_Yet now hear, O Jacob, __MY SERVANT_ Why are the people of God called by the name of Jacob? Have you never wondered why the people of God should be called by the name of the third of the ancient patriarchs in preference to the first two? We often, indeed, find them called the seed of Abraham, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty_ GOD’S SPIRIT AS WATER AND FLOODS The double figure is expressive of copiousness, abundance, variety (both the “water” and the “floods”), the rain from heaven and the mountain torrents to refresh the parched land. (_J. R.Macduff, D. D._) THE HOLY S... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they shall spring up as among the grass_ SPRINGING UP AS GRASS R.., more accurately, omits “as”; but the text is unquestionably corrupt. There is no doubt that the LXX. preserves the true reading: “spring up as grass among the waters.” (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._) AS WILLOWS BY THE WATER-COUR... [ Continue Reading ]
_One shall say, I am the Lord’s--_ A PUBLIC PROFESSION OF RELIGION Those who become the subjects of special grace will choose to join the Church, and enter into covenant to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. I. DESCRIBE THE SUBJECTS OF SPECIAL GRACE. II. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel_ “I AM THE FIRST, AND I AM THE LAST” This affirmation of God’s existence appears more comprehensive than the similar one, made by Him to Moses, “I am that I am. ” It is true, when we say that He is by His own absolute will and power, we assert by implicatio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear ye not_ CHRISTIAN COURAGE Boldness for God, and boldness in dealing with God, should form part of the Christian character; and the Word of God encourages this Christian boldness. We are repeatedly exhorted to “fear not,” to “be of good courage.” I. WHY ARE WE TO EXPECT THAT THE PEOPLE OF G... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that make a graven image_ THE VANITY OF GRAVEN IMAGES Substituting homely prose for glowing poetry we may, after a fashion, reduce the prophet’s thought to propositions like the following-- 1. Neither the idol nor its god knows anything, while Jehovah knows all. 2. Neither the idol nor it... [ Continue Reading ]
_He planteth an ash_ THE PLANTER AND THE RAIN The civilised and cultivated tree is the joint product of human care and the earth’s fertility. Let us study the picture and see how true it is to what the world contains. 1. We may ask ourselves how it is that any institution or established form of h... [ Continue Reading ]
_He burneth part thereof in the fire._ Which is to far better purpose than the other part made into an idol, (_J. Trapp._) AHA, I AM WARM Cold This is an expression of that natural joy which will escape from one in some way or other, when from a comfortless apartment, or from a frosty street, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the residue thereof he maketh a god_ RESIDUAL RELIGION The scene is one which we may describe as very childish indeed. It belongs to the very earliest stage one might imagine of the thought of worship, The man who evidently lives under conditions by no means of the highest civilisation feels... [ Continue Reading ]
_He feedeth on ashes_ EARTH USED AS FOOD One of the most extraordinary examples of depraved or perverted appetite is the use of earth for food. This propensity is not an occasional freak, but a common custom, and is found among so large a number and variety of tribes that it may be regarded as co-... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember these, O Jacob and Israel_ GOD’S ISRAEL NOT FORGOTTEN This verse, standing in connection with the following, is a call to Jacob and Israel to return to the Lord. Many are the arguments used to induce them to do so. 1. “Remember these” idolaters, their follies, their wickednesses, their... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions_ SIN BLOTTED OUT The meaning of the verse may be--He who offered his sacrifice aright, was as sure that the sin for which he offered it was blotted out, as that the smoke of the sacrifice was dispersed by the wind, and was no longer discern... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing, O ye heavens_ A SONG ABOUT REDEMPTION The text is a magnificent call to heaven and earth to join in singing the glories of redemption. I. IN WHAT PARTICULARS REDEMPTION CALLS FOR A SONG. Redemption calls for a song when we remember-- 1. Its Author. “The Lord hath done it.” “The Lord hath... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am the Lord that maketh all things_ THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Our object is, not so much to discover from the creation the truth of the being and character of the Creator, as to see how the Christian belief in Him as Maker must influence us about the world He has made. Trust Him as the Fat... [ Continue Reading ]
_That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd_ CYRUS, THE LORD’S SHEPHERD Cyrus was the ideal king of the Persians and Greeks. His is the only name that is mentioned with any detail, I believe, both in the Persian and in the Greek, and also in the Hebrew literature. We speak of the great heroes of the w... [ Continue Reading ]