Isaiah 26:13-14 O LORD our God, other lords beside you have had dominion over us: but by you only will we make mention of your name.… About five hundred years before the birth of Christ an event occulted which stands almost alone in the world's history. After a long period of exile a whole nation, at least so much of it as was disposed, was freely permitted to return to its own land. The despotic king under whose sceptre they were then living not only issued an edict to that effect, but gave up the sacred vessels of the Holy House which had been brought away as trophies by previous monarchs, empowered the leader of the host to draw on the royal treasury for whatever might be necessary to refurnish the Holy House, and supplied him liberally with money, corn, wine, and oil for the homeward journey. For three days that mighty host of returning exiles rested in their tents on the banks of the Ahava. A solemn and sacred fast succeeded. Then came the marshalling of the enormous caravan. At last, on the dawning of the fifteenth morning from their first setting out, they began in real earnest their homeward march. Four long and wearisome months did that great caravan of exiles creep on towards their beloved land. At the beginning of the fifth month, with their ranks greatly swelled by others who had joined them during their progress, they stood in sight of Jerusalem. The song now broke forth, "We have a strong city: salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks"; to which a chorus of many thousand voices responded, "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth truth may enter in." Then followed the declaration of the first voices, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." So the mighty song of praise rolled on, until, with all voices blending as the voice of many waters, the words were heard, "O Jehovah our God! other lords beside Thee have ruled over us; but henceforth Thee, Thy name only, will we celebrate. They are dead, they shall not live; they are shades, they shall not rise; because Thou hast visited and destroyed them, and hast made all their memory to perish." In effect these words describe the whole history of that nation in its exile, and its purpose now it had come back to Judah. (J. J. Goadby.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. |
    |