769. DEU 1:11. THE PROMISED INCREASE PLEADED

Deu_1:11. The Promised Increase Pleaded

"The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you."’97Deu_1:11.

In calling your attention to this striking prayer, we shall consider,

I. The glorious Being addressed. "The Lord God of your fathers."

II. The comprehensive petition presented. "Make you a thousand," &c.

III. The ground of encouragement adduced. "As he hath promised," &c.

I. The glorious Being addressed. "The Lord God of your fathers." He is addressed,

1. In his essential character as Lord God. All the titles connected with the blessed

God are important, and full of glorious meaning. Lord or Jehovah relates to his dominion. A dominion extending to "all creatures and all worlds. Lord of earth, angels, heaven, and hell. God is one of Jehovah’s titles, which has more especial reference to the benevolence of the Deity. It signifies the good Being, the fountain of happiness, &c. A Lord may possess power, and yet be an object of terror. In Jehovah power and goodness are united. Goodness is not so much an attribute, as the essence of God. His name and nature. God is good: God is love. We see the combination of Lord and God in all his works.

(1.) Creation is the work of Jehovah, Lord of power, wisdom, &c., yet all connected with goodness, and expressive of his love.

(2.) In the providence and the works of God. Yes. The Lord reigneth. He holds the reign of universal dominion. Yet we see God in all and through all, opening his hand and supplying all creatures with good.

(3.) In redemption, almighty power and infinite wisdom were requisite for the restoration of an apostate world. But here especially was goodness manifested. "God so loved the world"’97a love which passeth understanding. This view of the Supreme Being is highly consolatory. A being of illimitable authority and power, yet

"Whose love is as great as his power,

And neither knows measure nor end."

2. In his relative character.

"Lord God of your fathers." He is often spoken of as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God of Israel. In this way his name is associated with various events and manifestations of himself. Let us consider the term,

1. Literally in its application to Israel. The Lord God, who called Abraham, blessed Isaac, and blessed and surnamed Jacob; who delivered his people from the proud yoke of Pharaoh; brought them through the Red Sea; guided, guarded, and supplied them in the wilderness; gave them the rich land of promise. Surely Israel might well sing, "There is no God like unto the God of Jeshurun." Then let us apply it,

2. To many of our fathers after the flesh. Many of our fathers served and trusted in the living God. We remember how they loved his word; how they took us with them to his house; how they sung his praises; how often they kneeled at the family altar how often they prayed, "Oh, that my son, my daughter might live," &c. How generally happy. We remember when they sickened, how cheerfully resigned before they died. How anxious for our welfare. How they spake of God; "Behold I die, but serve God, and he will be with you. Oh, do not cast off God, but serve him, and he will again unite us in the indissoluble bonds of a glorious immortality." Is not their memory still sweet; their sleeping dust still precious; and do you not feel something endearing in the term, "The Lord God of your fathers?"

3. The subject has a, general application to our spiritual predecessors.

Those who preceded us in the vineyard of the Lord; those early Christian fathers, who had to witness before the pagan world, and who passed through the horrid afflictions of ten persecutions, and yet were supported, and made successful in spreading the go pel through the whole world. Those early British and German reformers, who snatched the torch of truth, and lighted up the doctrines of the Protestant faith, which all the might of the Romish power could not extinguish. The fathers of dissent, those spiritual giants of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, who were bold enough, holy enough, and disinterested enough, to despise the pompous ceremonies of a state hierarchy, and who, to the number of two thousand abandoned their livings from love to the "faith once delivered to the saints." Notice,

II. The comprehensive petition presented.

"Make you," &c. In the petition are two parts,’97multiplication of numbers and the divine blessing.

1. Multiplication of numbers.

"Make you a thousand times," &c.

