed in 1855. 

Reflections on Chapter 1

It is terrible to have God as our enemy; but infinitely happy to have Him as our friend. Great and daring provocations of Him, and injuries done to His people, will certainly issue in men’s great and irresistible destruction; yea, nothing more plainly presages their ruin than carnal security and self-confidence: and their plots against Him but hasten it upon themselves and families. Men’s pride always lays them low; and shameful sins bring on shameful punishments: but God’s people shall be delivered from all their oppressors at last. And in this, but chiefly in the other world, they shall have blessed opportunities of celebrating the praises, and performing the solemn services, of Jehovah their gracious Deliverer. And great is the mercy to a land when Gospel ordinances have free course and are glorified.