Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn… I. THE ARMOURY OF SATAN. The enemy of souls is likened by our Lord to "a strong man armed;" He commands principalities and powers; skilled in hostilities, He has different modes of attack; He employs a great variety of weapons. 1. Persecution. And yet, when we estimate the results of persecution, we have to confess it has not prospered. It has been mightily restrained, and its remains have been turned to the praise of God. It has purified the Church, and given new impetus to the truth. Sometimes it has united the despised forces of Zion, so that their strength has been greatly increased. 2. Temptation. With this weapon the archer sorely wounded our first parents, and he has ever since too successfully hurled it against their progeny. But it does not prosper; it strips us of self-confidence, eradicates pride, drives us for safety to the Hiding Place, and presses upon us the constant necessity for that shield of faith which "quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked." You cannot afford to despise temptations; but you need not despair under them while you call in the aid engaged to you. 3. False teaching. Clothed as an angel of light, the tempter first instilled error into the mind of Eve, before he could produce disobedience. It is no light affliction to have the mind's view of Divine truth perverted. Various, however, as are the shades of false teaching, they do not prosper — they flourish for a time like grass upon the housetops, but they fill no man's bosom with harvest sheaves. The "Word of God outlives them all. Each of those weapons was directed with fullest force against the Son of God. II. THE WORLDLY MAN'S MALICE. "Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn." The slightest whisper of suspicion is greedily sought after, if it cast but a shadow on the character of any saint, and it, is repeated till it grows to calumnious dimensions, and eateth as doth a canker. The worst manifestation of this malignant plague is that which makes its appearance within the Church: when those who should be the guardians become the assailants of a brother's character, and prejudice and suspicion displace confidence and charity. In the ease of the true Christian, integrity of life will disappoint all the aspersions of the wicked. III. THE GODLY MAN'S VINDICATION. "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." What an inheritance it is! It comprises all the blessings contained in God's Word; and the fulfilment of all His gracious, promises. (W. G. Lewis.) Parallel Verses KJV: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. |
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