hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge
of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the Most High and the Almighty.
No man could seem to express a greater respect to God; yet he had no true fear of him, love to him,
nor faith in him; so far a man may go toward heaven, and yet come short of it at last. Here is
Balaam's prophecy concerning Him who should be the crown and glory of his people Israel; who
is David in the type; but our Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at, and of him it
is an illustrious prophecy. Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but shall not see him nigh; not
see him as Job, who saw him as his Redeemer, and saw him for himself. When he comes in the
clouds, every eye shall see him; but many will see him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar
off. He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as a Star and a Sceptre; the former denoting his glory
and lustre; the latter his power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jacob and Israel, but
of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by his golden sceptre, or dashed in pieces by
his iron rod. Balaam prophesied concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose country he
had now in view. Even a nest in a rock will not be a lasting security. Here is a prophecy that looks
as far forward as to the Greeks and Romans. He acknowledges all the revolutions of states and
kingdoms to be the Lord's doing. These events will make such desolations, that scarcely any will
escape. They that live then, will be as brands plucked out of the fire. May God fit us for the worst
of times! Thus Balaam, instead of cursing the church, curses Amalek the first, and Rome the last
enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papal also; antichrist and all the antichristian
powers. Let us ask ourselves, Do we in knowledge, experience, or profession, excel Balaam? No
readiness of speech, even in preaching or prayer, no gifts of knowledge or prophecy, are in
themselves different from, or superior to the boasted gifts of him who loved the wages of
unrighteousness, and died the enemy of God. Simple dependence on the Redeemer's atoning blood
and sanctifying grace, cheerful submission to the Divine will, constant endeavours to glorify God
and benefit his people, these are less splendid, but far more excellent gifts, and always accompany
salvation. No boasting hypocrite ever possessed these; yet the feeblest believer has something of
them, and is daily praying for more of them.
Chapter 25
Chapter Outline
The Israelites enticed by the daughters of (1–5)
Moab and Midian.
Phinehas puts Zimri and Cozbi to death. (6–15)
The Midianites to be punished. (16–18)Verses 1–5
The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against
God's people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them,