Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/4_200.lzh/4_277.TXT

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has prromised and swore to it, treat these waters shall
no more go over the earth to destroy it; he has set a
bound for the sea treat it c:tnuot pass, by a decree of
his; even the sand on the shore, which, as weak as it
may seem to be, is a bound unpassable; though they
may toss and rage and roar, they shall not prevail, nor
pass over it, which is a perpetual miravie of mercy,
Jer. v. 22.
Ver. 7. to him that made great lights, &c.] For
th'e inhabitants of the world to walk and work by,
to do all the business of life in a comfortable manner;
and which is an instance or' mercy and goodness; see
Gen. i. 14--1(i. For his mercy endureth.for ever; these
lights continuing tbr the benefit of mankind.
Vet. 8. 'l'he sun to rule b.t/day, &c.] Which is the
greater light, Gen. i. 16. For his mercy endurethfor
ever: this great light, so beneficial to the earth
and the inhabitants of it, which was made near six
thousand years ago, still continues, and will to the end
of time; eniightening the world, warming the air and
earth, impart. ing its light and. heat to all creatures on it,
and influencing the earth to bring forth a variety of
things for the use and delight of mankind, called the
precious things brought forth by the sun, Deut. xxxiii.
14. an emblem of a more beneficial light, in which the
rich grace and mercy of God appear, and for which
we have reason to give thanks; even the sun of righte-
ousness, the Messiah, the light of the world, the author
of the light or' nature, grace, and glory; and who will
continue as long as the sun, and when that shall be no
more, Mal. iv. `2. Psal. lxxii. 17.
Vet. 9. The moon and stars to rule by night, &c.]
The lesser lights, and which indeed receive all their
light Front the sun, Gen. i. 16. For his mercy eudureth
fxCr ever; in continuing these lights, so useful to men, as
ell as in making oFthem: the moon and stars have their
benign influences upon the earth, to produce things
out 0t' it useful to men; see Dent. xxxiii. 14. Job
xxxviii. 31. and are of singular service to benighted
travellets, anti to those that go down to the sea in
ships; see Acts xxvii. o.O. The moon is an emblem
or' the church, that receives her light from Christ, the
snn, and which will continue for ever; and, stars are
emblems of Gospel ministers, who are the means of
enlightening dark souls, and of refreshing disconsolate
sabots; and are a continued mercy to an ignorant
world, as well as to the church, and will be continued
as long as it stands; see Cant. vi. 10. Rev. i. 20. and
ii. 1. Matt. v. 14. and xxviii. '20.
Ver. tO. To him that smote Eg?/pt in their first-born,
&c.] In a tender part, in the dear part of themselves,
in their sons and heirs, and who were to inherit their
lands and estates, and perpetuate tbeir names;. this
was an act of justice tbr using ill the Lord'sfirst-born,
the people o/Israel, slaying their sons, and refusing to
let them go, Exod. i. 13, 14, 16, 22. and iv. 22, '23. and
yet there was mercy in it, for which thanks were to be
given to God. For his mercy endureth jbr ever; the
Israelites,in a very merciful manner, were distinguished
by the blood sprinkled on their door-posts, when the
destroying angel passed through the land of Egypt to
destroy their first-born; and' when they were de-
stroyed, it was owing to the kind providence of God
that the Egyptians did not rise as one man to .cut off
the Israelites in vengeance; and yet not a dog was
suffered to move his tongue against them when the
dismal cry was made; yea, this was the means of
their deliverance, which could not be obtained by all
the other plagues; but now they not only bid them
go, but were urgent upon them to be gone, Exod. xi.
5--7. and xii. 22, 23, 29--33.
Vet. 11. And brought out Israel from among them,
&c.] A wicked and idolatrous people, among whom
they suffered great hard/hips; and this was done by
means of God's judgments on them, and especially that
before related; and was an instance of the mercy of
God, as follows, for which thanks should be given.
For his mercy endurethfor ever; and this is a proof of
it, bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, the
house of bondage; when they cried unto him by reason
of it, and he sent them a Saviour to deliver them out of
their distress, Exod. ii. 23. and xv. 13. and xx. 1. an
emblem of the grace and mercy of God, in delivering
his people from a worse than Egyptian bondage; from
the bondage of sin, Satan, the law, and through fear
of death, into the glorisus liberty of the children of
God.
Ver. 12. With a strong hand, and with a stretched-
out arm, &c.] Exerting his power in a very open
manner, and continuing it till he had effected the
work; bringing his people out of Egypt, which is al-
ways ascribed to his great strength and mighty power,
Exod. xiii. 3, 9. and xv. 6, 16. and xxxii. 11. The re-.
demption of the mystical Israel of God is by a mighty
Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; who has redeemed them
out of the hands of their enemies, that were stronger
than they, and too strong for them: the conversion of
them is by the power of the grace of God, even by the
exceeding greatness of his power, and yet both acts of
grace and mercy. For his mercy endureth for ever; it
was mercy put the Lord on stretching out hisarm, and
shewing the strength of his right hand, in delivering
Israel out of Egypt; and in Iris love and in his pity he
redeemed them, Isa. Ix.ill. 9, It is owing to the tender
mercies of our God, and is a performing the mercy
promised to the fathers, that Christ, the day-spring
from on high, was  sent to visit and redeem us, Luke i.
68, 7°-, 78--and theregeneration, quickening, and con-
version of sinners, are acts of mercy as well as of power,
Ephes. ii. 4, 5. 1 Pet. i. 3.
Ver. 131.2r'o him which divided the Red sea into parts,
&c.] Into two parts, so that the waters of it stood as
a wall on the right and left hand of the Israelites, as
they passed through; this was done by means. of a
strong east wind, Exod. xiv. 21, 22. The Jews have a
tradition, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Arama, make
mention of, that the sea was divided into twelve parts,
according to the twelve tribes of Israel, and every tribe
had a path by itself to walk in; but for this there is no
foundation: however, the dividing it into parts was a
wonderful work, and a rich display of mercy to Israel.
For his mercy endureth for ever; the children of Israel
were encompassed about, and in the utmost distress :
the .rocks were on each side, Pharaoh and his host be-
hind them, the Red sea before them; and so no visible
way of escape; but the Lord cut a way for them
through the sea, and saved them. The sea is an em
blem of this worM, which is like a tempestuous