Psalm 121:4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. As He preserved the ark for Noah's sake, and Goshen for the ancient Israelites' sake, and all that were in the ship for St. Paul's sake, and all that were in the bath for St. John's sake, and all that fled to the tombs of the martyrs in Rome, when the Goths sacked the city, for the Christians' sake: so at this day He supporteth all kingdoms and states for the Churches' sake. The world is as a hop-yard, the Church as the hops, kingdoms, states, and commonwealths as the poles; and as the owner of the hop-yard preserveth the poles and stakes carefully, not for themselves, but that the hops may grow upon them: so God preserveth all states and societies of men, that they may be a support to His Church. We may take this note higher, and truly affirm that He keepeth heaven and earth for her sake; the earth to be as a nursery for her children, to grow awhile; and the heaven for His garden and celestial Paradise, whither He will transplant them all in the end. Wherefore, although the world never so much scorn, and contemn, and malign, and persecute God's chosen, yet it is indebted to them for its being and continuance; for God keepeth the heavens for the earth, the earth for living creatures, other living creatures for men, men for Israel, and Israel for the elect's sake. For their sake it is that the heavens move, the sun, moon and stars shine, the winds blow, the springs flow, the rivers run, the plants grow, the earth fructifieth, the beasts, fowls, and fishes multiply; for as soon as grace hath finished her work, and the whole number of the elect is accomplished, nature shall utterly cease, and this world shall give place to a better in which righteousness shall dwell. Yet when heaven and earth shall pass, this word of God shall not pass; for He that now keepeth militant Israel in the bosom of the earth shall then keep triumphant Israel in Abraham's bosom. (D. Featly, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.WEB: Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. |
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