Abrahams Humble Intercession for Sodom, Commentary on Genesis 18 · Verse 30
Verſe 30. And he ſaid unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will ſpeak, &c.
Doct. XX. THat Believers, when they have prayed that he would not be angry with them, are encouraged to ſpeak more in prayer to him.
So Abraham here ſayes, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will ſpeak. Petitioners to Princes when they are not angry, are encouraged to ſpeak in way of ſuit to them: ſo may we be encouraged to ſpeak to the Lord, when we have deſired that he would not be angry with us.
Reaſons. 1. From the Lords anger. 2. From the Believers themſelves. 3. From their Prayers.
Firſt, From the Lords anger. 1. If it ſhould kindle againſt us, there would be no ſpeaking to him. There's no wiſe man that would Petition to a Prince when he is angry with him; but if he be calm, and his ſpirit be appeaſed, and no anger appear in his face, or in his words or geſture, he will then be encouraged to ſpeak, and bring his Petition before him: So if God be angry there is no ſpeaking to him, but if he be appeaſed toward us, then we may freely ſpeak what we have to ſay to him, as Abraham here does.
2. His anger is a fierce anger, Nah. 1.6. and that muſt needs ſtop any mans mouth from ſpeaking. If a man be fierce in his anger, it is in vain to ſpeak to him: ſo here. But if he be perſwaded to lay aſide his fierceneſs, then he may be ſpoken to: ſo it is with us in ſpeaking to the Lord.
3. His anger is ſuch that none can ſtand before it, Nah. 1.6. and therefore there is no ſpeaking in way of ſuit till it be removed: but when this is gone, then we may have free acceſs to him, and ſpeak what we will in his ears.
4. His anger is as a Cloud that he covers himſelf with, Lam. 3.44. that our prayers cannot paſs thorow; and therefore ſo long as that cloud remains, there's no ſpeaking in Prayer to him: but when it is taken away, then our Prayers may come before him, and be accepted.
5. His anger is long ere it be removed, Pſ. 80.4. God is ſlow to anger, not eaſily provoked; but when once he is angry, he is not quickly pacified, and that will hinder our Prayers: but now when this is removed, then we may ſpeak as Abraham here does.
6. His anger is an unknown anger, Pſal. 90.11. we may know other things, but we do not know the force of this, and being ſo powerful, it will ſtop our mouthes: but if this be removed, then we may ſpeak all our minde.
Secondly, From Believers. 1. They may prevail with God for any thing, Matth. 21.22. and therefore may well be encouraged to ſpeak to him when he is not angry with them: he cannot ſay them nay in what they ſue for.
2. They are his friends, Jam. 2.23. and friends may ſpeak freely to God, eſpecially when they have prayed to him that he would not be angry with them.
3. They are his favourites, they finde grace in his ſight, as it is ſaid of Moſes, Exod. 33.12. and they may ſpeak what they will in the ears of their Prince.
4. They are the Sons of God, Joh. 1.12. and they may be bold to ask any thing of their Father, eſpecially when he is not angry with them.
5. They are his Jewels, Mal. 3.17. his peculiar Treaſure, Pſal. 135.4. and they that are ſo precious to him, may be encouraged to ſpeak to him.
6. They are they that he hath given his own Son Chriſt unto, Rom. 8.32. and therefore they may ſpeak, and have any thing given to them.
Thirdly, From their Prayers. 1. They are put up to him who is a God hearing prayer, Pſ. 65.2.
2. They are made to him that commands us to ask, Mat. 7.7.
3. They are brought before him, who (Pſal. 81.10.) bids us open our mouthes wide, &c.
4. They are directed to him who is God Allſufficient, that can do every thing, Jer. 32.17, 27. Job 42.2.
5. They are delightful to him, Prov. 15.8.
6. They are mingled with Chriſts interceſſion, Rev. 8.3. and accepted in him, 1 Pet. 2.5. All which conſidered, they may be encouraged to ſpeak and pray to him.
Ʋſe 1. for Information. 1. We ſee what cauſe we have to look to it, that God be not provoked by us when we go to pray to him; for if he be, we ſhall not be able to ſpeak to any purpoſe in his ears.
2. We ſee that they that come to a reconciled God, may ſpeak their mindes freely to him.
3. We ſee that if God be angry, there's no ſpeaking to him.
4. We ſee that wicked men cannot ſpeak in Prayer to God, with whom he is angry every day, Pſal. 7.11.
5. We ſee that they are happy that have Gods anger turned from them, as Hoſ. 14.4. for ſuch may be encouraged to ſpeak as Abraham here did.
6. We ſee that there's no going to an angry God. What can any man look for from an angry Prince?
7. We ſee how precious Chriſt ſhould be to us, 1 Pet. 2.7. who makes us and our prayers acceptable to God, Epheſ. 1.6. 1 Pet. 2.5.
8. We ſee that if we would go with courage to pray before the Lord, we muſt firſt prevail with him not to be angry with us.
9. We ſee that as there is enough in Gods anger to ſtop any mans mouth in Prayer; ſo when he is appeaſed, there's enough in that to open any mans mouth to pray to him.
10. We ſee that none but thoſe that have intereſt in Chriſts reconciling grace, can make an effectuall Prayer.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour to thoſe that anger God with their ſins.
Ʋſe 3. for Humiliation to thoſe that too often give God cauſe to be angry with them, as 2 Sam. 11.27. 1 Kings 11.9.
Ʋſe 4. for Exhortation: 1. To get God reconciled. 2. To pray for others that do provoke him. 3. To bleſs God for Chriſt. 4. To love Chriſt. 5. To long for Heaven. 6. To ſpeak as Abraham does.