Isaiah 33:20-22

DISCOURSE: 910
THE CHURCH’S SECURITY

Isaiah 33:20. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

IN times of national calamity or danger, if we do not immediately see the means of our preservation, “our hearts are apt to meditate terror,” and to tremble even for the ark of God. But, though we ought to mourn for the desolations of Zion, and to desire its prosperity, we may safely leave the concerns of the church to him who has founded it on a rock, and who is incessantly engaged for its defence. God may purge his floor, and burn up the chaff; but he will not suffer one grain of pure wheat to be lost. This was the consolatory truth with which the prophet encouraged the godly, while he foretold the miseries which the Jewish nation should endure in the Babylonish captivity: and it is equally applicable to the church of God in all ages. In the words before us are contained,

I. The promise which God makes to his Church—

The Church is here compared to Jerusalem and the tabernacle, particularly with a view to its weakness and danger—
[Jerusalem was “the city of their solemnities,” whither all the tribes went up at stated seasons to worship God: and the tabernacle was the place where God in a more especial manner revealed himself to his believing people. But though, in these points of view, they were objects of God’s peculiar regard, they were at the same time peculiarly exposed to danger. Jerusalem was encompassed with enemies, who incessantly sought its destruction: and the tabernacle (which on this account is mentioned rather than the temple) was assailed by storms and tempests, in the wilderness, und in Shiloh, for many hundred years.
Thus the Church is that society of godly persons, to which all in every place unite themselves, as soon as ever they are converted to God: and it enjoys exclusively the manifestations of God’s love and favour. But it is hated by the world with a deadly hatred: and is often menaced by all the powers of earth and hell.]
But God promises that, notwithstanding its weakness, it shall enjoy quietness and stability—
[This was in part fulfilled in the preservation of the Jews at those seasons when all the males were withdrawn from the country, and collected in Jerusalem; none of their enemies ever being permitted to take advantage of their absence, and to attack their land at those times, It was also fulfilled in part, when the temple worship was restored after the Babylonish captivity. But its full accomplishment must be looked for in the apostolic and millennial periods. In the days of the Apostles the Church was assaulted on every side; but it defied the storms, and stood unmoved in the midst of all its enemies. Hypocrites indeed were cast down; but the Church itself stood; “not one of its stakes was moved, nor one of its cords broken.” From the days of Christ to the latest period of time may it be said, with exultation and triumph, “Look upon our Zion;” though apparently defenceless, it stands secure; though fiercely assailed, it is “a quiet habitation;” though it be as a sycamore planted in the midst of the sea, it can never be rooted up. What our ears have heard, “our eyes have seen;” and we believe that it shall endure to all generations.]
Nor will this appear improbable, if we consider,

II.

The means of its accomplishment—

The way whereby this promise shall be fulfilled, is set forth,

1. Figuratively—

[Jerusalem was despised as having no river to protect it, as the Church also is on account of its defenceless state. But God promises that “he himself will be to it as a broad and rapid river.” But it may be said that if, in one view, a river defends a city, in another view it affords means of attacking it to advantage. But God fully obviates this by saying, that he will be such a river as shall not be navigated by vessels, either great or small: yea, that in protecting his Church, he will shew himself to be “the glorious,” the irresistible “Jehovah.” Hence that triumphant language of the Psalmist, “Walk about Zion, and go round about her, tell the towers thereof; mark well her Bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following; for this God is our God for ever and ever [Note: Psalms 48:12.].”]

2. Plainly—

[The Church is under the immediate government of God, as Israel was of old. He is its Judge, its Lawgiver, and its King, who, while he requires the obedience of his people, is pledged by that very relation to afford them his protection. Men, standing in that relation to us, may be overcome; and we may fall together with them: but we are thrice reminded, that it is Jehovah who is our defence. Whom then can we have to fear, when the honour, the power, the veracity of Jehovah are pledged for our protection? How absurd is it to be alarmed on account of our own weakness, or of the power and malignity of our enemies! The answer which David gave to those who persuaded him to flee, is that which should be our solace in the most discouraging circumstances; “How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain, for the foundations are destroyed, and what can the righteous do?” (Tell me not of the failure of earthly helps; for) “Jehovah is in his holy temple, Jehovah’s throne is in heaven [Note: Psalms 11:1.].”]

Infer—
1.

Whither we are to look for the continued enjoyment of our religious privileges—

[It is a mercy to us, that, notwithstanding the enmity of the carnal mind against God is as great as ever, we are preserved by the laws from such persecutions as have been endured by the Church in former ages. But men are changing, and laws may change with them. Our safety therefore does not depend on man, but on God: and on him alone must we rely for the peace and prosperity of Zion. Let us trust in him; and “he will be a wall of fire round about us, and the glory in the midst of us [Note: Zechariah 2:5.].”]

2. Whither we are to look for the peace and stability of our own souls—

[We should first take care that God be indeed the Judge, the Lawgiver, and the King whom we unfeignedly obey: for, if we refuse allegiance to him, it will be in vain to expect protection from him. But, if we have the testimony of our conscience that we devote ourselves unfeignedly to him, we may say with David, “I will not fear, though the earth be moved, and the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.” We have an almighty Defender, who is interested in the welfare of his subjects, and is moreover pledged to us by promise and by oath. Let us then “believe his declaration; so shall we prosper; and believe his promises; so shall we be established:” “we shall be even as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but standeth fast for ever [Note: 2 Chronicles 20:20; Psalms 125:1.].”]