Isaiah 25:1 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things… That Divine perfection which the prophet celebrates is a fountain of consolation to everyone that "thirsts after righteousness." I. ENUMERATE SEVERAL PAST INSTANCES OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. 1. Connected with the history of the deluge. 2. His conduct towards the people of Israel. 3. His promise to the father of the faithful, that "in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed," — a promise afterwards repeatedly confirmed by prophets. 4. In the fulness of time, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, etc. (Galatians 4:4, 5). Having thus produced an instance of the faithfulness of God from each of the several kingdoms of nature, providence, and grace, I proceed to — II. DEDUCE SUCH INFERENCES AS THE SUBJECT APPEARS TO SUGGEST. 1. We should cherish gratitude. 2. It is the privilege of devout Christians to maintain unshaken confidence in God — with reference both to the Church of Christ and the circumstances of individual believers. (1) Of the perpetuity and future prosperity of the Church we are not permitted to doubt. (2) Since the Lord is faithful, let the Christian who is in a state of poverty, re. member that his Saviour hath said, "Take no thought saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed...Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things," etc. (3) Since God is faithful, let those who feel the strength of indwelling sin in their hearts, remember that it is promised, "sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."(4) To fearful Christians the subject is also calculated to administer great relief. It should inspire a cheerful and affectionate confidence. (5) In short, this illustrious attribute presents an asylum, whatever storms you are called upon in the path of duty to endure. 3. The subject should awaken salutary fear. For the faithfulness of God to His word and purpose is an attribute no less to be dreaded by the impenitent than valued by believers. (T. Sims, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. |
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