Isaiah 13:2-5 Lift you up a banner on the high mountain, exalt the voice to them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.… These stirring, eloquent words of the prophet describing the gathering of the hosts at the summons of Jehovah speak to us of - I. THE EXCEEDING BREADTH OF THE DIVINE CLAIM. All things, all nations, are Jehovah's; all these hosts that are to be gathered together are "my sanctified ones;" they are "my mighty ones." They did not know him, but, notwithstanding, God claims them as belonging to himself. He does claim all nations and peoples as his own; not only those who own their allegiance, but those also who are ignorant of his Name, and are worshippers at other shrines. II. THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THE DIVINE PURPOSE. God has his purposes (1) regarding the various nations of the earth. He had a certain work for his own people, Israel, to accomplish. But his "wise designs" covered a far wider area than any Holy Land; they embraced Syria, Assyria, Babylonia, Media, Persia, Egypt, Rome, Greece, etc. He arranged for them a part to play in his great redemptive scheme. But though this large aspect is a true one, and Isaiah, in prophetic vision, heard the "noise of a multitude... like as of a great people, a noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together," coming "from a far country," yet is it equally true, and it is a truth of at least equal value, that God has his purposes (2) respecting each humble individual life. The Christian minister has the right, without special vision, to declare to every man that God has a purpose to be fulfilled in his particular life, and that he is marshalling events and mustering "forces" in order that it may be carried out. It ought to raise our estimate of the sacredness and value of the life God has given us to live on the earth when we remember that "every man's life is a plan of God," and that by it he desires and designs to accomplish some especial end. III. THE GREATNESS OF DIVINE POWER. 1. We understand that God has unlimited power over unresisting, inert matter. 2. We have a larger view of his omnipotence when we realize that he controls all sentient life, making every living creature to praise and serve him. 3. Our thought rises far higher as we consider how he is directing the activities of his obedient children, his voluntary servants, in all worlds. 4. We reach the largest and loftiest conception of Divine wisdom and power, in marvelous cooperation, when we dwell on his overruling energy. Jehovah so turns the selfish and ungodly projects of kings and armies to his own Divine account, that he can speak of Medes and Persians as "his sanctified ones," or as those set apart by him for this especial work; that he can represent them as "rejoicing in his highness" when they were eagerly bent on their own purposes; that he can designate them "the weapons of his indignation." (1) We little think how, under Divine interposition, we are contributing to one cause when we are absorbed in another. (2) How immeasurably preferable is the service which is voluntary and conscious to that which is involuntary and unconscious! It is only the former which gives pleasure to the Supreme, and which will secure approval and reward for the human worker. - C. Parallel Verses KJV: Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. |
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