Philippians 2:24 – Richard Sibbes

[page 47 of volume 5]

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come shortly.

In the former verses the apostle Paul shows his care and love that he bore to the Philippians, in that he would not leave them destitute of a guide and director; and therefore he sends Timothy, whom he commends, to shew his love the more; and for his greater commendations, he shows the wickedness of the contrary sort, that thereby Timothy his sincerity may the better appear; ‘others seek their own, but Timothy as a son hath served me.’ He lays down the causes of this his sincerity. He first had learned the Scriptures of a child; then he had a gracious grandmother and mother. It is an excellent comfortable thing where as children can say, ‘I am the son of thy servant and thy handmaid,’ Psalm 86:16. And a third cause or help was his conversing with him. He drew in the sweet spirit of the blessed apostle. God, he derives good to men by good society. They are therefore enemies to themselves that regard not good, choice company; for it makes of good excellent, and of those that are not yet good, if they belong to God, it makes them good.

In this verse he shows a further degree of his care of the Philippians. There are divers ways to come to the knowledge of men’s estate: as first by report; secondly, by messengers; thirdly, by letter. St Paul had used all these; but his care was such as all these would not content him. He must see them himself, which is indeed the surest means and way of all.

In these words, therefore, consider the manner of the delivery of this speech, ‘I trust in the Lord.’ Then the matter, which contains a purpose of his coming. Then the ground, his trust in God. Here, first of all, mark the language of Canaan; and the heavenly dialect,

1. To express future purposes with a reservation of, and resignation to, God’s will and guidance. 11 trust in God,’ saith the apostle; for the hearts of men, yea of kings, are in God’s hand, to turn and wind them as the rivers of waters, Proverbs 21:1. This shows Christ to be God, for he is the object of trust. Observe in the second place,

2. God’s providence extends to every particular thing. He guides our incomings and our outgoings; he disposes of our journeys; nay, his providence extends to the smallest things, to the sparrows and to the hair of our heads; he governs every particular passage of our lives.

Use 1. This should teach us to set upon our affairs with looking up to heaven for permission, power, and sufferance; and this St James enforces by reproving the contrary. ‘Go to,’ saith he in his fourth chapter, and ver. 13th, and adds the instruction thereupon; ‘for that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.’ Let us therefore in all our affairs he holy, and not bind or limit our holiness only to coming to church; but seeing at all times and in all places we are Christians, and ever in the presence of God, let us place ourselves still in his eye, and do nothing but that we would be willing God shall see; and labour to behold him in every good thing we have, and give him thanks in all the good we enjoy.

Use 2. And secondly, it ought to give us warning, that we ought not to set upon anything, wherein we cannot expect God’s guidance; and so consequently cannot trust on him for a blessing upon what we do. For if we do, we must look to meet the Lord standing in our way, as Balaam did, in opposing our lewd and wicked intentions.

Use 3. And thirdly, it ought to teach us to take nothing but that for which we may give God the thanks and praise; as contrarily many do, who may thank the devil for what they have gotten, and yet make God implicitly the giver of their most unjust exactions.