Isaiah 22:12-14

DISCOURSE: 888
THE UNCONCERN OF MEN AMIDST GOD’S CALLS TO REPENTANCE

Isaiah 22:12. In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

TRUE religion is equally abhorrent from an atheistical contempt of God’s providence, and a presumptuous reliance on it. It teaches us neither to “trust in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we [Note: Jeremiah 7:4.];” nor, on the other hand, to trust in human devices, to the neglect of him, who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

It was for the latter of these sins, that the Jews were reproved in the words before us. The Assyrians had invaded their country, and were coming against Jerusalem itself: and the Jews, instead of crying to God for help, contented themselves with fortifying their city; and lived as securely as if no danger were at hand. This greatly incensed God, and caused him to denounce against them his heaviest judgments.
The words before us will lead us to consider,

I. The duty to which God calls us—

The terms used in the text were intended to express repentance—
[The shaving of the head, and cutting of the beard, and putting on of sackcloth, were used among the Jews as indications of sorrow [Note: Ezekiel 27:30.]. Of themselves indeed, neither those nor any other actions, however significant, had any value before God: they were even hateful to him, if used without correspondent dispositions of heart [Note: Isaiah 1:13; Isaiah 66:3.]: but, when accompanied with inward contrition, they were pleasing and acceptable in his sight [Note: 1 Kings 21:27.]

This is the duty to which God calls us at this time—
[He spake to the Jewish nation by the dispensations of his providence [Note: Micah 6:9. Awful visitations were always considered in that view, Judges 20:25.], and the voice of his prophets [Note: Joel, Isaiah, &c.]. And is he not calling us to repentance at this time, by the calamities of the nation, by the command of our rulers, and by the voice of all his faithful ministers [Note: The particular circumstances of the nation should be here stated.]? Yes; he says aloud, “Turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning [Note: Joel 2:12.].”]

But how little attention we pay to him will appear, if we consider,

II.

The state in which we continue—

The evils of which the prophet complained, are, alas! too descriptive of our state:

1. We confide in our own preparations without looking to God—

[So often has God prospered our naval exertions, that we almost universally overlook his providence, and ascribe our success to our own superior skill and valour. Our hopes also of future conquests are founded wholly on our own prowess. We are active enough in making preparations; but are as unmindful of God, as if we needed not his aid, nor were at all dependent on his will. For the truth of this assertion we appeal to the public prints, and to the expressions of all with whom we converse [Note: This statement must of course be adjusted to the existing circumstances, but with a clear reference to the preceding context, ver. 7–11.]

2. We still live in our wonted habits of conviviality and dissipation—

[It is not intemperance and excess that is the object of the prophet’s reprehension, but an unsuitable gaiety of mind, at a time when it became them to be humbling themselves in dust and ashes. And is not this the case with us amongst all ranks and orders of the community? Doubtless the pressure of the public burthens must impose restraints on many: but still the change in them is not the effect of a voluntary humiliation, but the reluctant fruit of irresistible necessity.]

3. We, in too many instances, turn the very warnings of Jehovah into contempt and ridicule—

[The Jews were warned of the near approach of their destruction: and they, to ridicule the idea, said, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.” We indeed, having no information from God respecting the issue of public affairs, cannot imitate, with respect to them, the impiety of the Jews. But, in relation to infinitely more important matters, there is as much profane scoffing amongst us, as amongst them: the declarations of God’s word are set at nought; and they, who most faithfully denounce God’s judgments against sin and sinners, are, for the most part, regarded either as hypocrites or fanatics.]

Let us then, as it becomes us, proceed with all fidelity to shew,

III.

The evil and danger of such a state—

What can be more unsuitable to our condition?

[What should we think of a child or servant that should manifest such a spirit under our rebukes? Does such conduct then become us towards God, when he is contending with us, and chastising us for our sins? Yea, are we not as devoid of humanity as of piety, while we feel no sympathy with the thousands of our suffering fellow-creatures? Well says the prophet on a similar occasion, “Should we then make mirth [Note: Ezekiel 21:9; Ezekiel 21:12.]?” Surely it becomes us rather to “cry and howl” for the miseries that are come upon us, or at least impending over us.]

What can be more offensive to God?

[The word “surely” is equivalent to an oath [Note: Hebrews 6:13.]: and is it a light thing which causes Jehovah to swear by his own life and immortal perfections? Is it a small matter that causes “the Lord God of hosts [Note: This title, being thrice repeated, is very emphatical.]” to shut up his tender mercies, and to swear that the guilt of such or such an action shall “never be purged away?” Must not that be beyond measure offensive to him, that can fill his breast with such “fiery indignation?” The sins that have brought down his chastisements are doubtless great; but an obstinacy under those chastisements which are intended to reform us, is but too probably a forerunner of our utter excision [Note: Jeremiah 7:12. Such also is the import of that threatening, Amos 4:12. the ground of which five times repeated from ver. 6. to 11.],]

What can be more destructive in its consequences?

[The nation cannot be delivered but by means of a national repentance: nor can any individual escape the eternal wrath of God, but by means of his own personal repentance [Note: Luke 13:3.]. If there be only one impenitent transgressor in the whole kingdom, “God will search him out with candles,” in order to punish him [Note: Zephaniah 1:12.].” Even in his present dispensations God will put a difference between those who mourn for sin, and those who are at ease in Zion [Note: Amos 6:1; Amos 6:3; Ezekiel 9:4.]; but much more in his decisions at the day of judgment [Note: Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 65:12.]. Whether therefore we consider our national or our personal danger, it becomes us instantly to put away our unbelief and impenitence, and to turn to God with the deepest contrition.]

Address—

[It may be thought that the injunctions given to the Jews, had respect to them rather than to ourselves. Let an apostle then be heard in confirmation of the prophet; and let us depart with a determination through grace to obey his voice; “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness: humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God; and he shall lift you up [Note: James 4:9.].” The very Gospel itself, with all that Christ has done and suffered for us, will do us no good, if we remain impenitent. The command is, “Repent, and believe the gospel.” We must “sow in tears, if ever we would reap in joy.”]