The Congregational Pulpit Genesis 15:7-21 And he said to him, I am the LORD that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.… I. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL CONFLICT AND GLOOM. 1. We feel our littleness and ignorance, in contrast with the greatness and glory of Almighty God. 2. We are deeply sensible of our guiltiness and impurity. See the cases of Job (42) and Isaiah (6). 3. We are full of fear about the future. This may refer both to this life, and to the next. It may wax into a most vehement dread and horror. 4. Sometimes there is an abnormal state of the physical system. The senses are benumbed, surrounding things are indistinct and hazy; we find it hard to realize our own existence, we are dreamy and beclouded in our sensations; but spiritual and eternal things are appallingly near. The soul's sensibilities are in a state of high and extreme tension. II. WE ARE TAUGHT THE MANNER OF GOD'S HOLDING INTERCOURSE WITH US. 1. He is sovereign in its manner: fixing His own seasons, and the objects of His gracious visitations. 2. He comes by promise: all free on His part. 3. He comes by sacrifice. This He has provided Himself. 4. He comes with mingled majesty and mercy. There is the light of His holiness softened by the gentle covering, and screen, and cloud of His clemency and condescending grace. 5. He comes with an oath. What marvellous condescension! III. A LESSON OF PATIENCE AND WATCHFULNESS ON OUR PART. We are not to hurry our great transactions with God: but wait His times in patient reverence and awe. IV. THE GRANDEUR OF GOD'S PROMISES. What an inheritance is promised to us: spiritual, heavenly, Divine. (The Congregational Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. |
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