Numbers 23

Objection. But is not God said to repent? — there seems to be a change in his decree (Jonah 3:10): "The Lord repented of the evil that he said he would do to them." Response. Repentance is attributed to God figuratively and improperly (Numbers 23:19): "He is not man that he shou…

But if God be our God, he will not for every failing destroy us: He bears with his spouse, as with the weaker vessel: God may chastise (Psalm 89:32). He may use the rod and the pruning knife, but not the bloody axe (Numbers 23:21). He has not seen iniquity in Jacob: He will not…

They surely must needs go wrong who slight their guide; such as lay the reins upon the neck of their lusts, and never use the curbing bit of Scripture to check them, are carried to hell and never stop. 5. It condemns the abusers of Scripture: 1. who do muddy and poison this pure…

But may not a hypocrite have good desires? Numbers 23:10: Let me die the death of the righteous. Therefore I say, unfeigned desires evidence the kingdom of God within a man.

3. A sinner weeps but goes on in sin; his sins are not drowned in his tears. 5. A man may have good desires yet miss of the kingdom (Numbers 23:10). O that I might die the death of the righteous.

2. Here also we may be informed, that a man may be without sin in respect of justification, and yet have a great deal of the remainders of sin in him, in respect of sanctification. It has offered matter of no little perplexity to serious souls, when they read such texts of Scrip…

But some may think that this reason is not substantial, for men may seek for heaven that never had true saving faith. As, Balaam desired that his end might be like the end of the righteous, Numbers 23:10: wherewith no doubt he desired the state of the righteous after this life.…

That they should have a certain abiding place or country which they might freely inhabit, distinct from other nations, and under a rule or scepter of their own. So it is said of them, That the people should dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations (Numbers 23:9), and t…

This is found true by experience. For when Balaam the wizard should have cursed the people of Israel, and had assayed to do it many ways, but could not; at length he said, there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor soothsaying against Israel (Numbers 23:23). This is a notable comfor…

Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked. Such as calumniate the saints, would be glad to die their death (Numbers 23:10). Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.

First from making the true God an idol in your thoughts, by forming apprehensions unworthy of the glory of his essence (Psalm 50:21), You thought that I was altogether like yourself. Now thus we do when we conceive him of such a mercy as to hold fellowship with one that continue…

2. There may be a taste of the sweetness of the things of Christ, of his word, grace, benefits and heavenly privileges (Hebrews 6:4-6). Having a taste of the gift of faith; they may also have a transitory and lighter participation of the sweetness of the word and joys of heaven,…

Sometimes he makes them act contrary to their intentions. Balaam comes to curse the people and God turns his tongue to bless them, which if guided by his own heart would have poured out execrations upon them (Numbers 23:7-8). God puts the words into his mouth but not in his hear…

Mr. Lowman himself styles him a Christian Prince, and protector of the Christian religion. God is very careful not to reckon his own people among the Gentiles, the visible subjects of Satan (Numbers 23:9): "The people shall not be reckoned among the nations." God won't enroll th…

From it the various conjectures we have recounted have arisen. But Pehor was a Moabite mountain: Numbers 23:28, "Balak led Balaam to the summit of Pehor." On that mountain a sacred shrine had been built, which was called Beth-pehor; in Deuteronomy 34:6, Moses is said to be burie…

Of the actions of the body orderly and reverently used, are bowing of our bodies (Isaiah 45:23). Reverent attention declared sometimes by rising up (Genesis 49:33; 1 Chronicles 28:2; Numbers 23:22; 2 Kings 23:2; 2 Chronicles 34:31; Nehemiah 8:6). Also lifting up of the hands and…

We dream of heaven, when there is no mortification, no exercising ourselves to godliness. A great many say as Balaam did, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his (Numbers 23:10), but they care not for living the life of the righteous. If they can b…

But man is sooner convinced, than converted, than drawn off from worldly vanities, that he may seek after this happiness, and usually we have a quicker ear for offers of happiness, than precepts of duty and obedience. Balaam (Numbers 23:10): Oh that I could die the death of the…

Otherwise the wicked and profane may well discourse in words of God's mercy, and of life eternal, and yet in the meantime have no feeling at all of these things in their heart. As did that false Prophet Balaam, who knew well enough that that which he spoke was true; and yet for…

We may well call this man then, one that knows wisely how to forecast matters, and who has a deep insight into dark and obscure things, which are necessary; not by divinations or superstitious arts, but with a quick and prompt judgment, and with great dexterity of wit. Also in r…

So of Zeal, as in Jehu, 2 Kings 10:16, and in Paul before his Conversion, Galatians 1:14, Philippians 3:6, and the unbelieving Jews, Acts 22:3, Romans 10:2. So graceless Persons may have earnest religious Desires, which may be like Balaam's Desires, which he expresses under an e…

Numbers 23:23. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what has God wrought? When I read you, my dear hearers, these words; when I consider what occasion, and by whom they were originally spoken, I cannot help thinking of that triumphant expression of the…

Separation and sequestration from the world and men of the world, with ways of false worship, until we be apparently a people dwelling alone, not wicked among the nations. Numbers 23:9. Behold, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. John 15:19…

That this was the cause and end of his call and separation is evident from hence, that immediately thereupon God assures him that in his seed all the kindreds of the earth should be blessed (Genesis 12:1, 2, 3; Chap. 22:18), which is all one as if he had expressly said to him, f…

Tradition about the Prophecying of Eldad and Medad. Numbers 23.21. Chap. 24.7, 17, 20, 24.

