God Rewards His People by Honouring Them
disguise; but how will their hearts leap for joy—when God shall pronounce that word, "These are mine! The lot of free grace has fallen upon them! These shall lie forever in the bosom of my love!"
Third use: EXHORTATION.
To all who are yet strangers to God: labor to get into covenant with him, that he may say, "You are mine!" Why does God woo and beseech you by his ambassadors, if he is not willing to be in covenant with you?
Question: What shall a poor forlorn creature do, to get into covenant with God?
Answer 1: If you would be in covenant with God--break off the covenant with sin! (1 Sam. 7:3). What king will be in league with a person who serves his enemy?
Answer 2: Labor for faith.
1. Faith in the mercy of God: "I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever" (Jer. 3:12). As the sea covers great rocks as well as little sands—so Gods mercy covers great sins! Manasseh, a bloody sinner, is held forth as a pattern of mercy. Some of the Jews who had a hand in crucifying Christ—yet had their sins forgiven!
2. Faith in the merit of Christ. Christ's blood is not only an atoning sacrifice to appease God—but a sacrifice to ingratiate us into God's favor, and make him look upon us with a smiling aspect (1 John 2:2).
B. God Rewards His People by Honoring
Them The second part of the saints reward—is God's honoring them: "In that day when I make up my jewels". Here are three propositions:
1. God greatly honors his people.
2. God's people are his jewels.
3. There is a day when God will make up his jewels.
1. God greatly honors his people. He speaks of them here with honor: "In that day when I make up my jewels". "Since you were precious in my sight—you have been honorable" (Isaiah 43:4). Honor attends holiness. That the Lord highly honors those who fear him, is evident by four demonstrations.
1. In that he prefers them before others. He choose, them, and passes by the rest: "Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Yet I have loved
Jacob, but Esau I have hated!" (Mal. 1:2-3).
2. In that God gives them frequent love visits. It is counted an honor for a subject to have his prince visit him. "Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). The Rabbis say that Moses had one hundred and fifty conferences with God, and died with a kiss from God's mouth. What greater honor for a person—than to have God keep him company! (Exod. 33:11)?
3. In that God makes them rich heirs. We are "joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17). For a man to adopt another and make him heir to his estate—is no small honor done to him. The youngest believer is an heir, yes, and an heir of the crown! (1 Pet. 5:4). This crown he has in the promise (Rev. 2:10), and in the first fruits (Romans 8:23).
4. In that God sends his angels to be their servants. Such as are God's servants, have angels to be theirs: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
(Heb. 1:14).
First use: Who would not be fearers of God! This makes God have an honorable esteem of them. "All men", says Chrysostom, "are ambitious for honor." True honor comes from God! (John 5:44).
Second use: If God so honors his people, let them honor him:
"Where is my honor?" (Mal. 1:6). Let the saints be God-exalters; let them lift up his name in the world, and make his praise glorious
(Psalm 66:2). But I only glance at this.
2. God's people are his jewels. "In that day when I make up my jewels!" Jewels are precious things; the Hebrew word for jewels signifies a treasure. A treasure is made up of costly things: gold, and diamonds, and rubies. Such a precious treasure, are the saints to God.
Question: In what sense are the saints, God's jewels?
Answer 1: They are jewels for their sparkling quality. Their holiness shines and sparkles in God's eyes! (Song of Sol. 4:9), "You have ravished my heart, with one of your eyes!" That is, with one of your graces.
Answer 2: The godly are jewels for their scarcity. Diamonds are not common. Just so, the godly are scarce and rare. There are but few of these to be found. There are many false professors (as there are paste diamonds) but few Israelites indeed. "Few are chosen" (Matt. 20:16).
Among the millions in Rome, there were but few senators. Just so,
among the swarms of people in the world—there are but few true believers.
Answer 3: The godly are jewels for their price. Queen Cleopatra had two jewels which contained half the price of a kingdom. Thus the saints are jewels, for their value. God esteems them at a high rate; he parted with his best jewel for them. Christ's precious blood was shed to ransom these jewels!
Answer 4: The saints are jewels for their adorning quality. Jewels adorn those who wear them. The saints are jewels which adorn the world. Their piety mixed with prudence honors the gospel.
Hypocrites eclipse true religion and make it badly spoken of. The saints as jewels render it illustrious, by their sanctity.
First use: INFORMATION.
1. See the worth of the godly—they are God's jewels—"a royal diadem in the hand of your God" (Isaiah 62:3). That is, they are eminent above others, as a crown hung with jewels is a sign of the highest state and honor. The saints are God's glory (Isaiah 46:13), as if God's glory did lie in them.
