Isaiah 11:9

DISCOURSE: 877
THE MILLENNIUM

Isaiah 11:9. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

THE generality of mankind ascribe a far greater degree of moral influence to civilization, than the state of the heathen world in its most refined ages will justify. We are willing however to admit, that some good effects are to be traced to this cause. But to renew and sanctify the heart is far beyond its power: this is the province of religion, even of that religion which is revealed to us in the Gospel. The prophet has been describing in most beautiful language the change that shall one day be wrought on the face of the earth; and he traces it to the propagation of the Gospel, and the extension of divine knowledge, as its true and only source; “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,” &c. for “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”

In these words he shews us,

I. Wherein true religion consists—

It cannot be more justly or comprehensively described than in these words, “the knowledge of the Lord”—
[Many indeed, even of those who call themselves Christians, suppose that religion is altogether comprehended in doing to others as we would be done unto. But, though it must be acknowledged that this is an important branch, yet it is far from being the whole, since it relates only to the duties of the second table, and leaves out all the duties which we owe to God. We must rather say, that the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus is the sum and substance of religion: because in this is contained that vital energy which puts forth itself in all the fruits of righteousness. It is in this light that the scriptures continually represent it. The Prophet Isaiah says, “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many [Note: Isaiah 53:11.].” Jeremiah cautions us against “glorying in any thing, but in the understanding and knowing of God” as displaying justice and mercy in the person of Christ [Note: Jeremiah 9:23.]. Our Lord himself affirms that, “to know God, and Jesus Christ as sent by him, is life eternal [Note: John 17:1.].” And St. Paul, in his nervous mode of expression, “counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord [Note: Philippians 3:8.].”]

But by “the knowledge of the Lord” we must of necessity understand a practical and experimental knowledge of him—

[Were a speculative knowledge sufficient, Balaam, and even the devils themselves, might vindicate their claim to religion; since he could boast, that he “knew the knowledge of the Almighty,” and indeed prophesied of Christ in very exalted terms [Note: Numbers 24:16.]; and they could say to Christ, “We know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God [Note: Luke 4:34.].” But the only knowledge that can be considered as constituting religion, is that which the apostle so emphatically described and so earnestly desired; “I count all things but dung, that I may win Christ, and know him in the power of his resurrection, in the fellowship of his sufferings, and in a conformity to his death [Note: Philippians 3:10.].” St. John, with a simplicity peculiar to himself, confirms this truth, saying, “Hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments: he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [Note: 1 John 2:3.].”]

Painful as the general want of this religion is at present, we shall be comforted in considering,

II.

In what manner it shall hereafter prevail—

The comparison, which the prophet makes between the diffusion of true religion and the waters of the unfathomable and boundless ocean, leads us naturally to observe, that the knowledge of the Lord in that day will be,

1. Universal in its extent—

[Improbable as this event may appear, there is scarcely any other so frequently and so plainly foretold in the prophetic writings as this. David, in a Psalm where he not only speaks of Christ, but even personates him, says, “All the ends of the earth shall remember themselves and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him; for the kingdom is the Lord’s, and he is the governor among the nations [Note: Psalms 22:27.]:” and, in another Psalm, which is altogether on this subject, he says, “Christ shall have dominion from sea to sea: all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him [Note: Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:11; Psalms 72:17.].” To cite what Isaiah speaks to this effect, would be to repeat whole Chapter s [Note: See Isaiah 49, 60.]. Jeremiah, confirming at the same time the truth we have before insisted on, that true religion consists in the knowledge of the Lord, says, “In that day they shall no more teach every man his neighbour, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest of them, saith the Lord [Note: Jeremiah 31:34.].” Daniel assures us, that “the kingdom which God himself will then erect, shall break in pieces all adverse powers, and fill the whole earth [Note: Daniel 2:44.].” Zechariah tells us, that “Holiness to the Lord shall be written upon the very bells of the horses; that the most common things in every place shall be consecrated, as it were, to God in their daily use: and that there shall then be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts [Note: Zechariah 14:20.].” The apostles also, and our Lord himself, add their testimony; St. Paul affirms, not only that “the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in,” but that “the Jews shall be again engrafted on their own olive-tree [Note: Romans 11:24.];” and our Lord says, that all, Jews and Gentiles, “shall be one fold under one shepherd [Note: John 10:16.]:” and St. John, passing over the intermediate space of time, represents the angels in heaven as already rejoicing in the accomplishment of this event, and saying, “The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever [Note: Revelation 11:15.].”]

2. Deep in its degree—

[The knowledge which the Jews enjoyed was very contracted: ours, since the completion of the canon of Scripture, is considerably enlarged; insomuch that the least of true Christians is, in respect of knowledge, greater than even John the Baptist, who was himself the greatest of all the prophets [Note: Matthew 11:11.]. But in that day the light will shine far brighter; and the knowledge of all true converts will be, in comparison of ours, as the ocean’s depth to a shallow stream. This also is declared with very abundant evidence in the prophetic writings. “The veil that is spread over all nations, is then to be taken away [Note: Isaiah 25:7.].” Nor are any, whose eves are opened, to have an indistinct view of the truth: the Prophet Isaiah says, “the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken; the heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly [Note: Isaiah 32:3.].” In another place the prophet supposes men to have received a stroke or wound upon their eyes, and that, by the healing of that wound, a vast increase of light shall shine into their minds; “The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound [Note: Isaiah 30:26.].” To mention no more passages, the same prophet represents the saints in that day as seeing Christ, not as in a shadow, like the Jews, nor as in a mirror, like us, but eye to eye, and face to face; “Then shall they see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion [Note: Isaiah 52:8.].”]

Infer,
1.

What a glorious period will the millennium be!

[The time referred to in the text is often called the millennium, because it is to last a thousand years. And how blessed will be the state of the world during that period! How will the whole face of the earth be changed! The description of it in the preceding context, figurative as it is, will be almost literally accomplished: men, savage as the most ferocious animals, will be transformed into meek and lowly followers of the Lamb. No more wars, no more enslaving of our fellow-creatures, no more public feuds or private animosities; all will be love; “there will be none to hurt or destroy in all God’s holy mountain [Note: ver. 6–9.].” O that the day were already come! O that “God would hasten it in his time!” But, if we cannot be privileged to see it, let us at least help it forward by every means in our power: let us diffuse the savour of the knowledge of Christ in every place; and exert all our influence to send the light of the Gospel to the heathen world, till “Ethiopia herself shall stretch out her hands unto God.”]

2. How thankful should we be for that little knowledge, with which God, in his mercy, has favoured us!

[Surely God has not left himself without witness amongst us, but “has given testimony to the word of his grace,” and evinced its quickening, transforming efficacy. Doubtless there are some amongst us, whose dispositions and habits were once as adverse to the Gospel, as the wolf is to a lamb, or the leopard to a kid, who now harmoniously unite with the saints of God, and approve themselves to the world as new creatures. Till they knew the Lord, nothing could effectually tame their spirits, much less transform them into the divine image: but since the light of divine truth has shined into their hearts, they have enjoyed the peace, and exercised the love, and maintained the purity of God’s dear children. Let such then be thankful fur the distinguished mercies vouchsafed unto them: let them remember that “all things, which pertain unto life and godliness, are communicated to us through the knowledge of Christ [Note: 2 Peter 1:3.];” and let them seek to “grow both in grace and knowledge,” till from “beholding Christ only as in a glass darkly,” they shall “see him as they are seen, and know him as they are known [Note: 1 Corinthians 13:12.].”]