Deuteronomy 32:36
“The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.”
It is a certain truth that God is immutable in his purposes, whether of judgment or of mercy. In the execution of either, there may be long delays; but neither the one nor the other shall fail.
The sins of the impenitent are “kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults? Verse 34” and however secure the ungodly may imagine themselves, they shall give up their account to him, “to whom belongs vengeance and recompense.” Yes, they may stand fast in their own apprehension; but “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them!” verse 35.” Or, to use the energetic language of Peter, “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping! 2 Peter 2:3.”
In like manner, are the mercies of God reserved for his chosen people; and though he may, for wise and gracious purposes, allow them to be reduced to the greatest extremities, as he did his people in Babylon, See Micah 4:10, yet will he interpose effectually for them in due season, “and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone.”
In confirmation of this truth I propose to show,
I. To what a tried state God’s people may be reduced.
God’s ways and thoughts are far different from ours. We should be ready to suppose that he would preserve his people from any great calamities, and interpose for their deliverance at the very commencement of their trials. But this is not the way in which he proceeds.
1. He permits his people to be severely tried by temporal afflictions.
To these is the primary reference in the text. Compare Judges 2:14-15; Judges 2:18 with 2 Kings 14:26. The whole of God’s dispensations towards his people, in Egypt and the wilderness, evince the truth of it. Nor is it the wicked only whom he permits to be visited with severe afflictions; the righteous in every age have drunk deep of the cup of sorrow which has been put into their hands, Hebrews 11:37-38; Acts 8:3-4. God has seen it “needful that they should be in heaviness through manifold trials, 1 Peter 1:6;” and has taught them to regard their lot, not as a mark of his displeasure, but rather as a token of his love, Hebrews 12:6.
2. He permits his people to be severely tried by spiritual trouble.
Many, previous to their finding peace with God, are brought into the deepest distress on account of their iniquities, and from an apprehension of God’s heavy displeasure, Psalm 6:1-7; Psalm 38:1-8. And many too after that they have obtained mercy, may yet be greatly tried by reason of the hidings of God’s face, Psalm 22:1-2; Psalm 42:6; Psalms 7, and the delays of his promised blessings, Psalm 77:1-9; Psalm 88:14-16; Psalm 102:1-11. Greater distress than this cannot be imagined; yet was it the lot of him who was “the man after God’s own heart.”
But let us contemplate,
II. The seasonable interpositions which God’s people may hope for.
“The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants,” when he sees them reduced to such a state as this.
He has done this in instances without number.
The whole history of the Bible is replete with instances; yes, on numberless occasions have his interpositions been so signal, that his most inveterate enemies have been constrained to acknowledge his hand, and his most unbelieving people to sing his praise. The hundred and seventh Psalm is in fact an epitome of God’s dealings with his people from the beginning of the world to this present moment; and there is not anyone among ourselves, who, if he have been at all observant of the ways of Providence, must not acknowledge, that he has both seen in others, and experienced in himself, many merciful interpositions in the hour of need.
He will do it to the end of time.
The words before us are in the form of a promise; and we may rely upon them as sure and faithful. They shall be fulfilled to us under temporal distresses, Psalm 33:18-19; and under spiritual trouble also will God surely remember them for our good. Where can we find a more disconsolate state than that depicted by the Prophet Isaiah? Yet sooner will God work for us the most stupendous miracles, than leave us destitute of the desired aid, Isaiah 41:17-18.
The frequency of such interpositions leads me to point out,
III. The reason why God permits such trials previous to the bestowment of his promised blessings.
Among many other reasons, he does it,
1. For the making of us more sensible of our dependence upon him.
While, in theory, we acknowledge God as “the Author and Giver of all good,” there is no sentiment further from our minds than this in practice. It is only in straits and difficulties that we think of looking unto God. But such atheism is most displeasing to the Governor of the universe; and on this account he allows us to fall into divers trials, that we may know from whence all our blessings have flowed, and on whose providence we depend.
Paul assigns this as one very important reason why God permitted such trials to come upon him in Asia, that he was driven to utter despair, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.”
Just so, every affliction that brings us to a more simple life of faith in God, we may justly welcome as a blessing in disguise.
2. For the greater magnifying his own glorious perfections.
We scarcely notice God at all in his common mercies; it is only when we are delivered by some signal interposition of his providence or grace, that we become sensible of our obligations to him. Then we say, The Lord has done this; and we feel disposed, for a time at least, to give him the glory due unto his name. It was for this reason that Jesus came not to restore Lazarus, until he had been dead four days, John 11:4; John 11:6; John 11:15; John 11:40. Under such circumstances we admire his goodness, and adore his love; and confess him to be a faithful God, who has never failed in the execution of any promise to his believing people.
The song of Moses is sung by us again, “Who is like unto you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders! Exodus 15:11.” Conviction flashes on our minds with tenfold energy; and we exclaim with the convinced worshipers of Baal, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”
3. For the rendering of his mercies more influential on our minds.
When God’s mercies have been heaped upon us in an unusual degree, then we feel disposed to ask, “What shall I render to the Lord for all the benefits that he has done unto me?”
Behold David after some great deliverance, whereby “his soul was brought out of a horrible pit, and set, as it were, upon a rock;” “what songs were put into his mouth;” and with what ardor does he exclaim, “Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust! Psalm 40:1-4.”
Paul had been brought to similar distress by reason of the thorn in his flesh; yet, when once assured that “the grace of Christ should be sufficient for him,” how does he immediately take pleasure and glory in his thorn in the flesh, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. And thus will it be with all, in proportion as they are sensible of the mercies conferred upon them; they will present their whole selves a living sacrifice unto their God, as a reasonable and delightful service, Romans 12:1.
ADDRESS.
1. To those who are under any temporal affliction.
Say not, that “the Lord has forsaken and forgotten you Isaiah 49:14;” but wait his appointed time, and assure yourselves that “all is working for your good.” It was by a circuitous path that he led Israel to the promised land; but “he led them by the right way;” and you also shall see, in due season, that though “clouds and darkness have been round about him, righteousness and judgment have been the basis of his throne.”
2. To those whose trials are of a spiritual nature.
These are the heavier of the two; for “a wounded spirit who can bear?” But “light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Only wait the appointed time, and “the vision shall come, and not tarry, Habakkuk 3:2.” “In the evening time it shall be light, Zechariah 14:7.” In the mean while follow the direction which the Lord himself gives you: “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Isaiah 50:10.”
Charles Simeon (1759-1836)