2. See then that which may bring holiness into repute, and make us desire to be godly. It casts a splendor upon us, and makes God number us among his jewels! Some are loath to embrace godliness, for fear it will be a stain on their reputation, and bring them out of favor with great men. But you see how it raises a person's renown; it makes him precious in God's sight—he is a jewel! Believers, on account of their mystical union with Christ, have a preciousness above the angels! The angels are morning stars (Job 38:7). Believers are clothed with the sun of righteousness (Rev. 12:1).
3. See the different opinion which God has—of the godly and the wicked. The one he esteems precious, the other vile. "You are vile"
(Nahum 1:14). This is spoken of King Sennacherib; though he was by birth noble—yet he was by sin vile. The Hebrew word for vile signifies of base esteem. Though the wicked are high in dignity and worldly grandeur, yet God slights them. A dunghill may be higher than other ground—but it sends forth foul vapors: "They have all together become filthy" (Psalm 14:3). In the original it is, "They have become stinking."
The wicked are compared to dogs and swine (2 Pet. 2:22) and to dross (Ezek. 22:19). Dross is the filth of the metal. Sinners are compared to chaff (Psalm 1:4). When a wicked man dies—there is only a little chaff blown away! A sinner is the most contemptible thing in the world; there is no worth in him while he lives—and no loss of him when he dies! A sinner is worse than a toad or serpent; a toad has nothing but what God has put into it—but a wicked man has that which the devil has put into him: "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" (Acts 5:3).
4. See what a high estimate we should set upon the godly; they are jewels, they are the glory of the creation. They are compared to stars for their beauty (Rev. 1:20), to spice trees for their perfume (Song of Sol. 4:14). They are the excellent of the earth (Psalm 16:3). The Lord would soon destroy the earth—but that he has some of his jewels in it.
Prize the saints—though they are humbled with poverty. We esteem a diamond, though it lies in the dust. "John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey"—yet he was a jewel (Matt. 11:9). He was the
morning star to usher in the Sun of righteousness into the world. The saints are precious—for they are God's lesser heaven! (Isaiah 57:15).
5. See the saints safety: they are God's jewels, and he will take great care to preserve them. A man is careful that he does not lose his jewels. God often gives his people a temporal salvation. If a storm comes he knows how to hide his jewels. He hid a hundred prophets in a cave (1 Kings 18:4). The angel is commanded, before he poured his vial of curses on the earth, to seal the saints of God on their foreheads (Rev. 7:3), which was a mark of safety. God will ensure the spiritual safety of his jewels: "None of them is lost!" (John 17:12). "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28)
6. It the saints are God's jewels—then how incensed and enraged will God be, against those who have abused his jewels! Theodosius, counted them traitors who abused his statue. What will become of those who persecute God's saints, and tread upon his jewels! It goes near to God's heart—to see his jewels sprinkled with blood! What is done to them—the Lord takes as done to himself: "Why do you persecute me!" (Acts 9:4). When the foot was trod on—the head cried out! The saints are God's royal diadem (Isaiah 62:3). Will a king endure to have his robes spat upon, or his crown-royal thrown in the dust! "He reproved kings for their sakes!" (Psalm 105:14).
What monuments of God's vengeance were Nero, Diocletian, Gardiner, and the rest of that persecuting tribe! "Shall not God avenge his own elect! I tell you—he will avenge them speedily!" (Luke
18:7-8). Persecutors stand in the place where all God's arrows fly!
"He ordains his arrows against the persecutors" (Psalm 7:13). That is a killing Scripture: "The Lord will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking
corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will shrivel in their sockets, and their tongues will decay in their mouths!" (Zech. 14:12).
Second use: CONSOLATION.
Here is comfort to the people of God, in case of the world's disesteem of them—God values them as jewels! And his judgment is according to truth (Rom. 2:2). The wicked have low thoughts of the righteous.
They beat down the price of these jewels as far as they can. They think them but refuse. They disdain them, and load them with slanders and invectives. The prophet Elijah was looked upon by Ahab as the "troubler of Israel" (1 Kings 18:17), and Luther was called a "trumpet of rebellion". Paul was judged "a pestilent fellow" (Acts
24:5). The wicked think that of all things in the world, the saints may be best exterminated: "We have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world" (1 Cor. 4:13).
