Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you… I. VIEW THE WORDS AS A QUOTATION. The Holy Spirit led Paul to quote from the Scriptures, though he could have spoken fresh words. Thus he put honour on the Old Testament, and taught that words spoken to ancient saints belong to us. Paul quotes the sense, not the exact words — teaching that the spirit of a text is the main thing. II. VIEW THEM AS A HOUSEHOLD WORD FROM GOD. 1. They are peculiarly a saying of God — "He hath said." This has been said, not so much by inspiration as by God Himself. 2. They are remarkably forcible from having five negatives in them in the Greek. 3. They relate to God Himself and His people. "I"... "thee." 4. They ensure His presence and His help. He would not be with us, and be inactive. 5. They guarantee the greatest good. God with us means all good. 6. They avert a dreadful evil which we deserve and might justly fear; namely, to be deserted of God. 7. They are such as He only could utter and make true. Nobody else can be with us effectually in agony, in death, in judgment. 8. They provide for all troubles, losses, desertions, weaknesses, difficulties, places, seasons, dangers, &c., in time and eternity. 9. They are substantiated by the Divine love, immutability, and faithfulness. 10. They are further confirmed by an observation of the Divine proceeding to others and to ourselves. III. VIEW THEM AS A MOTIVE FOR CONTENTMENT. Leading us to — 1. Live above visible things when we have stores in hand. 2. Present satisfaction, however low our stores may be. 3. See provision for all future emergencies. 4. A security more satisfactory, sure, ennobling, and Divine, than all the wealth of the Indies could bestow. 5. Reckon discontent a kind of blasphemy of God. IV. VIEW THEM AS A REASON FOR COURAGE. 1. Our Helper is greater than our foes. 2. Our foes are entirely in His hand. 3. If permitted to afflict us, God will sustain us under their malice. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. |
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