658. GEN 28:18, GEN 28:19. JACOB’S MONUMENTAL PILLAR
Gen_28:18, Gen_28:19. Jacob’s Monumental Pillar
"And Jacob arose up early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it," &c.’97Gen_28:18, Gen_28:19.
Our text is connected with one of the most remarkable incidents in the life of Jacob. He was now an exile from his father’s house. On his way to Padan-aram. Alone on this journey, he is overtaken by night. He fixes upon the spot where to rest until the morning. There God visited him by a most remarkable vision. He dreamed, &c.; Gen_28:12. Here both the ways of providence and the purposes of grace were unfolded to him. A direct promise, full of comfort, was given to him; Gen_28:14-15, &c.
Then Jacob awoke, and exclaimed: "Surely the Lord," &c., Gen_28:16, &c. He then performs the acts to which our text refers, &c.
Observe,
I. What Jacob did.
II. How he did it. And,
III. The reasons on which his conduct was grounded.
I. What Jacob did.
In one word; he erected a monumental pillar, and piously devoted it to celebrate God’s goodness towards him.
Observe,
1. The stone on which he reclined was the material of the pillar.
A hard pillow for the weary traveller; yet to tired, exhausted nature it was welcome and sweet. But how it had been hallowed by the visions of the night. No ordinary stone. And now it was to be erected to commemorate the events of that season. We read of such erections often in the Divine word’97Gen_31:45; Gen_35:14; Jos_4:4; 1Sa_7:12. So Egypt and the cities and plains of Greece are full of such monuments. Our Museum is crowded with entire or portions of such pillars. Some to celebrate battles, triumphs, and other illustrious events.
2. The pillar was consecrated with oil. This was a kind of religious act. Person and things were thus devoted to God. This stone was to celebrate a religious event, and hence, with oil, it is set apart to the divine service: Exo_40:9.
3. He called the pillar and spot on which it rested, Bethel.
The House of God,’97where God had met, and revealed himself, in mercy, to his dependent creature. Where promises had been given,’97vows made,’97services performed,’97engagements realized. How often has God hallowed places, and spots, and times, and circumstances, by his blessing.
Now, notice in reference to this act,
II. How Jacob did it.
1. He did it early.
"Early in the morning." With the vision still bright’97the emotions deep, &c. He did not hesitate, nor delay. He did it first. God’s things should always be first. "Seek ye first," &c. First in life it should be,
"Remember now thy Creator," &c. "Wilt thou not from this time, cry unto me," &c. Religious things should be first in importance; and always first every day. Especially have the entire of the first day of the week.
2. He did it solemnly.
How reverential and awe-struck he evidently was. "How dreadful," &c., Gen_28:17. Here was a service in our world, and earth; yet the things of time were forgotten. God and spiritual things were in the ascendant. Should it not always be so in our religious exercises?
3. It was done spiritually.
Here were symbols and forms of services,’97but there was the inward reality. Not merely signs’97but the substance. Not merely forms’97but the soul engaged. The pillar presented that to which all the rest only referred’97his heart’s homage! God demands this in all our worship and duties, that they be spiritual services, &c. "God is a spirit," &c. "We are the true circumcision," &c.
III. The reasons on which the conduct of Jacob was grounded.
Now these reasons respected the past, the present, and the future.
1. The reasons respected the past.
It was to be an abiding record of God’s providential goodness and gracious revelations to him. He had been guided, protected, blessed,’97he had both his faith and hope in God strengthened. Then grateful love demanded that those things should be remembered. Have we no such past reasons for rearing monumental pillars of grateful remembrance? No deliverances,’97no preservations,’97no interpositions,’97no spiritual blessings? &c. Ah! has not our path been strewed with them? But I fear we have not rendered again, &c.
2. Another reason referred to the present. It was intended to evince the state of mind he felt. His love’97his gratitude’97his confidence’97his resolutions’97his vows, &c. This pillar should testify what he then felt and did; and from this he could easily judge as to his spiritual state in future. God and conscience demands this from us. "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God," &c.
3. Another reason referred to the future. He had had visions which referred to the future. The ministering angels’97the smiling God’97the blessed and gracious engagements of Jehovah. He would have need to remember these in after life. In sorrows’97 in trials’97in perils, &c. How sweet to think of the pillar, and the scenes of it. How often might he visit Bethel, with comfort and delight. So the illustrious periods in our history should be remembered, and applied, and improved. This would ever be profitable to our souls’97be honorable to our religious character, and especially please God.
Application
1. How God has honored man, by his intercourse with him.
Think of the greatness of God, and then look at insignificant man; and how appropriate the exclamation of the Psalmist: "What is man," &c.
2. The most marvellous of all these visits of love and mercy, was in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c. This is the most sublime and mysterious visitation to our world. That in which we are most deeply concerned,’97to which all others referred. Here is the ladder,’97the one way,’97the covenant of mercy, &c. The church is now Bethel’97the house of God. Believers have this manifestation of love and goodness.
3. The personal interest we should have in it.
Has it led us to a grateful devotedness to his service and glory? Have we become the Lord’s? &c. Have recorded vows been kept? Holy purposes realized, and happy seasons profitably and gratefully improved?
Autor: JABEZ BURNS