Chapter 18:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 18
The
Seed of promise, the Heir of the world, and the present
object of hope
Chapter 18 is again a new
unfolding of God's ways, here especially in connection
with the seed, already in a general way, as part of God's
purpose that it should be Abraham's seed according to
grace and promise when Hesh had no hope, and not
according to the flesh, but now specifically revealed as
a present thing to Abraham. This seed of promise is here
the main object in view, and the present immediate object
of hope. This is so on to the end of chapter 21. But I
apprehend, he* is here seen as heir of the world and
judge; while Abraham's personal relationship with God is
in grace, by promise, where he is not seen; and, so far,
has the ground of faith, and, in figure, a christian
position. Hence, God Himself being known (not merely His
gifts), Abraham rises higher than in chapter 15, and,
instead of asking gifts for himself, intercedes for
others. All is the effect of the gift of the heir being
known. After chapter 22 the proper figures of the church
as yet unrevealed come in, because the seed is raised: we
get, however, great individual principles here.
Abraham's
visitors; the rebuke of unbelief
Abraham is accustomed to
the divine presence, and it is quickly felt by him; and
although he says nothing referring to the divine glory
till the Lord is pleased to discover Himself, yet from
the first he acts with an instinctive deference which was
as fully accepted by Him who came. In verse 3 Abraham
addresses himself to One, yet speaks in his hospitality
to all, and to this they all answer, and inquire withal
for Sarai; but in verse 10 it is again individual, the
effectual promise of the Lord. In the rebuke of Sarah's
unbelief Jehovah reveals Himself. He judges flesh and its
unbelief, as He promises. Abraham accompanies the three
on their way; two go on, and Abraham is left alone with
Jehovah. In this respect it is a lovely scene of holy
consciousness and yet deferential waiting on the good
pleasure of God. The immediate promise of the arrival of
the seed is given. Abraham enjoys the most intimate
communion with Jehovah, who reveals His counsels to him
as to His friend. Intercession is the fruit of this
revelation (compare Isa. 6). Judgment falls on the world;
and whilst Abraham, on the top of the mountain, communes
with God of the judgment which was to fall upon the world
below, where he was not, Lot, who had taken his place in
it, is saved so as by fire. Righteousness which walks
with the world puts itself in the position of judge, and
is at the same time useless and intolerable. Abraham
escapes all judgment, and sees it from on high. Lot is
saved from the judgment which falls upon the world in
which he found himself. The place where Abraham enjoyed
God is for him a place of 3 sterility and fear: he is
forced to take refuge there in the end, because he is
afraid to be anywhere else.
Communion and
intercession; the patience and perfectness of judgment
with God
In general, Abraham has
the character here of communion with God, which faith,
without sight, gives—not by an indwelling Holy
Ghost, no doubt, according to the privilege of the saints
now (that was reserved for the time of fuller blessing,
when the church's Head should be glorified), but in the
general character of the blessing. The promised seed is
announced as to come, but not yet brought into the world,
that is, in the way of manifested glory. Meanwhile,
Abraham knows and believes it. God then treats him, as we
have seen, as a friend, and tells him, not what concerns
himself, but the world, (with a friend I speak of what I
have on my heart, not merely of my business with him);
and then, as he has received these communications from
God, so he intercedes with God—a stranger in the
place of promise, on high in communion with Him. And this
is still more the place of the saints now through the
Holy Ghost: the full communication of the mind and ways
of God in the word, and the Lord's coming to take them
up, so that this is the scene they live in by faith, and
founded on that comes intercession. Abraham had the
promise of the heir for himself already; here he is the
vessel of divine knowledge of what concerns the world
too. This puts him in the place of full grace, and so of
intercession. His faith associates him with the mind and
character of God. It brings out, withal, the patience and
perfectness of judgment with God.
Chapter 18:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
This version of Darby's Synopsis of the Old Testament is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1995 by L. Hodgett. Used by permission. The files of the Synopsis found on this site may not be reproduced without permission from L. J. L. Hodgett, Stem Publishing. A special thanks to L. J. L. Hodgett and Stem Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Darby's Synopsis of the Old Testament.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
