THE DUTY AND THE BENEFITS OF RETROSPECTION Isaiah 51:1. _Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness, &c._ These words were addressed to the pious remnant of true believers among the Jews. They were in an afflicted and discouraged state, and needed appropriate direction and support. What he... [ Continue Reading ]
A SIGHT FOR DESPONDING CHRISTIAN WORKERS (_Missionary Sermon._) Isaiah 51:2. _Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah, &c._ It is habitual with some persons to spy out the dark side of every question or fact; they fix their eyes upon the “waste places,” and they study them till they know ever... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT IN TROUBLE Isaiah 51:3; Isaiah 51:12, and Isaiah 52:9. _For the Lord shall comfort Zion, &c._ The prophecy is addressed to those who are striving after the right kind of life and seeking Jehovah, and not turning from Him to make earthly things and themselves the object of their pursuits; f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE SALVATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD Isaiah 51:6. _Lift up your eyes to the heavens, &c._ There is no reason why we should not read these words in their positive and natural signification. Similar predictions (Isaiah 34:4; Psalms 102:26; 2 Peter 3:10). These predictions are c... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO MORAL HEROISM Isaiah 51:7. _Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, &c._ A beautiful description of God’s people. They know righteousness. His law is in their hand. I. THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUST EXPECT TO BE ASSAILED BY REPROACHES AND REVILINGS. There is a perpetual antagonism between t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLAD HOME-GOING Isaiah 51:11. _Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, &c._ [1569] [1569] See Outlines on Isaiah 35:8, in vol. i. pp. 409–413. The words of the text, fulfilled in the history of the return from captivity, are in our case awaiting the richer, fuller interpretation of de... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR OF GOD AND MAN Isaiah 51:12. _I, even I, am He that comforteth you, &c._ I. THE TWO PARTIES SET OVER AGAINST EACH OTHER, “Man that shall die,” &c.; and “the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens,” &c. It is a main object of the Scriptures to set in the most vivid contrast the m... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CAPTIVE SEEKING DELIVERANCE Isaiah 51:14. _The captive exile hasteneth, &c._ [1581] [1581] Before developing either of the outlines here reproduced, attention should be given to Delitzsch’s translation of these verses. I. A DESCRIPTION OF THE WRETCHED CONDITION OF THE SINNER—AN EXILE. 1. _Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHOVAH’S ANGER Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:20; Isaiah 51:22. _The fury of the Lord, &c._ [1587] [1587] See vol. i. pp. 284–286, and H. E. I. 2288–2294. God’s anger must, of course, be understood in a manner in accordance with the Divine nature; and we are not to suppose that precisely the same passion... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHOVAH’S ANGER Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:20; Isaiah 51:22. _The fury of the Lord, &c._ [1587] [1587] See vol. i. pp. 284–286, and H. E. I. 2288–2294. God’s anger must, of course, be understood in a manner in accordance with the Divine nature; and we are not to suppose that precisely the same passion... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHOVAH’S ANGER Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:20; Isaiah 51:22. _The fury of the Lord, &c._ [1587] [1587] See vol. i. pp. 284–286, and H. E. I. 2288–2294. God’s anger must, of course, be understood in a manner in accordance with the Divine nature; and we are not to suppose that precisely the same passion... [ Continue Reading ]