_Who is this that cometh from Edom?_ JEHOVAH’S TRIUMPH OVER HIS PEOPLE’S FOES A passage of unique and sublime dramatic power. The impotence of Israel’s enemies to retard or interfere with their deliverance has been insisted on before (Isaiah 41:15 f., 49:25, Isaiah 41:41, 51:23, 54:17); and it is h... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have trodden the winepress alone_ THE SINGLE-HANDED CONQUEST I. THE INTERESTING FIGURE EMPLOYED. “I have trodden the winepress.” This is Jesus speaking after HIS conquest over HIS foes, 1. This denotes the supreme contempt with which the mighty Conqueror regarded the enemies whom He had overco... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart_ “THE DAY OF VENGEANCE" “The day of vengeance," announced in Isaiah 61:2. “Is in Mine heart,” _i.e _in My purpose. (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._) THE REDEEMER’S VENGEANCE UPON THE GRAND ENEMY OF THE REDEEMED These words are a material repetition of the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I looked, and there was none to help_ MAN’S EXTREMITY THE DIVINE OPPORTUNITY The doctrine of the text is, that salvation, of every kind and every degree, is from the Lord. I. THIS POINTS OUT TO US THAT ALL MEN ARE IN A MISERABLE CONDITION. Why should man need salvation? He is lost. II. THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord_ GOD’S REDEMPTIVE TRIUMPH EVOKING THANKSGIVING, PRAYER AND CONFESSION The dialogue ended, the prophet’s tone changes. In the assurance that the redemption, guaranteed by Jehovah’s triumph, will be wrought out, he supplies faithful Israel with a hy... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children that will not lie_ SINCERITY TOWARD GOD The Christian exemplifying the power of truth in his renewed nature, and in all the engagements and relations of life, is a phenomenon--a miracle of grace. A Christian Church, consisting of believers adorning, in all things, the doctrine of God ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_In all their affliction He was afflicted_ GOD NOT IMPASSIVE Just as a man may feel pain, whilst in his own person he is raised above it, so God feels pain without His blessedness suffering hurt; and so He felt His people’s suffering; it did not remain unreflected in His own life; it moved Him inw... [ Continue Reading ]
_But they rebelled, and vexed His holy Spirit_ THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Except here and in Isaiah 63:11 and Psalms 2:11 the predicate “holy” is never in the Old Testament used of the Spirit of Jehovah. It is, perhaps, impossible to determine the exact connotation of the word in this co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he remembered the days of old_ ISRAEL REMBERING GOD’S DEALINGS WITH HIS PEOPLE It is possible that the words “Moses” and “His people” are marginal explanations, the former to “shepherd” and the latter to “he”: “Then he” (Israel) “remembered the days of old, saying, Where is He” (God).. . “wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_That led them_ GOD AND HIS PEOPLE I. GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE BY INSTRUMENTS WHICH HE CHOOSES AND QUALIFIES, II. HE DEFENDS THEM WITH THE ARM OF HIS POWER. III. HE REMOVES EVERY DIFFICULTY THAT INTERCEPTS THEIR COURSE. IV. HE GLORIFIES HIS OWN NAME IN THEIR DELIVERANCE. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) TO MAKE... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look down from heaven_ AN APPEAL TO GOD I. GOD’S PEOPLE IN TROUBLE. II. THEIR RESOURCE. III. THEIR PLEA. Past interpositions. Past mercies. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) I. OUR FATHER’S HOUSE. OUR FATHER--GOD 1. Heavenly. 2. Holy. 3. Glorious. II. OUR FATHER’S CHARACTER. Strong; tender; compassionat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Doubtless Thou art our Father_ THE JEWISH CHURCH A SPIRITUAL BODY The true sense of the verse, as it appears to me, is that the Church or chosen people, although once, for temporary reasons, co-extensive and coincident with a single race, is not essentially a national organization, but a spiritua... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, why hut Thou made us to err from Thy ways?_ GOD’S ANGER WITH HIS PEOPLE Very singular is the plea that the sinfulness of the people is due to the excessive and protracted anger of Jehovah, who “causes them to err from His ways” (cf. Isaiah 64:5; Isaiah 64:7).This feeling appears to proceed... [ Continue Reading ]
_We are Thine_ THE INTIMATE RELATION SUBSISTING BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE The intimate relation subsisting between God and His people suggests strong encouragement in their supplications at the throne of grace. The Lord God is more ready to give good things to them that ask Him than earthly pare... [ Continue Reading ]