They were ashamed because of their own Counsels

They were ashamed because of their own Counsels.

That is, their hopes first shall fail them, and they shall see their counsels that they took shall come to nothing, and this shall cause shame and confusion of face upon them. The ten Tribes shall receive shame. Failing in our hopes that make us to be ashamed. They had good hopes they should prevail because of their Calves, but now their Calves are taken from them, and now they are ashamed. In Job 6:20, They were confounded, because they had hoped; they came there, and were ashamed: they hoped to have relief, but had not, and therefore they were ashamed; the disappointment of hopes causes great shame. Oh then! what shame and confusion will there be at the great day when we shall be disappointed of our last hopes? If we had been disappointed of our hopes now in respect of our Adversaries, Oh! what shame would have been upon the people of God, our Adversaries they would have cast shame upon us, and said, What's become of your fastings and prayers? As it's like the Assyrians did when they took the Calves, Oh! now we have got your Gods (say they) and upon this the people were ashamed: and so if our Adversaries had prevailed they would have scorned in the like manner. My Brethren, we have cause to bless the Lord from our souls that he has delivered us from such a temptation, from such a temptation lest we should be ashamed of our hopes, though the truth is, If we had right we should not have been ashamed, for our hopes was not so much in the saving of our estates as this, That God would own his Cause in the conclusion, and so our hopes would not have failed. I but if our hopes had but seemed to have failed in outward appearance, that the Enemy should have prevailed, I say, it would have been a mighty temptation for us to have been ashamed of our hopes, Oh! blessed be God for preventing this, that the Lord has not made his people to be ashamed of their hopes, and prayers. The ministers of God can stand up and look comfortably in the congregations, because they put on people, and encouraged the hearts of people in this Cause; and they have comfort to their souls in this, That when things were at the lowest yet still they could have their hopes in God, and believe yet in God that he would go on in such a Cause as this is, and the Lord has not caused the expectation of his poor people to fail. But if it be shame (I say) now for the present to be disappointed of some hopes, Oh! remember upon all your disappointment of hopes, Oh! what shame would it be before men and Angels if it should prove that any soul in this place should be so disappointed of their last hopes? You have hope of salvation, and of eternal life, and if it should prove when all secrets are to be made public before the Lord Jesus and his Angels, if then it should prove that all your hopes were dashed, what would become of you? It is the prayer of David, O Lord, let me not be disappointed of my hope. Let that be your prayer, especially in regard of your last hopes. In 1 John 2:28, Abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Oh! that's the comfort of the Saints, that they shall not be ashamed at the coming of Jesus Christ: and many that are not ashamed now yet at the coming of Jesus Christ, Oh! the shame that shall be cast upon them? But the main emphasis lies in the words that follow.