But this is a great consolation to believers that, low as is the esteem the reprobate world has of them—yet God has high thoughts of them; he numbers them among his jewels! They are compared for their preciousness, to gold and silver (Rev. 1:20). They are the coins and medals which bear God's own image! They are princes in all lands
(Ps. 45:16). Christ engraves their names on his breast, as the names of the twelve tribes were engraved on precious stones upon Aaron's breastplate. God will give whole kingdoms to ransom his jewels
(Isaiah 43:3). The wicked think the godly are not worthy to live in the world, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" (Acts 22:22) But God thinks the world is not worthy of them "The world was not worthy of them." (Heb. 11:38). Hence it is, that God takes away his jewels so fast, and places them in his heavenly treasury!
Third use: EXHORTATION.
1. To the people of God.
Are you one of God's jewels? I then beseech you to SHINE as jewels!
Walk circumspectly and holily! "That you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world!" (Phil.
2:15). Such as are God's jewels, should let the world see, that they have worth in them. O Christians, let your lives be an imitation of the life of Christ! Such a jewel was Bradford, the martyr—so humble and innocent in his demeanor that, at his death, many of the Papists could not refrain from weeping!
Are you one of God's jewels? Do nothing that may eclipse or sully your luster! When professors are proud, envious or censorious; when they break their promises, or cheat their creditors—these do not look like saints! What will others say? These are the devil's dirt—not God's jewels. Oh, I beseech you who profess to be of a higher rank than others—honor that worthy name by which you are called; shine as earthly angels! "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession—so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light!" (1 Pet. 2:9).
Alexander would have the Grecians known not only by their garments—but their virtues. God's people should he known by the sparkling of their graces! Shall there be no difference in behavior between the wicked and the godly—between a clod of earth and a diamond! Let it appear that you are heirs of heaven. You who are
God's people, the Lord expects a holy life from you (Matt. 5:47). He looks that you should bring more glory to him—and by your exemplary piety--make proselytes to piety.
2. The godly should be THANKFUL. God has taken you out of the rubbish of mankind—and made you his jewels! "He raises up the poor out of the dust" (Psalm 113:7), that he may set him with princes.
So God has raised you out of the dust of a natural estate, and ennobled you—that he may set you with angels, those princes above.
Oh, admire God! Set the crown of your praises upon the head of free grace! A joyful, thankful frame of heart—is pleasing to God. If repentance is the joy of heaven, praise is the music of heaven! Bless
God who has wrought such a change in you! From lumps of dirt and sin—he has made you into his jewels!
3. There is a time shortly coming when God will make up his jewels. "In that day when I make up my jewels".
Question 1: What is meant by God's making up his jewels?
Answer: There is a difference between God's making of jewels—and his making up of jewels. God's making of jewels is when he works grace in their hearts while on earth. What is God's making up of jewels? This implies two things.
Firstly, God's GATHERING his saints together. God's making up his jewels, implies his gathering his saints together. The godly in this life are like scattered diamonds, they are separated from one another, being dispersed all over the world. But there is a day coming when God will gather all his saints together, as one puts all his pearls together on a string. There must be such a collection or gathering together of God's scattered saints:
1. From the near relation they have to all the persons of the Trinity.
God the Father has chosen these jewels and set them apart for himself (Psalm 4:3), and will he lose any of his elect? They are related to Christ—he has bought these jewels with his blood, and will
he lose his purchase? They are related to the Holy Spirit. He has sanctified them. When they were a lump of sin, he made them his jewels; and when he has bestowed cost on them, will he lose his cost?
Will he not string these pearls, and put them in his celestial cabinet?
2. There must be a gathering together of God's scattered saints—from the prayer of Christ. It was Christ's prayer to his Father, that he would make up his jewels, that he would gather together his pearls, that they might be with him in heaven! "That they may be with me— where I am!" (John 17:24). Christ will not be content—until all the elect jewels lie together in his bosom. He does not think himself complete—until all his saints are with him!
Use: Here is a SOVEREIGN COMFORT to the people of God in two cases.
1. In case of scattering. God's people are scattered up and down in the world; and, which is worse, these jewels lie among rubbish—they dwell among the wicked! "Woe is me that I dwell in the tents of Kedar" (Psalm 120:5). Kedar was Ishmael's son. "Woe is me", says
David, "that I live with an Ishmael-brood!" The wicked are still molesting the righteous. God's jewels lie scattered among the vile!
But here is the comfort—that shortly God will gather his people from among the wicked—he will make up his jewels—and all his precious jewels shall lie with him in bliss!
2. It is comfort in case of dividing. God's people are now divided; their love for one another is very little. They often look suspiciously upon one another. These divisions are flaws in God's diamonds!
