_Hear ye this, O house of Jacob_ GOD’S APPEAL TO ISRAEL The lessons of God’s method of prophetic revelation which Israel is to lay to heart. (_A. B. Davidson, D. D._) “THE WATERS OF JUDAH” The people, by natural figure, are described as streams from the fountain of Judah (Psalms 68:26). (_J. A.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have declared the former things from the beginning_ THE PROBABILITY AND USE OF INSPIRED PREDICTIONS I. It is quite plain that ANY BEING THAT IS DISTINGUISHED ABOVE OTHERS MUST BE EXALTED EITHER BY KNOWLEDGE OR BY POWER, OR BY BOTH. If, then, God is to make Himself known to His creatures, it must... [ Continue Reading ]
_See all this_ THINGS SEEN AS A WHOLE The words “See all this,” have been rendered by one of the latest commentators, “See it as a whole. ” This rendering reproduces the prophetic argument. Isaiah had recalled a period of history which, taken as a whole, was a fulfilled word of Jehovah. That comp... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea, thou heardest not_ GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE OF MAN’S SIN As in a looking-glass, let us see ourselves. 1. Let the unconverted man see his own picture. God has spoken quite as pointedly to you as ever He did to the seed of Israel. He has called you by providences of different kinds. As for the Bibl... [ Continue Reading ]
_For My name’s sake will I defer Mine anger_ GOD’S ANGER DEFERRED “For My name’s sake I draw out My wrath. ” Jehovah lengthens out His wrath, _i.e _delays its outbreak, thus shows Himself long-suffering; He checks, restrains, damps it for the good of Israel, that He may not by unchaining His wrat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver_ REFINED, BUT NOT WITH SILVER More severely, yet more exactly than silver (_Stier_) Less strictly than silver (_Cheyne_) It was a melting of a higher sort, the suffering which befell Israel doing for it the work of a furnace (_Hitzig, Delitzsch_)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken unto Me, O Jacob_ GOD’S UNCHANGEABLENESS THROUGHOUT ETERNITY “The eternity and immutability of God are in their own nature inseparable, and are so generally united in the Holy Scriptures that the passages which declare the one declare or imply the other also. ” I. GOD IS ETERNAL. 1. Re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth_ THE CREATOR I. THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH. II. THE OVER-ARCHING HEAVENS. III. THE DIVINE PURPOSE IN THESE GREAT WORKS. 1. The heavens have been God’s grand lesson-books for the instruction and elevation of His children (Psalms 19:1.). 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now the Lord God and His Spirit hath sent me_ THE HOLY SPIRIT “And now the Lord God hath sent Me with His Spirit. ” The Spirit does not send, hut is sent. (_Prof. A. B. Davidson, D. D._) Note the tendency in chaps. 40-66, to treat the Divine Spirit as a separate personality (Isaiah 40:13; I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer_ THE “I AM’S” OF GOD AND OF MAN How beautiful and impressive are the “I am’s” of God; so different from the proud and empty boastings clearly discernible in the “I am’s” of man. We are never nearer to misleading others and deceiving ourselves, than when we utter s... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments_ HEARKENING TO GOD’S COMMANDMENTS 1_._ It is the duty of all people to “hearken,” however and whenever God may see fit to speak to them. 2. To hearken denotes a reverent and careful attention to God’s message. 3. To hearken implies also that we co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go ye forth of Babylon_ SUMMONED TO AN EXODUS There has never been an era in which God’s people have not been face to face with a great principle of evil, embodied in a city, confederation, or conspiracy of darkness. Always the same spirit under differing forms. This great system is as strong to... [ Continue Reading ]