An unfaithful people provoked to jealousy by God.
This paragraph is the antithesis of the preceding one. In form the expressions are archaic. The principles underlying these ancient forms of expression are for all the ages. In fact, there are few of the Old Testament passages which are more pointedly referred to in the New Testament; and none, the principles of which are more frequently reproduced. The various clauses are seriatim explained in the Exposition. We propose but to develop the main thought, which is indicated in the heading of this Homily. Its contents are fourfold.
1. God was provoked to jealousy by his people choosing a no-God instead of him.
2. The time would come when he would, as a punishment to Israel, choose a no-people instead of them.
3. Those who had been exalted in privilege should be deprived of their privileges, and should pass through the bitterest sorrows.
4. At the thought of their privileges passing away from them, and passing on to others, Israel should be provoked to jealousy.
Now, it would be a most instructive and impressive exercise to compare what is here said by God in his Word with that which actually came to pass. What does history say? Does it not confirm Moses at every point? The facts of history are these—
1. The people of Israel did fall away from the God of their fathers, and bring upon themselves the remonstrance of prophet after prophet, and were made in the course of God's providence to suffer sorrow upon sorrow.
2. The time did come when the kingdom of God passed away from them, and when they were no longer, as they once had been, the favored people.
3. That kingdom of God passed over to the Gentiles.
4. At its so passing over, the Jews were exceedingly jealous and angry.
5. So much so was this the case, that Patti makes use of the fact in arguments to quicken both the Jew and the Gentile, as the case may be.
The following passages of Scripture should be carefully compared together, bearing as they do alike on the history, the principles revolved therein, and their everlasting application:—Romans 10:19; Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12; Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:43; Acts 13:46; Romans 9:30-32; Romans 11:11; Hosea 1:10 (latter part); Romans 9:25,Romans 9:26; 1 Peter 2:10; Ephesians 2:11-13; Romans 11:13-25. From all which several all-important truths of permanent significance may be clearly deduced and powerfully applied.
I. THESE ARE TIMES OF GREAT RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE WITH US. True, we are not exclusively a favored race, in the same sense as was Israel of old. But our advantages are not less because others share them with us. We have all that Israel ever had, and vastly more. "The kingdom of God is come unto us." The "word of faith" is nigh us, in our mouth and in our heart. We are bidden to "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," etc.
II. IF THESE PRIVILEGES REMAIN UNIMPROVED, OUR NEGLECT THEREOF WILL BE A GRIEVOUS SIN IN THE EYE OF GOD. We have but to read the Epistle to the Hebrews in order to find such an argument as this repeatedly presented, though in varying forms: If the Law of Moses was trifled with by any one, they did not escape punishment. But Jesus Christ is greater than Moses. By as much as he is greater than Moses, by so much are the sin and danger of neglecting him greater than those of neglecting the lawgiver of old.
III. BOTH CHURCHES AND NATIONS HAVE A DAY OF PROBATION GRANTED THEM, DURING WHICH THEIR PRIVILEGES ARE CONTINUED. (See Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Luke 13:6-9; Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:21; Luke 19:42-44.) An unending probation is granted to no one.
IV. IF THE PERIOD OF PROBATION PASSES BY UNIMPROVED, OUR PRIVILEGES WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
V. OTHER LANDS AND OTHER PEOPLES ARE READY, YEA, EAGER TO RECEIVE THE LIGHT WHICH SOME APPRECIATE SO LITTLE.
VI. MANY, MANY WILL COME FROM LESS FAVORED LANDS AND FROM LESS CULTURED RACES, AND WILL STEP INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND BE SAVED; while many of the children of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. Hear what our Lord says to the Pharisees: "The publicans and harlots will go into the kingdom of God before you."