SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION!

Philippians 2:12 NLT
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

OBSERVATION!

Observe, Though we must use our utmost endeavours in working out our salvation, yet still we must go forth, and go on, in a dependence upon the grace of God.

His grace works in us in a way suitable to our natures, and in concurrence with our endeavours and the operations of God’s grace in us are so far from excusing, that they are intended to quicken and engage our endeavours.

“And work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for he worketh in you.” All our working depends upon his working in us.

“Do not trifle with God by neglects and delays, lest you provoke him to withdraw his help, and all your endeavours prove in vain.”

“Work with fear, for he works of his good pleasure.” To do and to do: he gives the whole ability. It is the grace of God that inclines the will to that which is good: and then enables us to perform it and to act according to our principles.

Thou hast wrought all our works in us, Isaiah 26:12. Of his good pleasure. As there is no strength in us, there is no merit in us. As we act without God’s grace, so we cannot claim it, nor pretend to deserve it.

God’s good will to us is the cause of his good work in us, and he is under no engagements to his creatures, but those of his gracious promise.

COMMENTARY!

That God had in many instances been very gracious to them and had done great things for them.

In general (Isaiah 26:12): Thou hast wrought all our works in us, or for us. Whatever good work is done by us, it is owing to a good work wrought by the grace of God in us it is he that puts good thoughts and affections into our hearts if at any time they be there, and that works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Acti, agimus–Being acted upon, we act.

And if any kindness be shown us, or any of our affairs be prosperous and successful, it is God that works it for us. Every creature, every business, that is in any way serviceable to our comfort, is made by him to be so and sometimes he makes that to work for us which seemed to make against us.

In particular (Isaiah 26:15): “Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord! so that a little one has become a thousand (in Egypt they multiplied exceedingly, and afterwards in Canaan, so that they filled the land) and in this thou art glorified,” for the multitude of the people is the honour of the prince, and therein God was glorified as faithful to his covenant with Abraham, that he would make him a father of many nations.

OBSERVATION!

Note, God’s nation is a growing nation, and it is the glory of God that it is so. The increase of the church, that holy nation, is therefore to be rejoiced in because it is the increase of those that make it their business to glorify God in this world.

COMMENTARY!

When men prosper, and are in no apprehension of troubles, they are ready to say to God, Depart from us. 

God quickly brought troubles upon them, to awaken them, and recover them to repentance before their hearts were hardened.

It was but in the fourth year of Rehoboam that they began to corrupt themselves, and in the fifth year the king of Egypt came up against them with a vast army, took the fenced cities of Judah, and came against Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 12:2-4.

This great calamity coming upon them so soon after they began to desert the worship of God, by a hand they had little reason to suspect (having had a great deal of friendly correspondence with Egypt in the last reign), and coming with so much violence that all the fenced cities of Judah, which Rehoboam had lately fortified and garrisoned and on which he relied much for the safety of his kingdom, fell immediately into the hands of the enemy, without making any resistance, plainly showed that it was from the Lord, because they had transgressed against him.

OBSERVATION!

2 Chronicles 12:12
[12]And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

In times of great corruption and degeneracy, it is some comfort if there be a remnant among whom good things are found; this is a ground of hope in Israel.

In respect of prosperity. In Judah, things went ill when all the fenced cities were taken (2 Chronicles 12:4), but when they repented the posture of their affairs altered, and things went well. Note, If things do not go so well as we could wish, yet we have reason to take notice of it with thankfulness if they go better than was to have been expected, better than formerly, and better than we deserved. We should own God’s goodness if he does, but grant us some deliverance.

CLOSING OBSERVATION!

In all of our wisdom, it must be remembered that we are Yahewa’s adopted children into Isreal and its modern Covenant of Salvation through Yeshua and his Heavenly Father Yahewa, as such we are subject to all of Yahewa’s actions against or for Israel!

God calls himself the Lord God of Israel. Though Israel had forsaken God, God had not cast them off, nor given them a bill of divorce for their whoredoms. He is Israel’s God, and therefore will take vengeance on him who did them the greatest mischief he could do them, debauched them and drew them away from God. With our Heavenly received wisdom through the Holy Spirit note today’s Assemblies and Ecclesia are that remnant spoken of. 

We find repeated to note: In times of great corruption and degeneracy, it is some comfort if there be a remnant among whom good things are found; this is a ground of hope in Israel as the adopted children being that remnant.

As humble and obedient servants, we share our Lord’s love and grace as given unto us in Luke 10:16
[16]He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.  And all of God’s children say Amen and Amen.