ALL THAT GOD so faithfully warned His people Israel of in this chapter came to pass. Chastened for their iniquity they have perished among the nations where God scattered them, and yet His ways in government with them will have an end one day. We find the gracious promise of this in the end of the chapter. How God delights to look forward to that time when He can bless His people according to His own purpose and grace, not for anything that they deserve but because of His love for them, and for the gratification of His own heart in answer to those unconditional proses made to the fathers long before.
He will give to them the spirit of repentance, and they will confess their iniquity. He will remember His covenant with Jacob, with Isaac and with Abraham; Israel will abhor themselves, and own that His covenant is that alone which secures their blessing. Their only glory will be in the Lord their God, even as it is written, “Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jer. 9:2424But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24).
Israel walked contrary to God (v. 40) and He “walked contrary” with them (v. 41) so that they suffered the sorrows of defeat from their enemies, the pestilence, the famine, and finally the loss of their land. Their history has been repeated in the church down through the years, for men have walked contrary to God and now they suffer under His government. There is great spiritual famine in the professing church, the world’s power donates largely the Christian scene, the church has lost most of its cherished possessions.
If we as individuals walk contrary to God His government will be contrary to us. The more we persist in self-will, the heavier will be His hand upon us to break down our stubborn wills, but He will overcome in the end. How much better to submit at once to Him who only desires our good and blessing. How much sorrow would have been spared had souls humbled themselves and sought to follow in the path of His blessed will!
“The blessing of the Lord, it math rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it,” we read in Proverbs 10:2222The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22). How great and how rich will repentant Israel’s blessing be in that coming day when humbled and restored they shall be blessed of the Lord. Then their sorrows shall all have passed away forever and they shall be at rest under Messiah’s beneficent reign. God ever remembers the covenant made with their fathers and with the land, and those unconditional promises all fulfilled in Christ.
God ever remembers Christ, and is ready to bless His own now according to all that Christ is, wherever there is grace to walk in self-judgment and a desire to please Him. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Cor. 1:2020For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20).
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