_The Lord. .. Shall punish leviathan_ THE CHURCH HAS FORMIDABLE ENEMIES The Church has many enemies, but commonly someone that is more formidable than the rest. So Sennacherib was in his day, and Nebuchadnezzar in his, and Antiochus in his. So Pharaoh had been formerly; and he is called “leviathan... [ Continue Reading ]
_A vineyard of red wine_ THE CHURCH A VINEYARD OF RED WINE The Church of God is here compared to a vineyard. The vine is a tender plant, needing continual care; and if the vineyard is not well fenced and guarded, the enemies of the vine are sure to get in and destroy it. The Church is called “a v... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, the Lord, do keep it_ THE LORD THE KEEPER OF HIS PEOPLE There is nothing to which we are naturally more prone, nothing more dangerous, nothing so difficult to eradicate as self-confidence. And yet there is nothing so delightful as to feel that we have not anything in ourselves in which we can... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fury is not in Me._ --Of all the senses put upon this difficult verse there are only two which can be looked upon as natural or probable. The first may be paraphrased as follows:--It is not because I am cruel or revengeful that I thus afflict My people, but because she is a vineyard overrun with t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let him take hold of My strength_ TAKING HOLD OF THE DIVINE STRENGTH I. THE INVITATION. “Let him take hold of My strength.” This becomes an imperative duty--a duty universal in its application. II. THE REASON of this invitation--“that he may make peace with Me.” 1. Observe how very unselfish it... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root_ THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH THE EFFECTS OF DIVINE INFLUENCE I. IN RESPECT OF NUMBER. Under the ancient dispensation, the spiritual Israel were comparatively few. But at the commencement of the Christian dispensation the wall of partitio... [ Continue Reading ]
_He stayeth His rough wind in the day of the east wind_ THE ROUGH WIND STAYED Here we are taught two things: that God permits calamities to come upon man, but that He restrains them in moderation for some wise and merciful design. It would by no means be difficult to trace out historic parallels i... [ Continue Reading ]
_By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged_ GOD’S END IN SENDING CALAMITIES AND AFFLICTIONS ON HIS PEOPLE Motives to enforce this duty of complying with the Lord’s end, in afflicting and bringing calamities upon us. 1. Otherwise our calamities are like to continue. 2. This may incr... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is a people of no understanding_ A DREADFUL DENUNCIATION OF JUDGMENT I. THE JUDGMENT DENOUNCER. 1. Great desolation as to their outward state (Isaiah 27:10, and former part of Isaiah 27:11). 2. Utter destruction, final ruin. “He that made them will not have mercy on them.” It is the highest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall be gathered one by one_ THE ONE-BY-ONE PRINCIPLE This principle is developed-- I. IN THE DEALINGS OF PROVIDENCE. II. IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE GOSPEL. III. IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW OF GOD. (_F. Greeves._) GATHERED ONE BY ONE 1. There is a country whose mysterious shores are visi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The great trumpet shall be blown_ THE GOSPEL TRUMPET I. THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IS HERE COMPARED TO THE BLOWING OF A TRUMPET. 1. This figurative expression may allude to the trumpet which sounded upon Mount Sinai, at the solemn promulgation of the law. And though the ministers of Christ must... [ Continue Reading ]