Judges 13:1-25 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD… I. OBSERVE THE HUSBAND AS REPRESENTING HUMAN NATURE TROUBLED WITH A SENSE OF GUILT. You say you walk about among God's works, and wonder at their magnificence and beauty — why should you be afraid of Him? Why should a child be afraid of his father? Ah! why, indeed? Yet I believe you are afraid of God, and I would have you acknowledge it. God's works are indeed very beautiful. He did paint those flowers which you admire, and clothe those fruit trees with their spring blossoms. But it is God, not as the painter of flowers, nor the giver of fruits, but as the avenger of sin, with whom you have to do. There is one place where you do expect you will meet with God, one place certainly. How dreadful is that place! You turn away from it. At all costs you would avoid it: I refer to the place of death. You will meet God there; and you feel the presentiment in the terrible thoughts of your heart. II. THE WOMAN REPRESENTING HUMAN NATURE WHEN CHEERED WITH A SIGN OF MERCY. She correctly interpreted the signs of God's propitiation, and received the consolatory assurance of deliverance from death. Comforted herself, she could comfort her husband with the assurances of mercy, and refer him for satisfaction and a good hope to the auspicious sign of reconciliation. Yet her signs of peace were not like yours, and her words but a poor interpretation of the gospel of your reconciliation. An angel in the flame ascending to heaven! — You see Christ in your own nature ascending to His Father. A kid for a burnt-offering! — You have a brother giving himself for you, a sacrifice and an offering of a sweet-smelling savour to God. Manoah chose the kid from his own flock. God found, not a lamb of His own fold, but the Son of His own bosom, and freely gave Him up for us all. With every qualification this sacrifice was endowed — "a Lamb without spot or blemish" — "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." (R. Halley, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. |
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