Sermons of John Newton - M - Booklet Two 3. The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth and 4. The Lord Coming to His Temple

Extract

Sermons of John Newton – Booklet Two

3. The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth and
4. The Lord Coming to His Temple

3. The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Yet this once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land: and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts” Haggai 2:6, 7.
God shook the earth when He proclaimed His law to Israel from Sinai. The description, though very simple, presents to our thoughts a scene unspeakably majestic, grand and awful. The mountain was in flames at the top, and trembled to its basis (Exodus 19:16-19).

Dark clouds, thundering and lightning filled the air. The hearts of the people, of the whole people, trembled likewise; and even Moses himself said, I exceedingly fear and quake. Then, as the Apostle, referring to this passage, observes, the voice of the LORD shook the earth. But the Prophet here speaks of another, a greater, a more important and extensive concussion. Yea, once a little while and I will shake not the earth only, but the heavens (Hebrews 12:26).

If we really believe that the Scriptures are true, that the prophecies were delivered by holy men, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and that they shall all be certainly fulfilled; how studious should we be to attain a right understanding of passages and events in which we are so nearly interested, that our hearts may be duly affected by them? But alas! experience and observation strongly confirm the remark of the poet, * “Men are but children of a larger growth” * from “ All For Love” by John Dryden (1631-1700).

If you put a telescope into the hands of a child, he will probably admire the outside, especially if it be finely ornamented. But the …