_The righteous perisheth_
THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHING
In view of this prevailing demoralization and worldliness (Isaiah
56:9), the righteous one succumbs to the grinding weight of external
and internal sufferings: he “perishes,” dies before his time
(Ecclesiastes 7:15), from the midst of his contempor... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall enter into peace_
THE BELIEVER IN LIFE, DEATH, AND ETERNITY
Taking them together, the words of the text will lead us to
contemplate the child of God--
I. IN THE STRENGTH AND VIGOUR OF LIFE.
II. IN THE SUFFERING AND THE ARTICLE OF DEATH.
III. IN THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISSOLUTION, AS THEY... [ Continue Reading ]
_Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion_
SMOOTH STONES
The term “portion” suggests that the “smooth stones” were
fetishes.
(_A. B. Davidson, D. D._)
FALSE SODS THE IDOLATER’S PORTION
In stony valleys they set up their gods, which they called their
portion, and took for their lot,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way_
THE WEARINESS OF SIN
The text is a striking representation of the sinner’s conduct in
fruitless efforts to obtain happiness anywhere but from heaven.
He wanders from object to object, he becomes weary in his pursuit, yet
he will not abandon it.
I. H... [ Continue Reading ]
_And shall say, Cast ye up_
GOD RIGHTEOUS, YET GRACIOUS
The second half of Isaiah 57:13 forms a transition to the next
section, which is a promise of salvation to the true Israel.
In striking contrast to the menacing tone of Isaiah 57:3 f is the
impressive and elevated language in which the proph... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity._
A ROYAL MANIFESTO
A royal manifesto win His character as Sovereign, God brings before
us, and before His loyal subjects in every age, what we may regard as
His two titles and His two palaces.
I. HIS TWO TITLES.
1. “The High and Lof... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I will not contend for ever_
GOD’S CONTENDINGS WITH MAN
I. LET US ADVERT TO THE CONTROVERSY ITSELF--WHAT IT IS, WHY IT IS, AND
HOW IT IS CARRIED ON. What this quarrel is we know. It is a part of
that ancient strife for mastery, which has been going on ever since
the fall, between truth and err... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth_
THE PUNISHMENT OF BACKSLIDERS; BUT THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN PENITENT
These words remind us of the language of the apostle to the Romans:
“Where sin abounded grace did much more abound.
”
I. THE ACCUSATORY PART.
1. The evil complained of--“The i... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen his ways, and will heal him_
OBSERVING AND HEALING
This could only be said of God--He alone can see the ways of man.
We have here--
I. A DIVINE ATTRIBUTE. Intimate knowledge of the ways of men. “I
have seen.” God has no need to be told. Tale-bearers exaggerate and
lie. God does not... [ Continue Reading ]
_I create the fruit of the lips_
PEACE, PEACE
I. THE GRAND SUBJECT OF HE GOSPEL PROCLAMATION. “Peace, peace! saith
the Lord.” It implies a state of previous enmity and quarrel: a
state of alarm and disquietude: and a remedy for both.
1. And does not the message of the Gospel find us in a state of... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the wicked are like the troubled sea_
THE RESTLESSNESS OF SIN
Who are the wicked?
Not only all who think and feel and do the wrong, but all who have not
the right spirit within them--supreme sympathy with the supremely
good. There are degrees inwickedness as well as in goodness. There are
ce... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked_
THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS MAINTAINED
The fifty-seventh chapter ends with a declaration which shows that
amid all the goodness and graciousness of the Divine way the standard
of righteousness is never lowered: never is the dignity of law
impaired... [ Continue Reading ]