THE DIVINE PROVISION FOR HUMAN NEED Isaiah 55:1. _Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, &c._ The world owes much to the Hebrew mind, and the fine foreshadowings of the ancient prophets. Isaiah touches a chord to which all hearts vibrate, speaking of the birth of Christ, &c. And like... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY TO LIFE Isaiah 55:3. _Hear, and your soul shall live_. The great secret of all true happiness is obedience to the will of God. And the fruitful cause of misery and discomfort, is the spirit of indifference to the Divine authority and contempt for the commands of Heaven. It is therefore of i... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST GIVEN FOR A WITNESS, LEADER, AND COMMANDER Isaiah 55:4. _Behold, I have given Him for a witness, &c._ In going into the wide world and entering upon the stern battle of life, feelings of doubt and uncertainty are not unfrequently experienced, especially by the young. They are comparatively i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES Isaiah 55:5. _Behold, Thou shalt call a nation that Thou knowest not, &c._ It early obtained belief in the Christian Church, that Isaiah was sawn assunder for predicting so freely the vocation of the Gentiles by Messiah. Paul mentions it as a proof of his moral heroism ... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD UNKNOWN YET KNOWN Isaiah 55:6. _Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, &c._ There is a paradox in these words. They invite us to seek a God who yet cannot be found, to know a God who yet cannot be known. For where should we seek God if not in His “ways;” or how shall we know Him except by comi... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN’S ABILITY TO TURN TO GOD AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL Isaiah 55:7. _Let the wicked forsake his way, &c._ God has done and is doing, in the work of Christ and in the work of the Holy Spirit, all that is needful for the salvation of every child of Adam, and having done this He now commands all men eve... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD’S WAY OF PARDONING ABOVE MEN’S Isaiah 55:8 _For my thoughts are not your thoughts, &c._ Suppose your sovereign taking a personal interest in you. But you have become a rebel. She has every justification in casting you off. Instead of this she makes an arrangement at great cost by which she is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ERRAND OF THE WORD Isaiah 55:10. _For as the rain cometh down, &c._ Upon what errand has God sent forth His Word? It publishes “salvation” with all its tongues. It has tidings for us of great truth; and the fault will be ours if the tidings be not also of great joy. These words of the prophet a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHEERFUL COURSE OF THE GODLY Isaiah 55:12. _Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace, &c._ There is resolution and effort on our part, and help and guidance on God’s part. We “go out” and we are “led.” We must not forget either side of the truth. The farmer works in harmony with th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PERPETUAL MIRACLE Isaiah 55:13. _Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, &c._ I. MIRACLES PROMISED IN THE CHURCH OF GOD. 1. The promise takes different shapes. Savage beasts shall lose their nature and become harmless and tractable (Isaiah 11:6, &c.). In sandy wastes streams of water... [ Continue Reading ]