_I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries._ HOME MISSIONS As when some beautiful picture which has been put aside and forgotten, hid, it may be, from the enemy in time of invasive war, is found and cleansed and restored, and the eye is delighted with the gradual revelation of colo... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them._ GOD-APPOINTED PASTORS God, in His wisdom, has most clearly indicated to every man his work. The doer carries within him the fitness for the work to be done. Each has most certainly been made for the other. A law of God brought them face to... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will raise unto David a righteous Branch._ CHRIST’S DIVINE TITLES: THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH; AND THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Some of the grandest productions of nature appear small or feeble in their origin; though nothing is little or feeble with God. The majestic oak, the pride of the forest, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord our Righteousness._ JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU After his conversion the apostle Paul must continually have been meditating on the state of Israel. Much as he loved the Gentiles, and clearly as he saw the disposition of God that now the Gentiles should be brought in, he never could forget Israel. Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them._ DIVINE PERSISTENCE Faith, even our own trembling faith, can hold on, perhaps, to the past; it retires upon the past in order to fortify its p... [ Continue Reading ]
_They strengthen also the hands of evil-doers._ STRENGTHENING THE HANDS OF THE WICKED 1. All sin is horrible in its nature, as being contrary to the character and will of God. 2. To strengthen the hands and hinder the repentance of sinners is to oppose the great plan of the Divine government. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken them, yet they prophesied._ A DIVINE CALL INDISPENSABLE TO THE SUCCESS OF A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL I. A Divine call is necessary to warrant any man in taking upon himself the ministerial office. First, he ought to be satisfied that, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?_ GOD NIGH AT HAND God is nigh at hand for judgment: the period of judgment, therefore, need not be postponed until a remote age; every man can now bring himself within sight of the great white throne, and can determine his destiny by his... [ Continue Reading ]
_The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully._ THE WORD AND THE DREAM The prophet here exhibits in contrast Divine teaching and the speculations of men. The former he calls the Word of the Lord. The latter he calls but dreams, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not My Word like as a fire?_ saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? GOD’S FIRE AND HAMMER I. The word of God has power in it. 1. It is like a fire. (1) You who are the people of God must often have felt greatly comforted, encouraged, and cheered, when you have b... [ Continue Reading ]
_What hath the Lord spoken?_ THE CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE I. Impartiality of its contents. Each writer is an “honest chronicler.” With an unflinching adherence to truth the whole story is told whoever may be unpleasantly involved therein. Such is the undaunted boldness, sterling integrity, and resolu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord._ SINS OF THE TONGUE Great part of the prophetical writings is occupied with denunciations of vengeance on the Jews, for their obstinacy, ingratitude, and perverseness. Hence the message which a prophet was commissioned to deliver was frequently and... [ Continue Reading ]