241. PSA 78:41. UNBELIEF LIMITING GOD
Psa_78:41. Unbelief Limiting God
"And limited the Holy One of Israel."’97Psa_78:41.
The text refers to an event connected with the history of the Israelites, which is recorded, Num_14:1-4. The spies had just brought an evil report of the good land, and had represented the inhabitants as giants, on account of which the people lifted up their voice and wept, and said. "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness;" and they proposed selecting a captain and returning again. Thus did they turn their backs, and tempted God, and "limited the Holy One of Israel."
Now let us notice,
I. In what Way we may limit the Holy One of Israel.
To limit is to set bounds to his operations; to circumscribe or confine him in his ability to effect certain purposes or works.
Now God is often limited,
1. In the extent and freeness of his mercy.
The Jews could not conceive of publicans and sinners being interested in Messiah’s regards. Eldest son in the parable of the prodigal. And even the church doubted when they heard of Saul’s conversion. Whenever we suppose any case of guilt too great and aggravated to receive mercy, we clearly "limit the Holy One," &c.
2. The penitent sinner often does this as to the ability and willingness of God to save.
"If thou canst do any thing for us, have compassion," &c. Mat_9:22. "Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make clean," Mat_8:2. How often heavy-laden sinsick souls stumble over either the one or the other of these difficulties’97the power or willingness of Christ to save.
3. The believer in trouble often does this in confining God to a certain mode of deliverance.
Jacob, Gen_42:38. David, for his child, wept and fasted, &c. Martha, Lord, if thou hadst been here, &c. Paul besought the Lord thrice, &c. How often have we done the same. Dictated to the Lord how he should deliver us, &c.
4. We often do this in the contractedness of our prayers.
The promises are exceedingly great, precious, and absolute. Yet how feeble our desires, how bounded our requests, how weak our faith, how confined our requests. "If we have not, it is because we ask not," &c. "Hitherto ye have asked nothing," &c. "Prove me now," &c. Mal_3:11.
Let us notice,
II. The Evil of Limiting the Holy One of Israel.
To limit the Holy One of Israel is, 1 To bring down the Creator to the standard of the creature.
The powers of the highest orders of creatures are limited. The perfections of God are infinite and boundless. "As high as the heavens are above the earth," &c. It is presumption to measure him by the standard of finite capacity.
2. It is disbelieving his holy word.
He has declared he car. do every thing. "Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," Eph_3:20. He said to Abraham, "I am the Almighty," &c. Gen_17:1. Jesus said, "With God ill things are possible," Mat_19:16.
To limit God,
3. Is ungrateful reflection upon him for past mercies.
Has he not done infinitely more than we expected, and been exceedingly better than our fears. Guided when there was no light; guarded in imminent peril; delivered from the very jaws of death and destruction.
To limit God, is,
4. To limit our mercies and enjoyment He says, "Be it unto you according to your faith."
Unbelief closes his hand, and turns his face away from us, Jam_1:6. Excluded those of old from Canaan. Strong faith enriches the experience, and fills the soul with all the joys of the Holy Spirit. To limit God is to bring leanness into our souls, &c.
Application
Learn,
1. The importance of strong and living faith in God.
2. The best means of retaining and increasing his, is, close acquaintance with the Divine word’97constant reliance on Christ’s intercession’97and frequent prayer for Divine influence. "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."
Autor: JABEZ BURNS