Zechariah 1:5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? The difficulty of giving a sort of general reply to the question contained in the text, is much diminished by this particular fact, that the Scripture itself has assigned a fixed and determinate place in the world of spirits to the soul of every human being. Consider — I. THE CASE OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED WITHOUT PENITENCE AND FAITH. 1. Those who have died without repentance are gone to a state in which the wicked are no longer the prosperous. In this world guilt is often successful, at least for a season. 2. The Impenitent and unbelieving are gone to a state in which they have no longer any hopes of escape, or means of approach to God. 3. Our impenitent fathers are gone into a state in which God is known only as the God of vengeance. II. THE CASE OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED PENITENT AND BELIEVING. 1. They are no longer in a state of trial and affliction. 2. They are gone into a world where temptation never enters. 3. Where doubt and despondency never come. 4. Where their infirmities and corruptions cannot follow them. Application — (1) If such are the glories of the one state we have been contemplating, and such the miseries of the other, what thanks are due to that Redeemer who has, of His own unmerited mercy, and by the sacrifice of His own life, rescued us from the anguish of perdition, and thrown open to us the gates of the mansion of God? (2) Remember that, very shortly, the question we are today putting about others will be put about ourselves. Another generation shall soon arise who will ask, with regard to you and me, "Your fathers, where are they?" (J. W. Cunningham, A. M.) Parallel Verses KJV: Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?WEB: Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? |
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