When Satan cannot prevail against us by one means, he does not despair of prevailing by another; He gives not his cause over for lost, because he cannot carry it at first, he will try, and try again. As it was with Balak, Numbers 23, when he sent for Balaam to curse the people,…

The people of God, on one account or other, shall be in all seasons a separated people. (Numbers 23:9) "Lo the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nation; yea they are separated from them, while they are in their bowels, and dwell in the midst of them."…

(Matthew 25:8) Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. With what a rapture was Balaam transported, when he said, Let me die the death of the righteous, and my last end be like his (Numbers 23:10)? Does the work of faith in some believers bear upon its top branches, the…

We read, that many shall say to Christ in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out devils, etc. and yet themselves at last cast out as a prey to devils. How divinely and rhetorically did a Balaam speak and prophesy (Numbers 23). What r…

He only would be an eased and painless man, and seeks not to be free of blaspheming God. See Balaam's, and the rich man's desire (Numbers 23:10; Luke 16:24; Revelation 6:15, 16, 17). 3. True it is, we love not moral influences; and to be actors in holiness, that spoils and robs…

That which follows next in order is his Immutability or Unchangeableness. Now that he takes this proper to himself, you shall see in Numbers 23:19. God is not as man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent.

As for this doctrine of God's unchangeableness, what is the end, why it is revealed? You shall see in (Numbers 23:19): He is not as man that he should repent: Therefore I have blessed Israel, and he shall be blessed. The end is, to show that his favor is an unchangeable favor: S…

As it is reported of Bishop Cranmer, they used to say of him, If they would have Bishop Cranmer their friend, let them do him some ill turn: Do you not think how you may be even with them that have done you an ill turn, but rather go home, and all the way you are going, be musin…

Laban had power to do hurt, but no heart. When Balak called upon Balaam to curse Israel, God so dispirited Balaam that he could not discharge his thunderbolt, Numbers 23:8. How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?

Desperate expressions piercing the honor and glory of the Most High, willingly and wilfully, were doubtless his death-deserving crime. It is the same word that Balak used to Balaam, when he would have persuaded him to a deliberate cursing and pouring out of the imprecations on t…

They scoff at it with their tongues, but have a fear of it in their consciences: they revile at it while they live, but what mind are they of when they come to die? Then all speak well of a holy life, and the strictest obedience to the laws of God, (Numbers 23:10) Let me die the…

More distinctly: 1. Wicked men may desire their own happiness, though not upon God's terms (Numbers 23:10): "O that I might die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." At oportnit sic vixisse. John 6:34: "Evermore give us of this bread of life."

5. And lastly, they fully declare against sin as sinful, in that they desire to die the death of the righteous. Balaam, and others, that lived not the life of the righteous, but accounted their life madness, yet reckon their end happy, and therefore would that their own might be…

Yes, though the wicked count good and holy men's lives to be folly and madness, yet when they come to die, they would be glad with all their hearts, that their souls might be in as good a condition as theirs after death. Balaam that wicked wretch, who loved the wages of, and liv…

So did Balaam, when he went to curse the people of God, he had a great strife within himself: How shall I curse (says he) where God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord has not defied (Numbers 23:8)? And did not Pilate strive against his sin, when he said to the Je…

As we know it in the country from where we came, some wily-headed persons get possession of a living, keep the owner in suit and restless wrangling many years together, against the evidence of their own conscience and reason, because so long they can keep the living, and reap th…

You shall not worship the Lord your God as the heathen idolaters — let the truth have his full scope now, therefore not as [reconstructed: they do]; [reconstructed: but] draw the curtain a little [reconstructed: toward] that way: Fashion not yourselves according to the world (Ro…

This is as truly ours to justify as it is Christ's to bestow. By virtue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned (Numbers 23:21). This is a perfect righteousness (Colossians 2:10): You are complete in him.

I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. We often grieve the Spirit, abuse kindness; God will pass by much in his children (Numbers 23:21). He has not seen iniquity in Jacob; his love does not make him blind; he sees sin in his people, but not with an eye…

Suppose any do rouse him up, how then? He will not lie down, until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain (Numbers 23:24). Many poor creatures have by their opposition to his House roused up this Lion, and what has been the issue?

1. Circumcision, and the ceremonies; and the priesthood (Exodus 40:15), (Leviticus 16:29) the fast in the seventh month, shall be a statute, for ever. (Leviticus 6:18) All the [reconstructed: males] of the sons of Aaron shall eat the remainder of the meat-offering, it shall be a…

Now this Balaam was an enchanting witch, for though he be called a prophet, yet this was only in the reputation of the world, for his practice was to enchant by charms of words, and to that purpose he was hired to curse God's people, that is, to bring mischief upon them by charm…

Now if any man doubt, whether there be such Witches indeed as have been described, let him remember, that beside experience in all ages and countries, we have also sundry examples of them even in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament we read of Balaam (Numbers 23), who though he…

David had contracted horrible guilt, and polluted himself by his great sin, yet he presumes of being clean from both, if God will but apply this to him (Psalm 51:7): "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than the snow." The effectual applicat…

3. That all the short comings in regard of his people, are displeasing to God. True, they do not shut them out of his favor; for, as he has accepted them in Christ as to their persons, so he has cast the robe of his righteousness over them, under which he has covered all their o…