Isaiah 52:1-3

DISCOURSE: 960
DESPONDENCY REPROVED

Isaiah 52:1. Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion: put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

NOTHING is more common, than for men to cast reflections upon God, when the fault is wholly in themselves. The ungodly world, when urged to devote themselves to God, agreeably to the divine commands, will allege, that those commands are themselves unreasonable, because it is not in their power to obey them. Thus they cast the blame, not on themselves, for the inveteracy of their evil habits and the alienation of their hearts from God, but upon God himself, as requiring so much at their hands. It were well if this disposition were not found also amongst persons professing godliness. But the godly themselves, under the power of temptation, are apt to complain of God, as unwilling to hear their prayer, and to deliver them from their troubles; when, in fact, they neglect to use the means through which alone they are authorized to expect success. This the Jewish Church had done; saying, in a querulous tone, to God, “Awake, awake; put on strength, O arm of the Lord!” But the Lord retorts upon them the accusation, and says, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion!” that is, ‘Do not stand complaining of me, as if I were inattentive to your welfare; but exert the powers which ye have; and, in the diligent use of them, expect my promised blessing.’
The words thus explained will give me a just occasion to observe,

I. That we should exert ourselves, as if all depended on our own efforts—

To this the Jews were called, in the midst of all their discouragements—
[In the Babylonish captivity, despondency prevailed amongst them, as if it were not possible for them ever to be delivered. But it became them, like Daniel, to study the prophecies relating to their captivity; and, in a state of holy preparation, confidently to expect deliverance at God’s appointed time. “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord; for ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rere-ward [Note: ver. 11, 12.].”

The promise, that “there should no more come into Jerusalem the uncircumcised and the unclean,” evidently directs our minds to a period yet future: for not only was Jerusalem invaded after their return from Babylon, but the very worship of the temple was suspended by Antiochus: their city also, and temple, und polity, were subsequently destroyed by the Romans; and their whole nation have now remained above seventeen hundred years in a state of utter desolation and dispersion. But they must not on that account despond. The prophecies relating to their future restoration shall surely be fulfilled: and it becomes them all to be in a state of holy expectation; just as Abraham was, when, at the distance of two thousand years, “he saw the day of Christ, and rejoiced.” This gives us what I apprehend to be the true view of our text: God directs his complaining people to anticipate with joy that blissful period: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; (even as a bride expecting the speedy arrival of the bridegroom:) for there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean: (after their restoration, no Chaldean, or other foe, shall ever overwhelm them more.) Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.”]
To this also every desponding saint is called—
[There is no condition that can justify a desponding inactivity. The word of God is full of exceeding great and precious promises, which shall all be fulfilled in their season, to those who rely upon them. These we should contemplate: we should treasure them up in our minds: we should plead them before God in prayer: we should expect assuredly the fulfilment of them: however long or dark our night may be, we should look with confidence for the returning light of day: we should know, that “the goings forth of Jehovah” for the salvation of his people “are prepared as the morning;” and that he will appear at the appointed hour. However frequently vanquished by our spiritual foes, we should return to the charge, “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” We should never, for a moment, suffer the thought of our weakness to discourage us: we should rather make it a reason for exertion, in the full confidence, that “when we are weak, then are we strong;” and that “God will perfect his strength in our weakness.” This is the very instruction which an inspired Apostle gives us: “Work out,” says he, “your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure [Note: Philippians 2:12.].” The man with the withered hand is a fit example for us to follow. The command given him by our Lord was, “Stretch forth thine hand.” He did not indolently reply, ‘I cannot; but immediately made an effort to comply; and, in the attempt, he was strengthened to perform the deed [Note: Matthew 12:13.]. So would it be with us, if, in Obedience to God’s word, and in dependence on his grace, we addressed ourselves to the duties which we have to perform: “our light would soon rise in obscurity, and our darkness be as the noon-day.” The very exhibition of a lamp from a broken pitcher, if done in faith, should be sufficient to overcome the strongest foe [Note: Judges 7:16.]

From God’s reply to his complaining people we learn,

II.

That we should expect every thing from God, as if there were no need of personal exertions—

Such was the instruction given to the Jews—
[Captives are wont to be redeemed with money. But what prospect had the Jews of being liberated from captivity on such terms as these? They were despoiled of every thing; and had no friend to interpose in their behalf, and to pay a ransom for them. But, says God, “Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ve shall be redeemed without money.” Look back, and see, What did ye ever gain by all the transgressions by which ye provoked me to cast you off? Know then, that as ye never received any thing in return for your souls, so shall ye never be called upon to give any thing for the liberation of them. This was specifically promised; and the very person who should liberate them was proclaimed by name three hundred years before any such person existed in the world [Note: Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:13.]: and it was fulfilled at the time predicted; yea, so literally fulfilled, that not only were they permitted to return to their native land, but means were afforded them for rebuilding their city and temple; and the vessels which had been taken away by the Chaldean monarch, were restored to them, for the service of the sanctuary, and the worship of their God [Note: 2 Chronicles 36:22 and Ezra 1:2.].

In what precise manner their future restoration shall be accomplished, we do not exactly know: but sure we are, that it shall “not be by price or reward” given to the various potentates who rule over them: no; it shall be in a way not less wonderful than their deliverance from Egypt or from Babylon; a way that shall leave no doubt, upon the minds of any, that the hand of the Lord hath done it [Note: ver. 6.]. To this the whole nation may look forward with confidence; for “the mountains shall depart,” saith God, “and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee; neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.”]

Such, too, is the lesson that must be learned by us—
[“We have sold ourselves for nought.” I will appeal to every one amongst you; What have you ever gained by sin? What has the world ever done for you? What have you ever found in it, but “vanity and vexation of spirit?” Truly it may be said of you also, that you have never received any thing in return for your souls. To you also may it be said, that neither are ye called to give any thing for their redemption. The price has been already paid, even “the precious blood of God’s only dear Son, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot [Note: 1 Peter 1:18.]:” and all that remains for you is, to receive freely what your God so freely bestows [Note: Romans 3:24.]. The proclamation has gone forth: it is already issued from the court of heaven: the jubilee-trumpet has announced it long: “Shake yourselves from the dust: loose yourselves from the bands of your necks, ye captive daughters of Zion:” return ye, every one, from your sore bondage, and take possession of your forfeited inheritance: receive all the blessings of salvation “freely, without money, and without price [Note: Isaiah 55:1.].” Sit not, any of you, in a desponding frame, crying, “Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord!” but hear your God saying to you, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and unclean.” Complete deliverance is at hand, for all that truly desire it; for all that are willing to receive it. Do not imagine that it is any mark of humility to doubt: it is no virtue in you; but rather a grievous insult to your God. So God himself represents it: “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint [Note: Isaiah 40:27.].” As for seeking to justify your despondency. by any peculiarities in your state, it is all folly; it is all impiety; it is all a forgetfulness of God. “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? Yes: thus saith the Lord; even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee; and I will save thy children [Note: Isaiah 49:24.].” Fear not, then, thou desponding soul; but commit thy cause to God: and know assuredly, that the more simple thine affiance is in him, and the more confident thine expectation of his effectual help, the more speedy and manifest shall be his interpositions in thy behalf. Only believe in him; and he will glorify himself in thy complete and everlasting deliverance.]