_Awake, awake_ THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A CHURCH’S STRENGTH I. THE CONSTITUTIONAL ELEMENTS OF STRENGTH. I use the word constitution in a legitimate sense, as including both the creed and the polity of a Church. 1. The creed. As a man’s life is the outcome of what he believes, or does not believe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shake thyself from the dust_ SIN AS DUST It is very often what we call little sins which mar the beauty of the Church. They are like dust. Dust comes imperceptibly, it settles down so silently, that not an insect hears it fall; it is caused by our ordinary avocations and not by exceptional event... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thus saith the Lord, Ye have mold yourselves for nought_ SOLD FOR NOUGHT; REDEEMED WITHOUT PRICE “Ye have sold yourselves for nought. ” You got nothing by it, nor did I. God considers that when they by sin had sold themselves, He Himself, who had the prior, nay, the sole title to them, did... [ Continue Reading ]
_My name continually every day is blasphemed._ GOD PITIFUL, YET INDIGNANT 1. The captives are so dispirited that they cannot praise Him; but, instead of that, they are continually howling, which grieves Him, and moves His pity. 2. The natives are so insolent that they will not praise Him; but, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_How beautiful upon the mountains_ MESSENGERS OF REDEMPTION Messengers coming over the mountains announce to Jerusalem the people’s redemption from Babylon, and the advent of Jehovah’s eternal kingdom. (_A. B_. _Davidson, D.D_.) BEAUTIFUL FEET The exclamation does not refer to the pretty sound... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice_ THE RETURN FROM EXILE From the glowing periods of this paragraph we can reconstruct the picture of the return from exile, as it presented itself to the seer. It was notably the return of the Lord to Zion (Isaiah 52:8, R.V.). The stately procession moves slowl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break forth into joy_ THE RETURN OF THE JEWISH NATION I. CONSIDER CERTAIN CHANGES WHICH SHALL HAVE TAKEN PLACE AMONG THE GENTILES OF CHRISTENDOM, AT, OR ABOUT, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JEWISH NATION IN THEIR OWN LAND (Matthew 13:24). The signal destruction of all false, hypocritical, unbelieving... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord hath made bare His holy arm_ GOD’S ARM MADE BARE When the heroes of old prepared for the fight they put on their armour; but when God prepares for battle He makes bare His arm. Man has to look two ways--to his own defence, as well as to the offence of his enemy; God hath but one directio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Depart ye_ A PEREMPTORY, YET ENCOURAGING CALL 1. Thus peremptorily were the Jewish exiles called home. Nearly three generations had fled since their fathers had been forcibly settled on the plains of Shinar; but during that period the temporal lot of the Jews had been gradually bettering. Time ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye shall not go out with haste_ SEEMLY AND UNSEEMLY HASTE They were to go with a diligent haste, not to lose time nor linger as Lot in Sodom; but they were not to go with a diffident, distrustful haste, as if they were afraid of being pursued, as when they came out of Egypt, or of having the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently_ THE HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION OF CHRIST I. THE STATE OF CHRIST’S HUMILIATION. “As many were astonied at Thee,”_ etc. _ 1. Consider His outward or bodily sufferings. 2. His inward sorrows, the agonies of His mind, have no parallel. II. OUR SAVIOUR’S EXA... [ Continue Reading ]
_As many were astonied at Thee_ THE ABASEMENT OF CHRIST AND ITS CONSEQUENCES I. THE UNEQUALLED ABASEMENT AND SORROW OF THE MESSIAH. Unequalled-- 1. Because of the previous dignity from which He descended. 2. If we trace the various stages of His humiliation. Was He born? It was of no opulent pare... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shall He sprinkle many nation_ SPRINKLING THE NATIONS “Sprinkle;” possibly “startle,” cause to rise up in wonder and reverence. The nations were familiar with the afflictions and abjectness of the Servant; suddenly, and without intimation of it, they see His elevation and stand up in reverent... [ Continue Reading ]