_The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz_ ISAIAH THE SON OF AMOZ This is not Amos the inspired herdsman. It is his glory simply that he was the father of Isaiah. Like many another he lives in the reflected glory of his offspring. The next best thing to being a great man is to be the father of one. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken_ GOD FINDS VINDICATION IN NATURE I well remember two funerals going out of my house within a few brief months during my residence in London. There were cards sent by post and left at the door, in all kindliness; but one dark night w... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ox knoweth his owner. .. but Israel doth not know_ ISAIAH’S MESSAGE What does Isaiah teach about God? A prophet of his times had much to do in clearing the minds of the people from the confusion, or something worse, into which, as the history shows, the Jews were only too prone to fall. They... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ah, sinful nation_ GOD’S INDIGNATION AGAINST SIN The word “ah” is not an interjection, indicating a mere sighing of pity or regret; the word should not be spelt as it is here, the letters should be reversed, it should be “ha,” and pronounced as expressive of indignation. God does not merely sigh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why should ye be stricken any more?_ THE POWER OF EVIL HABITS There are no passages in Holy Writ more affecting than those in which God seems to represent Himself as actually at a loss, not knowing what further steps to take in order to bring men to repentance and faith (Isaiah 5:4; Hosea 6:4). O... [ Continue Reading ]
_A cottage in a vineyard_ A LODGE IN A GARDEN The true point of the comparison will not appear until the crop is over, and the lodge forsaken by the keeper. Then the poles fall down or lean every way, and those green boughs with which it is shaded will have been scattered by the wind leaving only... [ Continue Reading ]
_Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very mall remnant._ THE INFLUENCE OF GOOD MEN 1. God’s greatness in the universe. The “Lord of hosts,” or Jehovah of hosts. Who are His “hosts”? Angels. Who shall count the number of these troops? He is their Creator and Sustainer. 2. God’s authority o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom_ THE TRUE PROPHET DEALS WITH THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT It is a very miserable thing for a preacher when he lives wholly either in the past or in the future, and so allows either the one or the other to divert him from the duty he owes to God in the pre... [ Continue Reading ]
_To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me?_ saith the Lord HYPOCRISY AND PARTIALITY IN RELIGION These words are not to be understood absolutely but comparatively, and with respect to the manners of these men. For-- I. GOD COULD NOT ABSOLUTELY REJECT SACRIFICES, because they we... [ Continue Reading ]
_The calling of assemblies, I cannot away with_ SERVICE NOT SERVICES 1_._ Many think religion flourishes if services are well attended. But, unless we are “willing and obedient” our “fat things” will not make us fat. They will rather harm us. Paul says, “Ye serve the Lord Christ.” Your vocation i... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am weary to bear them_ GOD OPPRESSED Wonderful expression this! It suggests the idea that the Almighty is oppressed with the weight of human sins. I. THE EXQUISITE MORAL SENSIBILITY OF GOD. God is not mere force or intellect, He is heart, He is infinite sensibility. All events and actions vibr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cease to do evil; learn to do well_ AN INOFFENSIVE LIFE The order in which these words are placed, was evidently designed to teach us, that the foundation of acting right is avoiding everything wrong. Several other parts of Scripture lay down the same rule in almost the same terms (Psalms 34:14;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wash you, make you clean_ REPENTANCE NECESSARY AND POSSIBLE Two things are necessarily to be acknowledged to encourage endeavours after piety. 1. To be assured that God will not be wanting to afford the assistance of His grace and Spirit. 2. That by this assistance we are enabled to do our duty... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord_ FURTHER REASONING USELESS “You have nothing more to say; all that you have already said has no value; reasoning has done its work; if reasoning is to rule, the case must go against you--there can be no other issue; but if yielding to the force... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land_ THE OBLIGATION OF ALL WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE REVEALED WILL OF GOD TO CONFORM THERETO The text, involving the great truth which is evidently implied therein, is the sanction with which the whole of the chapter is enforced. I. IT IS... [ Continue Reading ]
_How is the faithful city become an harlot_ THE FAITHFUL CITY A HARLOT A dirge in dirge metre over Jerusalem. “Harlot” is unfaithful wife. In Isaiah “unfaithfulness” is declension from social and civil righteousness. (_A. B. Davidson, LL. D._) SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY It is not merely gross outward i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water._ SILVER The silver represents the princes and lords, viewed with reference to the nobility of mind associated with their nobility of birth and rank; for silver--sterling silver--is a symbol of all that is noble and pure, and it is the purity... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy princes are rebellious. .. everyone loveth gifts_ REBELLIOUS PRINCES Instead of suppressing rebellion, they were rebels themselves. (_J. A. Alexander._) THE REBELLIOUS PRINCES I. THE PROFIT OF THEIR PLACES IS ALL THEIR AIM. They love gifts, and follow after rewards; they set their hearts u... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries_ GOD’S ENEMIES AND HIS TREATMENT OF THEM I. WICKED PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WICKED RULERS THAT ARE CRUEL AND OPPRESSIVE, ARE GOD’S ENEMIES. II. THEY ARE A SUDDEN TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN. This is implied in His easing Himself of them. III. GOD WILL FIND OUT TIME AND... [ Continue Reading ]
_And l will turn My hand upon thee_ TRUE REFORMATION THE WORK OF GOD I. THE REFORMATION OF A PEOPLE IS GOD’S OWN WORK. II. HE DOTH IT BY BLESSING THEM WITH GOOD MAGISTRATES AND GOOD MINISTERS OF STATE (Isaiah 1:26). III. HE DOTH IT BY RESTORING JUDGMENT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AMONG THEM (Isaiah 1:27)... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will restore thy Judges as at the first_ A GRAND IDEAL Two things are noteworthy in this passage. 1. The ideal is political. The salvation of Israel is secured when all public offices are filled with good men. “Judges” and “counsellors.” 2. The ideal will be realised by a restoration of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zion shall be redeemed with judgment_ EVIL IN THE CHURCH I. WHAT ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND BY ZION. The word signifies a heap of stones--a monument--a sepulchre. This figuratively describes the literal Zion; and spiritually sets forth the visible and mystical Church. The true members of the Church of C... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that forsake the Lord shall be consumed_ FORSAKING THE LORD I. THE GUILT OF FORSAKING THE SERVICE OF THE LORD. 1. Man is bound by the law of his nature to obey that Almighty Being by whom he was made an intelligent and immortal creature. 2. Many in forsaking the Lord violate their own expr... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired._ GOD’S JUDGMENT OF DESTRUCTION “For they shall be ashamed of the terebinths in which ye delighted, and ye must blush because of the gardens in which ye had pleasure” (Isaiah 1:29). The terebinths and gardens are not referred to as objects o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the strong shall be as tow_ THE TINDER, AND THE SPARK “The strong shall become tow, and his work a spark, and both shall burn together”--a vivid picture of the doom of transgressors, since the mighty man is made combustible, and his own act is that which kindles the flame. (_T. W. Chambers,... [ Continue Reading ]