Homilist Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense… 1. These words brings before us very delightful thoughts concerning God's nature and purposes. We gather from them His compassion He graciously sends the message unsolicited. His mercy. He does not desire His people to suffer needless trouble or anxiety. His power and care, for He is able to save them from danger and so guarantee the needlessness of their fear. 2. But they remind us of a very painful condition of man, which is his tendency to fear amid the discouragements of life. These consist in many things. I. FEARS WITH RELATION TO EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES. 1. Men dread that which is greater or more powerful than themselves. Hence they fear the material forces of nature, the mighty convulsions of creation, the strength of their fellow-man, and the power of God. 2. Men dread that which to them is mysterious and unknown. Thus there is an innate fear of darkness, of death, of the future. 3. Men dread that which is more evil than themselves. Evil men, evil combinations of men, evil spirits, and the machinations of Satan. 4. Men dread those circumstances which can adversely affect their interests. That which can bring them material loss, that which checks their external advancement, that which spoils their amusement or gratification. II. FEARS WITH REGARD TO INTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES. 1. There is our relationship to God. As an all seeing observer, as a just Judge, as an avenging King. We stand before Him as an Almighty Jehovah, who knows our thoughts, sins, and desires. 2. There is our future state of existence. Guilt makes cowards of us all. 3. There are our domestic relationships. The broken cord of affection, the ruptured friendship, and the lost treasures. 4. There is the mental, moral, and bodily anguish and suffering. Great and terrible do they appear as they enshroud our existence and threaten our future.Now, as these things brood over the soul, and darken the horizon of life, there is heard speaking to the soul of the faithful, earnest believer in Christ the trumpet word of our text — "Fear not." There are many reasons why we should not fear. 1. There is the fact of our Father's love. He does not willingly afflict the children of men. 2. There is the fact of our Father's power. He is able to support and to overrule all adverse circumstances. 3. There is the fact of our Father's presence. He is always near. The true antidote to fear is faith. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. |
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