will be for ever. Whatever we trust to the world for, it will last only for a moment; but those who
trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall receive from him, strength that will carry them to
that blessedness which is for ever. Let us then acknowledge him in all our ways, and rely on him
in all trials.
Is. 26:5-11 The way of the just is evenness, a steady course of obedience and holy conversation.
And it is their happiness that God makes their way plain and easy. It is our duty, and will be our
comfort, to wait for God, to keep up holy desires toward him in the darkest and most discouraging
times. Our troubles must never turn us from God; and in the darkest, longest night of affliction,
with our souls must we desire him; and this we must wait and pray to him for. We make nothing
of our religion, whatever our profession may be, if we do not make heart-work of it. Though we
come ever so early, we shall find God ready to receive us. The intention of afflictions is to teach
righteousness: blessed is the man whom the Lord thus teaches. But sinners walk contrary to him.
They will go on in their evil ways, because they will not consider what a God he is whose laws
they persist in despising. Scorners and the secure will shortly feel, what now they will not believe,
that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They will not see the evil of sin;
but they shall see. Oh that they would abandon their sins, and turn to the Lord, that he may have
mercy upon them.
Is. 26:12-19 Every creature, every business, any way serviceable to our comfort, God makes
to be so; he makes that work for us which seemed to make against us. They had been slaves of sin
and Satan; but by the Divine grace they were taught to look to be set free from all former masters.
The cause opposed to God and his kingdom will sink at last. See our need of afflictions. Before,
prayer came drop by drop; now they pour it out, it comes now like water from a fountain. Afflictions
bring us to secret prayer. Consider Christ as the Speaker addressing his church. His resurrection
from the dead was an earnest of all the deliverance foretold. The power of his grace, like the dew
or rain, which causes the herbs that seem dead to revive, would raise his church from the lowest
state. But we may refer to the resurrection of the dead, especially of those united to Christ.
Is. 26:20,21 When dangers threaten, it is good to retire and lie hid; when we commend ourselves
to God to hide us, he will hide us either under heaven or in heaven. Thus we shall be safe and happy
in the midst of tribulations. It is but for a short time, as it were for a little moment; when over, it
will seem as nothing. God's place is the mercy-seat; there he delights to be: when he punishes, he
comes out of his place, for he has no pleasure in the death of sinners. But there is hardly any truth
more frequently repeated in Scripture, than God's determined purpose to punish the workers of
iniquity. Let us keep close to the Lord, and separate from the world; and let us seek comfort in
secret prayer. A day of vengeance is coming on the world, and before it comes we are to expect
tribulation and suffering. But because the Christian looks for these things, shall he be restless and
dismayed? No, let him repose himself in his God. Abiding in him, the believer is safe. And let us
wait patiently the fulfilling of God's promises.