Exodus 31

Exodus 31:15

Notwithstanding the work of the tabernacle was holy, and to be speedily and diligently done, yet nothing of it must be done on the sabbath-day.—The sabbath was a sign of God’s acknowledging them for his people; and their observation of it was a sign of their acknowledging him for their God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. A A Ver. 20. The stony matter of these tables marked the perpetual obligation of the moral law, and the hardness of men’s hearts, in which the Spirit of God alone can write it

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXI.—Nothing, even of natural excellency, but cometh from God. How easily and completely he can furnish his instruments for whatever service he calls them to; and therefore with courage and comfort may such as have once his call venture on the hardest work! But commonly we may observe, for the honour of Christ, who needed no assistant, and especially for the comfort of his servants, God sends forth his noted agents by twos! Great is the danger of sabbath profanation: and yet how much are men disposed to it, especially if they can pretend the sacredness or the necessity of their work as an excuse! What exalted account God makes of Jesus Christ and his church! He, who spent but six days in creating a world, spends forty in preseribing a typical representation of those. But the most remarkable visits of God to men upon earth quickly come to an end; though he wisely frames every thing about his ordinances so as that it may be instructing and comforting. In these typical architects I may therefore behold Jesus, called of God to finish a work of redemption, and rear up a gospel-church.—Jesus, qualified of God, by the unmeasured unction of the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, to fulfil the arduous task, and actually completing his design, to his own glory and the salvation of his people