Notes on the Bible - Edwards - XVII - Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Required reading

Read Notes on the Bible in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading up to 'Dan. iii. 25. "And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."'

My summary

Today we read Edwards' comments on Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

We hear about:

(i) the elect;

(ii) the piety of the church;

(iii) the work of the Holy Spirit;

(iv) the testing of faith;

(v) the fear of God;

(vi) the wrath of God;

(vii) the church in gospel times;

(viii) the two covenants;

(ix) God's providence;

(x) the Trinity;

(xi) the last battle between the two kingdoms.

What grabbed me

I liked this application of the battle of Jericho: 'A further trial of the people’s faith was that all the men of war in going round the city were obliged to leave their camp and all their goods, and their wives and children, every day defenceless, as to any other guard but the divine protection.

This last observed is agreeable to God’s proceedings in the course of his providence, in the revolutions of the natural world, and in the revolutions of the world of mankind. Things only seem to go round and round, and return where they were before, as though no progress was made, until God’s time comes. But this is through the narrowness of our views. He that looks only on a wheel of a chariot, and sees nothing beyond it, will not see that it does any thing but go round, the same spoke rising and falling alternately to the same place. But he that looks beyond the wheel to the world around, may see the progress that is made continually to an appointed journey’s end.'

We may go round and round in life, but under God we are making progress.

Next week's reading

Read Notes on the Bible in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading up to 'Matt. i. 3. "And Judas begat Pharez and Zara of Thamar.'

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.