(1.) There is nothing in this impossible. The Lord God had already blessed them. Now in reference to the Christian cause equally possible. Ample scope. The field is the world. The world is peopled with souls. The whole world is lying in wickedness. Ample materials. The gospel of the Lord God. It is God’s work. The soul of Jesus is travelling with it. The spirit is poured out for this end, &c. Therefore our text is not hyperbolical, but literal.

(2.) Something in the prayer truly desirable. On God’s account:’97that he may be preeminently loved and adored. "Thy will be done," &c. That earth, and air, and seas, may be vocal with his praise. On Messiah’s account. Who can contemplate the extent of his sorrows, the depths of his humiliation, the intensity of his agonies, the bitterness of the cup? &c. And wherefore did he drink it? That he might see his seed, prolong his days, and see of the travail of his soul, until he should be satisfied. On the world’s account. When men are added to God’s family,’97what is it? Of civilization, education, we hear much, &c. But this is conversion from darkness, &c. It is the regeneration of the soul. It is adoption into the household of faith. It is salvation. Heaven on earth and heaven forever. On our own account. Christianity is not a selfish monopoly. No patents to restrict it to ourselves. When others join the festival the banquet is sweeter. The joy of each adds to the whole. In one of the miracles of the loaves, 4000 partook of five loaves and several fishes, and only seven baskets remained. But in the other, 5000 partook of five loaves and two fishes, and twelve baskets remained? Yes, by increase the felicity of the church is greatly augmented. Prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. They that love her shall prosper. Another part of this prayer is,

2. The divine blessing,

"Bless you."

(1.) With what is necessary to this increase. The spirit of humility, prayer, zeal, are all produced by divine influence. "Not by might," &c. "Prove me now," &c.

(2.) With what will render an increase a blessing. Not mere increase should satisfy; but an increase of stones squared and polished, and laid on the true foundation, of those who are true lights, or the real glory of the church will not be increased. Of those who savor of holiness; of those who possess the stern principles of truth and integrity; or the church will not withstand the floods of error, &c. Those who possess the spirit of holy enterprise, of divine philanthropy, or all the nations of the earth will not hear the doctrines of the cross. Oh yes! While we seek an increase, let us not forget the blessing necessary to effect and also to sanctify it.

III. The ground of encouragement adduced.

"As he hath promised." Now God did promise Abraham and Jacob, &c., and he hath promised equal prosperity to us. Observe some of the traits of these promises. They are,

1. Absolute in their nature.

He has not said he will multiply the church if,

(1.) Her friends are active and willing. No. But he will make his people willing in the day of his power. They shall be volunteers in the day when Christ puts forth his authoritative claims, &c. He has not said he will prosper his church,

(2.) If the governments of the world and the great of the earth are favorable; but it is written, "They shall bring the gold of Sheba," &c. He shall overturn and overturn until all things shall be subdued to himself. The purposes of God and his promises are absolute in their nature.

2. They are numerous.

Not one isolated promise, not merely the text, but they are countless like the stars which shine in the milky way. These promises are scattered over the whole extent of revelation.

3. They have been principally made to Christ.

The reward of his covenant engagements not only pledged to the church, but also to the Saviour. The stipulated price has been paid. He did not fail, &c. Ask of me, &c., Isa_21:22, Isa_53:10, Isa_60:4, Isa_60:5.

4. Partially fulfilled.

We appeal to apostolic ages; we appeal to the Reformation; we appeal to the revival of religion during the past and present century; we appeal to the exertions of all denominations of Christians at the present period; and we appeal to the prospects connected with missionary enterprises.

Application

Three inferences:

1. The divinity of our religion.

Our God is the Lord God of Sabaoth.

2. The benevolence of our religion.

It embraces a world. True benevolence is love to souls.

3. The final triumphs of our religion.

God shall speak, &c., to the north and to the south. "The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ," &c.

4. The bearing of our subject on the religious instruction of the rising generation.

How all-important to train up our youth for the service and glory of God. Here chiefly is our hope of a speedy realization of the prayer of the text.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS