Homilist Isaiah 8:5-8 The LORD spoke also to me again, saying,… The history of the Jewish nation mirrors the life of the individual man. I. THAT THE MERCIES OF OUR PRESENT LIFE FLOW "SOFTLY" BY AS A GENTLE STREAM. 1. They flow vivifyingly. The waters of Shiloah were the life of Jerusalem. The stream of mercy here is our life. 2. They flow constantly. The streams of Shiloah are flowing now. The stream of mercy is constantly rolling by us from infancy to our mortal gasp. 3. They flow softly. It rolls by us almost unheard. II. THAT THE ABUSE OF THIS STREAM OF MIRACLES IS AN IMMENSE CRIME. The text teaches that the crime of the Jew in relation to his privileges was two fold: 1. Rejection. "They refused the waters of Shiloah," which means, they refused to avail themselves of those means of national improvement and defence which the munificent reign of Jehovah under which they lived afforded. They refused to trust Him in their dangers. 2. Presumption. These people "rejoiced in Rezin and Remaliah's son." Their minds ever occupied by the failures and successes of wicked men, their hope of safety rested on the confidence they had in mere worldly alliances; they trusted in an arm of flesh. We abuse God's mercy when we allow it not to inspire us with unshaken confidence in His protecting love and power. III. THAT THIS CRIME WILL BRING ON THE TUMULTUOUS RIVER OF RETRIBUTION. "Behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many," etc. 1. The abuse of mercy leads to retributive misery. 2. The streams of retributive misery stand in awful contrast with them of mercy. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD spake also unto me again, saying, |
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