Greetings sis Reis, et al;
Mr Hawker is blessed once again to make profitable remarks upon this
precious verse. It is as if the LORD is saying HE will do nothing
halfway. What HE sets out to do HE will accomplish. Did CHRIST die to
pay the sin debt of sinners and then leave them still under that
condemnation. Did HE impute HIS righteousness to HIS elect only to see
them perish outside of it. What HE has said HE will do. "All that the
FATHER giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out."
Blessings, mike
On 11/15/2022 2:06 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*"Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord. Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God." Isaiah 66:9 *
*Observe, my soul, not only how readily the Lord undertakes to bless his people, and mates good his promises, but the gracious manner in which he confirms his word unto his servants, "wherein he causeth them to hope." All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are sweet, and sure, and amen; but methinks there is a double blessedness in those, which, from their seeming to come to us with difficulty, the Lord recommends yet more by bringing in the sovereignty of his power to their accomplishment. It is as if the Lord said by every one, "Because it be marvellous in your eyes, should it be also marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of Hosts," Zechariah 8:6. *
*My soul, if thou wilt read once more, this blessed evening, the gracious verse of the prophet in this view, the beauty and glory of it will more abundantly appear. Did God ever, in nature or in grace, fill the womb with expectation, and in the end cause a disappointment? Look through the whole compass of creation, and observe the appointed weeks through all his works. And will he restrain in the new creation? Is he not pledged in covenant engagements to people Zion with men as a flock? Is not the travail of the Redeemer's soul to be as incalculable as the dew-drops of the morning? And shall Jehovah cease to be Jehovah here? Shall he bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? Shall he restrain or shut the womb? saith thy God. *
*My soul, while thou art looking at the divine faithfulness, and the divine power, as the everlasting security for the fulfilment of all the promises of God in Christ to Zion at large, take home the same strength of argument (for it is the same) to thine; own security in particular. Hath the Lord thy God brought forth to thy new birth in Jesus, all the blessed hopes of salvation in his blood and righteousness; and will he not go on to the accomplishment of every thing needful in grace here, and glory hereafter to all eternity? Is any thing too hard for God? Shall thy cold and unbelieving heart make the word of God, and the oath of his promise of none effect? Dost thou not see that all thy security is in God's faithfulness, and not dependent upon man's improvement? Oh, the blessedness of ceasing from man, and resting upon God. Give me, blessed Jesus, give me grace to look off from myself, and to be wholly looking to thee; to live off from myself, and to live wholly upon thy fulness!*
*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) *
