Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden… (for children): — Here and elsewhere Holy Scripture pictures a gathering of the upright and holy as a garden, and Christly people, whether men or children, as the trees and plants and flowers in such a garden. In His garden — I. GOD WILL HAVE NO WEEDS. This reminds us — 1. What a number of evils must be destroyed. Idleness, falsehood, cowardice, disobedience, etc., are weeds that must be plucked up and destroyed. 2. The ways by which evils are to be destroyed. (1) Like weeds, they are to be plucked up and burnt. There must be no half measures in dealing with sin. We must get at the roots and then burn the whole. (2) Like weeds, they must be cleared by better life taking their place. In New Zealand, where the hoe of the settlers failed to destroy the rank vegetation that had rooted there for centuries, they have successfully adopted the plan of planting among it our common English clover. And as it grows it actually is rooting out the formidable flax-weed with its fibrous leaves and strong woody roots. So truth, courage, love, will root out lying, cowardice, selfishness. We get rid of evil from hearts and lives by "the expulsive power of a new affection." II. THERE IS A GREAT VARIETY OF FLOWERS. Rich rose, stately tulip, "sweet lily of the valley, etc. — a. thousand varieties all helping us to understand the famous preacher who said, Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into." So there is great variety in the virtues; no monotony in Christian character. There are virtues that, like lofty trees and brilliant flowers, make heroes and martyrs. And there are others like flowers with tiny petals and delicate tints. St. Francis of Sales said, "How carefully we should cherish the little virtues which spring up at the foot of the Cross." What are they? some one asked him. "Humility, meekness, kindness, simplicity, candour," he replied. III. HE HIMSELF HAS JOY. Over true souls He rejoices. The prophet says, God rejoices "over them with singing." God seems to sing over those of whom He says, as of, David, "a man after God s own heart;" as of Daniel, "O man greatly beloved;" as of the Lord Jesus Christ, "My well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." IV. ALL THE BEAUTY OF ALL THE FLOWERS IS TO BE TRACED TO HIS CARE. 1. He is the Owner. 2. He is the Sower. 3. He is the Gardener — Christ called God the Husbandman. 4. He is the Source of all life and beauty. For He is Sun, and Wind: is as dew — and showers also. (U. R. Thomas, B.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. |
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