Homilist Isaiah 26:13-14 O LORD our God, other lords beside you have had dominion over us: but by you only will we make mention of your name. Here we have the soul under the sway — I. OF MANY DEITIES. "Other lords beside Thee." The Jews in Babylon had knelt at the shrine of many false deities, and rendered allegiance to a succession of kings. Many "lords" had ruled them. This is true of all souls in an unregenerate state. Who is the real Lord or God of the soul? Unhesitatingly and emphatically, the chief love. Whatever man loves most, is his spiritual monarch, the deity of his life. The chief love of some is money. The chief love of others is pleasure — sensual indulgence. "Their god is their belly." The chief love of others is power. Ambition is their god. II. OF ONE GOD. "By Thee only will we make mention of Thy name," or, as some render it, "Henceforth Thee, Thy name, will we celebrate. They had left heathen altars, and come back to the altar of Jehovah. What a blessed change from many masters to one, and therefore free from spiritual distraction. From worthless masters to the supremely good, and therefore realising all that the soul craves for or requires. 1. The rule of this one God is the rule of right. 2. The rule of peace. From the moral constitution of man no peace of soul can be experienced under the sway of any other. Under no other will the various sympathies flow into one channel, the faculties blend in harmonious action, the heart fix itself in a centre. 3. The rule of growth. Can vegetation grow and flourish under the reign of stars, however numerous or brilliant? No; it must have the empire of the sun. And can the soul advance under the sway of any infinite powers, however illustrious? No; it must have the rule of God, the "Sun of Righteousness." Here we have the soul — III. PASSING FROM THE SWAY OF THE MANY TO THE ONE. It is that great moral experience which is represented in the New Testament as a new birth, a resurrection, a conversion, a repentance, etc. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. |
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