Isaiah 54:7-10 For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you.… Sometimes it is needful to be forsaken for the moment that we may be properly gathered. We have seen some loving one teaching a child to walk; the arms were taken away from the child, but not far. The child could never be taught to walk if the arms were round about it; it must be left for a little moment, but the protection must be always near. Alienation does not always mean penalty, it sometimes means education. Alienation may mean penalty, and then the arms are in very deed a long way off — indeed, they may be lifted up to smite the transgressor, the wanderer whose heart has gone astray, having loved lies and darkness rather than truth. (J. Griffin.) Parallel Verses KJV: For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.WEB: "For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. |