_Sing, O barren_ JERUSALEM: BARREN, THEN FRUITFUL The direct address refers to Jerusalem, which resembled Sarah in her early barrenness and later fruitfulness Isaiah 51:1). (_F. Delitzsch, D.D._) THE RELATION BETWEEN Isaiah 53:1; Isaiah 54:1 From Calvin to Ewald and Dillman, critics have all fe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enlarge the place of thy tent._ - AN ENLARGED CHURCH The Jewish nation, after its return from captivity, never attained so remarkable a degree of prosperity and power as fully to answer all the terms of this prophecy. It is true that they became a very numerous people; so that from forty-two tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear not; for thou shalt net be ashamed_ SHAME Here, as in many other cases, shame includes the disappointment of the hopes, hut with specific reference to previous misconduct (Job 6:20). The first clause declares that the Church has nocause for despondency, the second disposes of the causes whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thy Maker is thine Husband_ THE LORD PEOPLE’S HUSBAND I. CONSIDER SOME THINGS WHICH ARE IMPLIED IN THIS RELATION WHEREIN CHRIST STANDS TO HIS PEOPLE, THAT NATURALLY TEND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR FAITH AND JOY IN HIM. 1. This relation intimates that nearness and union which there is between Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken_ GOD IS LOVE None of those who came before the Lord Jesus ventured to define God as love. But it does not follow, as we sometimes assume, that the holy men who were moved by the Holy Ghost before Christ came into the world did not know and teach t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For a small moment have I forsaken thee_ AFFLICTION CONSOLATION This is a word of blessed comfort from One who is able to give it. Here is-- I. TEMPORARY AFFLICTION. Observe-- 1. Its Author. “I have forsaken.” All trial comes from the hand of God Himself. Means may be employed, but He works th... [ Continue Reading ]
_In a little wrath I hid My face from thee_ GOD’S FACE HIDDEN To say God hath cast me off because He hath hid His face is a fallacy fetched out of the devil’s topics. When the sun is eclipsed, foolish people may think it will never recover light, but wise men know it will. During the eclipse, tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me_ THE LORD NO MORE WROTH WITH HIS PEOPLE I. WHAT MEN HAVE MOST TO FEAR. All men who are unsaved ought, with fear and trembling, to dread the wrath of God--the wrath present, and the wrath to come. The text speaks of the Lord’s being wroth, as of an evil to... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the mountains shall depart_ MOUNTAINS STABLE, YET CRUMBLING Those who have been reared and nurtured among the everlasting hills always look upon them as old friends. To them there is in mountain, valley and glen a peace reposing in the bosom of strength that soothes the heart to rest. Jean Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_O thou afflicted_ THE CITY OF GOD The reference is still to Jerusalem. In the former paragraph, she was addressed as a barren wife; here as destined to arise from her encumbering ruins, and become the joy of the whole earth. Of course, the primary reference is to that actual rebuilding which took... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will make thy windows of agates_ AGATES Agates are precious stones, partially transparent and uncrystallized. They are mere varieties of quartz, variously coloured by admixtures of different earths; although the neutral tints arc the most frequent. They generally occur in rounded nodules,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord_ DISCIPLES OF JEHOVAH The expression is probably suggested by what the Servant of Jehovah says of Himself in Isaiah 50:4; the idea being that the citizens of the New Jerusalem shall be the spiritual seed of the Servant. (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, they shall surely gather together_ THE ADVERSARIES OF THE CHURCH DEFEATED The unwearied mischievous attempts of the adversaries of God’s people in the world, as they are made without God, so they shall end in shame to themselves. I. THE ADVERSARIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE WILL BE UNWEARIEDLY ATT... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I have created the smith_ HOPE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD The general meaning evidently is, that God can certainly redeem His pledge, because all instruments and agents are alike at His disposal and under His control. (_J. A. Alexander._) THE CHURCH’S FEARS SILENCED The id... [ Continue Reading ]
_No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper_ WORTHLESS WEAPONS I. GLANCE AT THE WEAPONS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST THE CHURCH COLLECTIVELY. 1. The first weapon that we notice is an old one--Infidelity. Nothing can be more palpable than this--humanity refuses to be infidel. 2. Behold a... [ Continue Reading ]