prophets and kings-第54章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
His burden of soul in behalf of erring Judah was not to be borne in vain。 His mission was not to be wholly fruitless。
309
Yet the evils that had been multiplying for many generations could not be removed in his day。 Throughout his lifetime he must be a patient； courageous teachera prophet of hope as well as of doom。 The divine purpose finally accomplished； the full fruitage of his efforts； and of the labors of all God's faithful messengers； would appear。 A remnant should be saved。 That this might be brought about； the messages of warning and entreaty were to be delivered to the rebellious nation； the Lord declared：
〃Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant； And the houses without man； And the land be utterly desolate； And the Lord have removed men far away； And there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land。〃 Verses 11； 12。
The heavy judgments that were to befall the impenitent； war； exile； oppression； the loss of power and prestige among the nations；all these were to come in order that those who would recognize in them the hand of an offended God might be led to repent。 The ten tribes of the northern kingdom were soon to be scattered among the nations and their cities left desolate； the destroying armies of hostile nations were to sweep over their land again and again； even Jerusalem was finally to fall； and Judah was to be carried away captive； yet the Promised Land was not to remain wholly forsaken forever。 The assurance of the heavenly visitant to Isaiah was：
〃In it shall be a tenth； And it shall return； and shall be eaten：
310
As a teil tree； and as an oak； Whose substance is in them； when they cast their leaves： So the holy seed shall be the substance thereof。〃 Verse 13。
This assurance of the final fulfillment of God's purpose brought courage to the heart of Isaiah。 What though earthly powers array themselves against Judah？ What though the Lord's messenger meet with opposition and resistance？ Isaiah had seen the King； the Lord of hosts； he had heard the song of the seraphim； 〃The whole earth is full of His glory；〃 he had the promise that the messages of Jehovah to backsliding Judah would be accompanied by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit； and the prophet was nerved for the work before him。 Verse 3。 Throughout his long and arduous mission he carried with him the memory of this vision。 For sixty years or more he stood before the children of Judah as a prophet of hope； waxing bolder and still bolder in his predictions of the future triumph of the church。
（311）
Chapter 26
〃Behold Your God！〃
In Isaiah's day the spiritual understanding of mankind was dark through misapprehension of God。 Long had Satan sought to lead men to look upon their Creator as the author of sin and suffering and death。 Those whom he had thus deceived； imagined that God was hard and exacting。 They regarded Him as watching to denounce and condemn； unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there was a legal excuse for not helping him。 The law of love by which heaven is ruled had been misrepresented by the archdeceiver as a restriction upon men's happiness； a burdensome yoke from which they should be glad to escape。 He declared that its precepts could not be obeyed and that the penalties of transgression were bestowed arbitrarily。
In losing sight of the true character of Jehovah； the Israelites were without excuse。 Often had God revealed Himself to them as one 〃full of compassion； and gracious； long…suffering； and plenteous in mercy and truth。〃 Psalm
312
86：15。 〃When Israel was a child；〃 He testified； 〃then I loved him； and called My son out of Egypt。〃 Hosea 11：1。
Tenderly had the Lord dealt with Israel in their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and in their journey to the Promised Land。 〃In all their affliction He was afflicted； and the angel of His presence saved them： in His love and in His pity He redeemed them； and He bare them； and carried them all the days of old。 Isaiah 63：9。
〃My presence shall go with thee；〃 was the promise given during the journey through the wilderness。 Exodus 33：14。 This assurance was accompanied by a marvelous revelation of Jehovah's character； which enabled Moses to proclaim to all Israel the goodness of God； and to instruct them fully concerning the attributes of their invisible King。 〃The Lord passed by before him； and proclaimed； The Lord； The Lord God； merciful and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth； keeping mercy for thousands； forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin； and that will by no means clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。
It was upon his knowledge of the long…sufferance of Jehovah and of His infinite love and mercy； that Moses based his wonderful plea for the life of Israel when； on the borders of the Promised Land； they refused to advance in obedience to the command of God。 At the height of their rebellion the Lord had declared； 〃I will smite them with the pestilence； and disinherit them；〃 and He had proposed to make of the descendants of Moses 〃a greater nation and mightier than they。〃 Numbers 14：12。 But the prophet pleaded the marvelous providences and promises of God in
313
behalf of the chosen nation。 And then； as the strongest of all pleas； he urged the love of God for fallen man。 See verses 17…19。
Graciously the Lord responded； 〃I have pardoned according to thy word。〃 And then He imparted to Moses； in the form of a prophecy； a knowledge of His purpose concerning the final triumph of Israel。 〃As truly as I live；〃 He declared； 〃all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord。〃 Verses 20； 21。 God's glory； His character； His merciful kindness and tender lovethat which Moses had pleaded in behalf of Israelwere to be revealed to all mankind。 And this promise of Jehovah was made doubly sure； it was confirmed by an oath。 As surely as God lives and reigns； His glory should be declared 〃among the heathen； His wonders among all people。〃 Psalm 96：3。
It was concerning the future fulfillment of this prophecy that Isaiah had heard the shining seraphim singing before the throne； 〃The whole earth is full of His glory。〃 Isaiah 6：3。 The prophet； confident of the certainty of these words； himself afterward boldly declared of those who were bowing down to the images of wood and stone； 〃They shall see the glory of the Lord； and the excellency of our God。〃 Isaiah 35：2。
Today this prophecy is meeting rapid fulfillment。 The missionary activities of the church of God on earth are bearing rich fruitage； and soon the gospel message will have been proclaimed to all nations。 〃To the praise of the glory of His grace；〃 men and women from every kindred； tongue； and people are being made 〃accepted in the Beloved；〃 〃that
314
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus。〃 Ephesians 1：6； 2：7。 〃Blessed be the Lord God； the God of Israel； who only doeth wondrous things。 And blessed be His glorious name forever： and let the whole earth be filled with His glory。〃 Psalm 72：18； 19。
In the vision that came to Isaiah in the temple court； he was given a clear view of the character of the God of Israel。 〃The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity； whose name is Holy；〃 had appeared before him in great majesty； yet the prophet was made to understand the compassionate nature of his Lord。 He who dwells 〃in the high and holy place〃 dwells 〃with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit； to revive the spirit of the humble； and to revive the heart of the contrite ones。〃 Isaiah 57：15。 The angel commissioned to touch Isaiah's lips had brought to him the message； 〃Thine iniquity is taken away； and thy sin purged。〃 Isaiah 6：7。
In beholding his God； the prophet； like
