Isaiah 51:14-16

¹⁴ The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

¹⁵ But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.

¹⁶ And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

You shall see greater abominations than these

(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")

"You shall see greater abominations than these!" Ezekiel 8:15

The prophet had no idea of the extent of Israel's wickedness; nor have we any adequate idea of the depravity of our hearts! We may have discovered much — but there is more concealed, than has yet been revealed. The work of the Holy Spirit is to . . .

  reveal these abominations to us,
  to humble us on account of them,
  to lead us to the blood of Jesus to be cleansed from them,
  and to set our hearts against them.

To see all the evils that are in our heart at once — would plunge us into black despair! Therefore it is only little by little, that the great depth of depravity is opened up to us. Herein we see God's mercy. Hereby we should be kept humble, watchful, prayerful, and daily exercising faith in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.

No one knows the depths of our depravity, or the variety of abominations that are in our hearts — but God! If any other person knew the abominations of our heart — he would hate us on account of it! But God knows all — and yet loves us! This is Godlike. This is being full of compassion, abundant in goodness, and plenteous in mercy. May we be humble before God, hoping in His mercy.

Each one had six wings

(J.R. Miller, "Devotional Hours with the Bible")

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphim, each one had six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying." Isaiah 6:1-2

There is something unusual and very impressive in the description of the seraphim in this vision. "Each one had six wings!" Wings are forflight — it is the mission of angelic beings to fly on God's errands. The six wings would seem to signify special readiness to do God's will. But they suggest here, more than their normal use — to fly.

The modern Christian would probably use them all for flying — and would be intensely active. We live in an age when everything inspires to activity. We are apt to run, perhaps too greatly, with our 'wings'.

But we should notice that two of the seraphim's wings were used in covering his face when before God — teaching reverence. Two of them also were used in covering his feet — humility. The other two were used in flying — activity. Reverence and humility — are quite as important qualities in God's service, as activity!

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The school of Heaven

(Octavius Winslow, "Evening Thoughts")

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we
 are filled with joy. Those who sow in tears, will
 reap with songs of joy."  Psalm 126:3, 5

We can praise God for trials!

We can thank God for sorrows!

These have been to us, though a painful — yet
a much needed and a most blessed school.

The 'wilderness' has been a heavenly place on earth . . .
  the lessons which we have been taught,
  the truths which we have learned,
  the preciousness of Jesus which we have experienced,
  the love of God which we have felt,
  the sweetness in prayer which we have tasted,
  and the fitness for labor which we have derived,
all, all testify, as with one voice — to the unutterably
precious blessings that flow through the channel of
sacred and sanctified sorrow.

Dear reader, as painful and sad as may be the path
you now are treading — fear not; the outcome will
be most glorious. The seed you are sowing in tears,
shall yield you a golden harvest of joy!

Adversity is the school of Heaven!

And in Heaven . . . .
  where no sorrow chafes,
  where no tears flow,
  where no blight withers,
  where no disappointment sickens, and
  where no sad change chills, wounds, and slays,
the sweetest praises will be awakened by the
recollection of the sanctified sorrows of earth!

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Sufficient to each day

(Theodore Cuyler)

"As your days — so shall your strength be."
    Deuteronomy 33:25

Sufficient to each day are the duties to be
done — and the trials to be endured. God never
built a Christian strong enough to carry today's
duties and tomorrow's anxieties piled on the
top of them!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
 for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
 day has enough trouble of its own."
   Matthew 6:34

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Faith does not only justify — but sanctify

(Thomas Watson, "The Christian's Charter")

"Having purified their hearts by faith." Acts 15:9

Faith is a heart-purifying grace. Faith is a virgin grace, of a pure and heavenly nature. Faith is in the soul, as medicine in the body, which works out the disease. Faith works out pride, self-love, and hypocrisy.

Faith consecrates the heart. That which was before the devil's thoroughfare — is now made into God's enclosure.

Faith is a heavenly plant, which will not grow in an impure soil. 

Faith does not only justify — but sanctify. He who before was under the power of some debasing corruption — as soon as faith is wrought, there is a sacred virtue coming from Christ, for the enervating and weakening of that sin. The woman who did but touch the hem of Christ's garment, felt virtue coming out of Him. The touch of faith has a healing power! Faith casts the devil out of the castle of the heart. This is "the faith of God's elect."

You who say you believe — has your faith removed the mountain of sin, and cast it into the sea? What! a believer — and yet aworldling! Shame! Either leave your sins — or leave your profession! Faith and the love of sin can no more exist together, than light and darkness!

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We may be happy in a prison

(Letters of John Newton)

Our peace and spiritual progress do not depend upon our outward circumstances — but the inward frame of our hearts and minds. If the heart is right — a humble and broken spirit, obedient to the Lord's precepts, submissive to the His will, devoted to please Him, and depending upon His faithful Word — we may be happy in a prison; and otherwise, we must be unhappy in a palace!

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:11-13~  ~  ~  ~  ~

God's hand in everything

 

(Mary Winslow)
 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered!" Matthew 10:29-30 

How unspeakably precious and sweet it is when we can believe that God our Father in Heaven is absolutely directing the most minute circumstances of our short sojourn in this wilderness world! That nothing, however trivial, takes place, whether it relates to the body or the soul — but is under His control, in fact, is ordered by Himself!

But how hard to believe this, particularly when things look dark, and we cannot discern the way we should take. It is, then, the province of faith to wait upon the Lord, keeping a steadfast eye upon Him only; looking for light, help, and deliverance, not from the creature, but from Jehovah Himself. Well may it be called precious faith!

How happy do those travel on, whose faith can discern God's hand in everything. But I fear the number is very small, who so live.

I cannot imagine how those who deny God's particular providence can get comfortably on, for they must perpetually be confronted with minute events in their history, as mysterious and baffling to them as greater ones.

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