Threatenings

There is no part of Scripture without use and profit. Man may write a book, but there may be a great deal of waste in it; but when God hath written a volume or book, there is nothing in it but what is of profit. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). It is true, it is the aim of the whole Scripture to beget hope; aye, but there are some things, in order to hope, that are first to work upon fear; something to bridle the flesh as well as to comfort the spirit, though all ends in hope. There is nothing in the Word of God superfluous, and the threatenings are a considerable part of the Word.

But more particularly, I shall show you how the threatenings are necessary.

1. To beget humiliation for sins past. In the threatenings we see the desert of sin, therefore after grievous offenses it is good to wound the heart this way with the more remorse. Josiah's heart was tender and made soft. By what? It was by the threatening: "Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD , when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me" (2 Kings 22:19). Certainly there is a great advantage by the commination.

You will never understand how displeasing things are to God until you look upon the flying roll and read the curses; then the soul shall say, "Oh, what have I done? I have done that which makes me guilty of all the curses of the law." This will make you earnest after pardon, nay, it will make the pardon more welcome when it comes: "We have deserved to be cast into hell, but grace hath saved us." Then will your hearts be enlarged in praises and thanksgivings to God, and you will exalt Him to the highest heaven who hath delivered you from the lowest hell.

Daniel, when he was in the den, had more cause to bless God than if he had been kept out of the den; to be in the midst of lions and to see their mouths muzzled. So when we think of the evil of sin and the terrible consequences of sin, and all this taken away by Christ, how will this commend our portion? How will we bless God for Jesus Christ? This is the fruit of sin, but there is "no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

2. The consideration of the threatening will be an advantage to us to make us vigilant and watchful. When we see the danger, we shall not be so secure. This is the argument by which Christ Himself would convert Paul: "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). It is a metaphor taken from a husbandman's goad or prick; wanton oxen, when they run against the goad, do not hurt the goad but themselves. So it will be dangerous for you. God's wrath will gore the soul. We should have this goad and prick before our eyes, and this will make us watchful. Solomon said, "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird" (Proverbs 1:17). Birds when they see the snare will not venture upon the bait. And so, when we see the danger and consider the sad consequences of sin, it will make the soul to be the more careful; we will not daily with sin and grow so bold with God and His cause.

3. It is an excellent means to strengthen us against carnal fear. The fear of man is apt to prove a snare (Proverbs 25:24). Solomon spake it, and many of the servants of God have found it so. It was fear that made Abraham deny his wife, and it was fear that made Peter deny his Master. Now there is no way to cure the fear of man but by presenting the fear of God. Look, as Aaron's rod devoured the rods of the magicians, and as the stronger nail drives out the weaker, so does the fear of God drive out the fear of man.

What is the ground of all carnal compliance? We fear man's power and presume of God's mercy. A slight belief is given to the threatenings of God, and we think the wrath of man is more to be feared than the wrath of God. The only cure will be to consider that there are no terrors to those which faith represents; therefore holy persons always used this remedy to drive out the fear of man by the fear of God. It is said, "The midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them" (Exodus 1:17); and the Holy Ghost prescribeth this remedy, "Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread" (Isaiah 8:12-13). The prophet speaks against those that would cry up a confederacy with them that cry up a confederacy, that would yoke themselves in combination with the public enemies of God. Oh, think of terrors of the Lord, and that will quell and allay all the terrors of men. So our Savior said, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell" (Luke 12:4-5). The terrors of the Lord and the threatenings of the Lord are the cure against the terrors of men. Better all the world your enemy than God. We live longer with God than we do with men; He can kill body and soul.

4. The threatenings of the Word are necessary to be propounded to our faith, to check indulgence to carnal pleasure. Pleasure and delight are dearly bought if they cannot be compassed but with the danger of our souls. Therefore there is no way to counterbalance delight but by fear, to consider the wrath of God that shall come upon every sinner: "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness" (2 Peter 2:10). Whoever escape, they are sure to be punished; there is bitter judgment of these sweet pleasures.

Jehovah-Jirah

The saints should never be dismayed,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect His aid,
The Savior will appear.

This Abraham found, he raised the knife,
God saw, and said, "Forbear,
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there!"

Once David seemed Saul's certain prey;
But hark! the foe's at hand;
Saul turned his arms another way,
To save th' invaded land.

When Jonah sunk beneath the waves,
He thought to rise no more;
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.

Blessed proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in His Word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.

Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait;
The promise may be long delayed,
But cannot come too late.

— J. Newton

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