_O Lord, Thou art my God._
--This chapter looks as pleasantly upon the Church as the former
looked dreadfully upon the world. (_M. Henry._)
CALM AFTER STORM
We can only understand the highest, sweetest meaning of this chapter
in proportion as we enter into the spirit of the chapter which
precedes... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Thou hast been a strength to the poor_
“POOR” AND “NEEDY”
Among the names applied to God’s people there are three which were
destined to play an enormous part in the history of religion.
In the English version these appear as two: “poor and needy”; but
in the original they are three. In Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
_A feast of fat things_
THE GOSPEL FEAST
I. THE FEAST.
1. Spiritual blessings are here, as in other places, set forth under
the emblem of feast (Proverbs 9:2; Luke 14:16; Matthew 22:4). In
Christ, and in His Gospel, provision is made for our refreshment in
various respects.
(1) Truth is afforded... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast
over an people_
THE REMOVAL OF THE COVERING
I. THE GOSPEL DESTROYS THE COVERING WHICH HIDES THE TRUE NATURE OF
MAN. The covering of sin has ever concealed the nature, the nobility
of nature, the capabilities of nature, and the poss... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will swallow up death in victory_
DEATH SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY
I. THE TEXT SETS CHRIST BEFORE US IN THE ATTITUDE OF A CONQUEROR OVER
DEATH. “He shall swallow up death in victory,” it is said, and
again in Hosea, “O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be
thy destruction”; whilst still... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall be said in that day, To, this is out God_
WAITING FOR GOD IN TIMES OF DARKNESS
Isaiah is thinking, first of all, of Hezekiah’s victory over
Sennacherib.
It was no ordinary day which saw the discomfiture of the Assyrian host
before the walls of Jerusalem. We can scarcely understand th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moab shall be trodden down under Him_
GOD’S JUDGMENTS MANURE
After the process of primary ploughing has been completed our fields
are covered with some appropriate manure, that the earth may be
enriched, and larger crops gathered into our barns.
In the world at large which is God’s husbandry, Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He shall spread forth His hands in the midst of them_
EXPLANATION
In Isaiah 25:11 _a_ the figure is Moab, vainly struggling to save
himself in the water of the dung pit; in 11 _b_ “he” is, of
course, Jehovah, who frustrates the efforts made by Moab.
(_Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D._)
SWIMMING TO... [ Continue Reading ]