2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. I. THE PROMISE. 1. Establishment. (1) The Bible lays great stress on this (Romans 1:11; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Colossians 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Hebrews 13:9; 1 Peter 5:9; Jude 1:24). (2) Unsettledness is the attribute of the unregenerate man. He is compared to — (a) A wave of the sea. (b) A house built on the sand. (c) A plant that has no root. (3) Establishment is needful to the true Christian. He has root, he is in Christ, but He needs to be daily established in grace. This applies to some especially, but to all more or less, and especially at some times, and in some particular graces, i.e. in faith, hope, and love. 2. Preservation. (1) This is needed moment by moment, because of the multiplicity of our snares, and the power and vigilance of our great adversary. (2) But a man who is established in the life of faith and a holy walk — where is there room in him for Satan's access? (3) The establisher and defender is God. "Except the Lord build the house," etc. II. THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROMISE. 1. There are several ways of denying God — grossly by atheism, practically by ungodliness, mentally by want of trust in His faithfulness. 2. Faithfulness is the glory of Deity. (1) It is the effect of God's veracity. He has pledged His word and will faithfully execute it, because He is a true God. (2) It stands connected with His omniscience; for if God knows all things, what inducement can there be to deny His word. (3) It stands intimately bound up with His holiness; to break His word would be a breach of His holiness. (4) It stands involved in His immutability: it would show that He was of various minds. (5) It would be a breach upon His perfect love; for how could that be perfect love which promises good and fails to perform (Psalm 89:1, 5, 8, 14, 35). 3. This perfection makes all His threatenings certain as to their accomplishment. Look at the flood, Sodom, Babylon, Jerusalem! Was He not faithful to His threatenings in these, instances? 4. But it is the foundation of all His promises. "He cannot deny Himself."Conclusion: 1. What a sweetness there is in this truth! We may be weak and in danger, but here is the promise. And remember who gives it; Jehovah Himself. In God's dealings there is always something that exhibits His own grandeur. He establishes and defends just like Himself. 2. Seek these blessings, and remember the means of securing them. God gives them, but we must pray and watch. 3. These blessings come in God's way, not yours. The unlikeliest ways may be the best. (J. H. Evans.) Parallel Verses KJV: But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.WEB: But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one. |
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