_He, every one that thirsteth_
THE CRIES OF THE WATER-CARRIERS
Public messages [Isaiah] would, as a matter of course, deliver
publicly in the frequented streets and bazaars, and in khans, and in
the temple area, frequently using the common cries of the forerunners
of the nobles, the morning call o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore do ye spend money_
WEIGHING MONEY
In the first clause there is reference to the primitive custom of
weighing instead of counting money, from which have arisen several of
the most familiar denominations, such as the Hebrew “shekel,” the
Greek “talent,” the French “livre,” and the English... [ Continue Reading ]
_Incline your ear_
GOD’S VOICE
To incline your ear and hearken diligently unto God is to follow the
Divine teachings as to the aims and methods of life.
And God has a thousand voices for those who will hearken.
1. The voice of experience is His, and experience is loud and emphatic
in assuring us... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold I have given Him for a Witness to the people_
WITNESS; LEADER; COMMANDER
1.
Most modern authorities hold that the person spoken of in Isaiah 55:4.
is the historical David, and that Isaiah 55:4 institute a parallel
between the position he occupied in the heathen world of his time and
that w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, Thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not_
ISAIAH’S ANTICIPATION.
We cannot tell what picture was in Isaiah’s mind and hovering before
his eyes. We do not know just what degree of visible sovereignty he
hoped to see Jerusalem attain--but the essential idea is clear enough.
He believes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seek ye the Lord while He may be found_
THE LORD TO BE SOUGHT
Notice how it reads: “Seek the Lord.
” It don’t say seek happiness; it don’t say seek peace; it
don’t say seek joy. A good many people seek after joy, after peace,
after happiness. I cannot find any place in the Bible where we are
tol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the wicked forsake his way_
THE WAY OF RETURN TO GOD AND ITS ENCOURAGEMENTS
1_._
Here there are apparently two things expressed--a negative and a
positive, two lines of conduct expressed--a forsaking one way of
living and the adoption of another, but in reality the two things are
but one. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For My thoughts are not your thoughts_
GOD’S THOUGHTS
The thought of God! Who can fathom it?
Astronomers tell us of stars in the sky at such infinite distances
that their light, shooting through space at the inconceivable rate of
185,000 miles a second, would require 3,500 years to reach this ea... [ Continue Reading ]
_For as the heavens are higher than the earth,--_
THE NEAR AND HEAVENLY HORIZONS
I. THE HEAVENS ARE SO FAR ABOVE THE EARTH, AND THEREFORE SO PURE. By
nature, the trend of our thinkings and activities is downward,
earthly, sensual, devilish. Hence the awful disparity between the ways
and thoughts o... [ Continue Reading ]
_For as the rain cometh down_
RAIN SNOW, SYMBOLIC OF THE WORD OF GOD
The fitness of the symbolism is apparent even to the most casual
observer.
1. Snow and rain are characterized by gentleness which merges into
force. One drop of rain falls upon my hand, and I crush it, and it is
not; but when th... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shall My Word be_
FINALITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSE
I. TRUTH IN ITS MISSION. “It shall accomplish that which I
please,” etc.
1. We may take our first illustration of this mission from the spirit
and contents of the truth itself. It; is “the Word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.” Nature is... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye shall go out with joy_
THE REVERSALS OF PARDONING MERCY
The wealth of God’s abundant pardon is here set forth in metaphors
which the least imaginative can understand.
Not only were the exiles forgiven, their warfare accomplished, their
iniquity pardoned; but they would be restored to the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree_
THE BRIAR
The word for briar (sirpad) is unknown. LXX. renders Κόνυζα
(fleabane). All that can be said is that some desert plant is meant.
(_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._)
THE LORD’S NAME AND MEMORIAL
These words are a poetical description of great m... [ Continue Reading ]