Discord among Christians brings a reproach upon true religion, advances Satan's kingdom, and hinders the growth of grace! But this is comfort—God will shortly make up his jewels—he will so gather his saints together—that he will unite them together. They shall be all
of one heart (Acts 2:46). What a happy time it will be—when the saints shall be as so many pearls upon one string—and shall accord together in a blessed unity!
Secondly, God's making up his jewels also implies his PERFECTING his saints. A thing is said to be made up—when it is perfected. You make up a garment, when you perfect it. You make up a watch, when you put all the wheels and pins in perfect order. So God's making up his jewels, signifies his perfecting them. The godly in this life are imperfect. They cast but a faint luster of holiness; they receive but "the first fruits of the Spirit" (Rom. 8:23), that is, a small measure of grace. The first fruits under the law were but a handful, compared to the whole vintage.
The consideration of this may humble us. We are God's jewels—yet we are now imperfect. Our knowledge is chequered with ignorance (1
Cor 13:5). Our love to God is feeble. Behold here, flaws in the diamond. This may take down our topsail of pride—to consider how flawed and incomplete we are. But when God shall make up his jewels, and perfect his saints—it will be a glorious time! This brings me to the second question.
Question 2: What is that day—when God will make up his jewels?
Firstly, God makes up his jewels at the day of DEATH. Then he makes the saints' graces, perfect. For this reason the departed saints are called "just men made perfect" (Heb. 12:23). Sin so mixes with, and dwells within a Christian—that he cannot write a copy of holiness without blotting it. Grace, though it abates sin—yet it does not abolish corruption. But at death God makes up his jewels—he perfects the graces of his people. Will not that be a blessed time,
never to have a vain thought again, never to be within the sight of a temptation, or the fear of a relapse?
This, I think, may make death desirable to the godly; then the Lord will complete the graces of His children! They shall be as holy as they desire to be, and as holy as God would have them to be! How will
God's jewels sparkle--when they shall be without flaws! In that day of death when God makes up his jewels, the saints light will be clear, and their love will be perfect!
Their light will be clear. They shall be so divinely irradiated, that they shall know the "deep things of God". They shall in this sense be
"as the angels" (Matt. 22:30). Their faculty of thought shall be raised higher and made more capacious! Through the crystal glass of Christ's human nature, the saints shall have glorious transparent sights of God! They shall know as they are known (1 Cor. 13:12); a riddle too mysterious for us mortals, if not for angels, to expound!
In that day the saints love will be perfect. Love is the queen of the graces—it outlives all the other graces. In this life, our love to God is lukewarm and sometimes frozen. A believer weeps that he can love
God no more. But at the day of death, when God makes up his jewels —then the saints' love shall be seraphic! The spark of love shall be blown up into a pure flame! The saints shall love God—as much as they desire! They shall love him superlatively and without defect— they shall be made up wholly of love. Oh, blessed day of death! When
God shall make up his jewels, the saints graces shall shine forth in their meridian splendor!
Secondly, God makes up his jewels at the day of the RESURRECTION. Then he makes the saints bodies perfect.
These, like sparkling diamonds, shall shine in glory! At the resurrection God is said to change the bodies of the saint, "He will
take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own!" (Phil. 3:21). How will he change them? Not that they shall be other bodies than they were before. The substance of their bodies shall not be changed—but the qualities. As wool, when it is dyed into a purple color, is not altered in the substance—but in the quality, and is made more illustrious. Just so, God in making up his jewels, will cause a greater resplendency in the saints bodies than before.
When God makes up the jewels of the saints bodies at the resurrection, they shall be perfect in four ways:
1. In amiability or sweetness of beauty. Here the bodies of the righteous are often deformed. Leah has her weak eves, and Barzillai has his lameness; but at the resurrection the bodies of the saints shall be of unspotted loveliness. And no wonder, for they shall be made like Christ's glorious body (Phil. 3:21).
2. When God at the resurrection makes up the jewels of the saints bodies, they shall have perfection of parts. Their bodies in this world may be maimed and disfigured; but in the day of the resurrection they shall have all the parts of their bodies restored
(Acts 3:21). Such as have lost an eye, shall have their eye again; such as lack a leg or an arm, shall have their arm again.
3. When God makes up the jewels of the saints bodies at the resurrection, they shall be swift and lively in their motion.
Here on earth, the bodies of the saints move heavily—but then they shall be sprightly, and move rapidly from one place to another. Here the body is a weight; in heaven it shall be a wing!
4. When God makes up the jewels of the saints bodies, they shall be immortal. The body once glorified, shall never be subject to