Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. The scope of the apostle in all these similitudes is to show that these seducers were nothing less than what they pretended to be: "clouds," but dry, barren clouds; "trees," but such as bore either none or rotten fruit; "waves," that seemed to mount up unto heaven, and to promise great matters, as if they would swallow up the whole earth, but being dashed against a rock, all this raging and swelling turneth into a little foam and froth. 1. From the scope observe that spiritual boasters will certainly come short of their great promises. All is but noise, such as is made by empty vessels. 2. But let us a little examine the force of the words. The whole similitude alludeth to what is said of wicked men in general (Isaiah 57:20). Observe that they are waves, which noteth their inconstancy (Genesis 49:4). Water, you know, is movable, soon furled, and driven to and fro by the winds; so were these (Ephesians 4:14). Note thence that seducers are unsettled and uncertain in their opinions (2 Peter 3:16). Why? Because they are not rooted and grounded in their profession, but led by sudden affection and interests rather than judgment; they are unstable because unlearned; such as do not proceed upon clear and certain grounds. Well, then, discover them by their levity; you will never have comfort and certainty in following them who, like weathercocks, turn with every wind. "Waves of the sea." There you have their restless activity, they are always tossed to and fro (Jeremiah 49:23). They are acted by Satan, who is a restless spirit. "Raging waves of the sea." There you have their turbulency; they fill all places with troubles and strifes. Why? Because they are urged by their own pride and vanity, and have lost all restraints of modesty, and are usually, as to their constitution, of violent and eager spirits. Well, then, be not borne down with impudence and rage; there may be daring attempts and much resolution in an ill cause. The next expression is "foaming out their own shame," as a raging sea casteth up mire and dirt; or it alluded to that scum and froth which the waves leave upon the rocks, and so it noteth the abominableness of their opinions and practices. So errors come in like a raging wave, as if they would bear all before them, but they go out like foam and froth, in scorn and infamy. Well, then, observe the fruitless-ness of all Satan's attempts. We come now to the next similitude, "wandering stars." It may be taken two ways — properly or improperly. (1) Properly, for the stars which we call planets, or wandering, though indeed no stars wander less than they do; they have their name from the opinion and common judgment of sense, because they are not carried about the whole circuit of the heavens, but in a shorter orb and course. (2) Improperly; there are a second sort of wandering stars, which Aristotle calleth running and gliding stars; not stars indeed, but only dry exhalations inflamed, which glare much and deceive the eye with an appearance of light, but soon vanish and are quenched. Now these glancing, shooting stars do excellently express the quality of these seducers, who pretended great knowledge, being therefore called Gnostics, and gave out themselves for illuminate and profound doctors, but were various and uncertain in their motions, and soon extinguished and obscured. The guides of the Lord's people should be stars, but not wandering, gliding stars. These seducers pretended to be "stars," and great lights of the Church, but were indeed "wandering stars," and such as did seduce and cause to err. 1. Stars they should be — (1) In regard of the light of doctrine (Matthew 5:14). (2) In regard of the lustre of their conversations.It is said of all Christians (Philippians 2:15) that they "should shine as lights in this world"; they are the bright part of the world, as the stars are the shining part of heaven; as the star directed the wise men to Christ, so they must shine to light others by their example to Him. Alas! we are but dim lights; we have our spots and eclipses, but this sets the world a-talking. 2. They must not be gliding, falling stars; that is charged upon these seducers. A false teacher and a falling star symboliseth in three respects — (1) It is but a counterfeit star; so is he an "angel of light" only in appearance (2 Corinthians 11:14). A true Christian should covet more to be than to seem to be; to be "light in the Lord" before he is a "light in the world."(2) In respect of the uncertainty of its motion. Falling stars are not moved with the heavens, but with the motion of the air, hither and thither, and so are no sure direction. So are they inconstant in the doctrines which they teach, running from opinion to opinion; vagabond lights, that seduce, not direct, as meteors mislead travellers out of the way. (3) In regard of the fatal issue. A wandering star falleth to the ground, and becometh a dark slime and jelly; so their pretences vanish at length, and they are found to be those that were never enlightened and fixed in the firmament of God; counterfeits cannot last long; we see stars shoot in the turn of an eye, and Satan's instruments fall from heaven like lightning. Well, then, for a guide to heaven, choose a star, but not a wandering star. New light is admired, but it should be suspected rather. True stars have influences; they do not only enlighten and fill you with notions, but enflame and stir you to practice. The last clause of the text is, "to whom is reserved blackness of darkness for ever."In this threatening three things are notable — (1) The dreadfulness of the punishment; (2) the sureness; (3) the suitableness of it. 1. The dreadfulness, in two circumstances — (1) The nature of it; (2) the duration of it. (a) The nature of it, "the blackness of darkness." It is a Hebraism for exceeding great darkness, called in the gospel "outer darkness," as being furthest from God, the fountain of life and glory, and so expressing that extreme misery, horror, and torment which is in hell. Well, then, let us not begin our hell ourselves, by shunning God's presence, by preferring carnal pleasures before the light of His countenance, by remaining in the night or darkness of ignorance or error, by darkening the glory of our holy profession through scandalous living, by sinning against conscience, and so providing food for the gnawing worm, or matter of despair to ourselves to all eternity. (b) The next thing is the duration, "the blackness of darkness for ever." The torment prepared for the wicked is everlasting (Mark 9:44). This is the hell of hell, that, as the torments there are without measure, so without end. Here they might have life and would not, and now would have death, and cannot (Revelation 20:10). 2. So much for the terribleness of the judgment; now, secondly, let us consider the sureness of it: it is "reserved." Hell torment is sure, prepared, kept for the wicked (Matthew 25). Carnal men may lord it abroad for a while, and ruffle and shine in worldly pomp, but "the blackness of darkness is kept for them." 3. Observe the suitableness of the judgment to the sin; he saith "darkness," not fire. Clouds that darken the truth are justly punished with "the mists of darkness for ever" (2 Peter 2:17). They that would quench the true light are cast into eternal darkness. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. |
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