But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
— Deuteronomy 2:30
I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
— Joshua 24:5
Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
— Deuteronomy 4:34
And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
— Revelation 16:3
And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
— Revelation 16:21
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
— Psalm 135:8
And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
— Genesis 15:14
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
— Joshua 2:9
The Lord will Destroy the House of the Proud, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
This is the devotion for March 18th. The Scripture take is from Psalm 105.
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud. Proverbs 15:25a
Spurgeon says, as our endeavour is to gather up the substance of the scriptures during the reading of one year, we are unable to pause over each of the ten great plagues. We ought each one of us to read them for our own instruction. We have them for our family reading summed up in Psalm 105 verses 24-38.
And he increased his people greatly and made them stronger than their enemies.
Spurgeon says the Lord is just as able to increase his church at this time and he will do so in answer to prayer.
Verse 25
He turned their heart to hate his people to deal subtly with his servants.
Spurgeon says persecution generally attends the prosperity of the church. Where God blesses, Satan is sure to stir up all his wrath to vex the church.
Verse 26
He sent Moses his servant, an heir on whom he had chosen.
Spurgeon comments, When evil days come, the Lord has deliverers provided, who shall appear at the exact moment when they are most required. Let us pray the Lord to raise up eminent ministers and evangelists at this time, for they are greatly needed.
Verse 27 They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made it dark, and they rebelled not against his word.
Spurgeon says this unusual darkness filled all hearts with horror and the Egyptians were so cowed that they yielded for the time but were hardened again when the plague was over.
Verse 29
He turned their waters into blood and slew their fish. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance in the chambers of their kings. Spurgeon says fish died but frogs lived. God can with one hand kill our comforts and with the other multiply our miseries.
This time Pharaoh himself had to endure personal annoyance, for frogs swarmed upon the royal bed.
Verse 31. He spanked, and there came diverse sorts of flies and lice in all their coasts.
As Spurgeon says here, filthiness and venom were united. These little tormentors made the Egyptians feel the power of the great God. Often, little plagues are the worst of plagues. From this visitation, Pharaoh’s bodyguards could not defend his royal person. Such enemies laughed at sword and spear.
Verse 32
He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in their land. Spurgeon says it is a judgment indeed when the fountains of blessing become the channels of wrath and the very rain is fire. Let the enemies of God beware.
Verse 33, he smote their vines also in their fig trees and break the trees of their coasts.
Spurgeon says God’s blows are heavy and they leave no place unbruised. Egypt must miss its wine and its pleasant fruits if it will not obey the Lord.
Verse 34
He spake and the locusts came and caterpillars and that without number, and he did eat up all the herbs in their land and devour the fruit of their ground.
Spurgeon says locusts literally eat up every green thing, and there is no preserving anything from them. God has many ways of punishing men.
In this case, we wonder at the hardness of heart of those who stood out against such humbling judgments. He who can with a word bring up countless hosts of devourers is not a god to be trifled with.
Verse 36. He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Spurgeon says this was the last and heaviest blow, and the proud king and nation staggered under it. When one arrow does not suffice, the Lord has others in his quiver, and one way or another he will hit the mark.
Verse 37
He brought them forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Spurgeon says, What a miracle that after all their toil and bondage they should all be in health! They were all called to go upon a long journey, and therefore the Lord prepared them for it.
Verse 38
Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them fell upon them.
Spurgeon comments, Thus can Providence so work that the stoutest opponents shall only be too glad to yield. Let us beware of provoking this terrible God. Let us by faith enlist Him upon our side. Then we shall have no ground for fear, for all the creatures He has made will be our friends. Fire and water, locusts and flies, darkness and death, were all the allies of Israel.
He who is at peace with God has the whole creation enlisted upon his side.
Thus shall the nations be destroyed that dare insult the saints. God hath at arm to avenge their wrongs and ear for their complaints. Thine honours, O victorious King, thine own right hand shall raise, while we thine awful vengeance sing, and our deliverer praise. Amen.
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