It is impossible for God to put away the soul that clings to him in penitence and faith. Heaven and earth may be searched, but no bill of divorce can be found. See Deut. 24:1. And he sends his great servant, our Lord, of whom this chapter is full, to deliver and assure our trembling faith.

Isaiah 51:1-11. This chapter is extremely dramatic. We are conscious that we are nearing a revelation of unparalleled sublimity. As we hear the thrice Hearken in vs. 1-8, and the thrice Awake, v. 9, which follows, we realize that we are traversing the entrance portico of a noble temple. When God says, Hearken, it is for us to ask him to fulfill—Awake!

Recall the loneliness of Abraham. “He was but one!” Torah died, Lot dropped away, Hagar was thrust out,

Tsaae was laid on the altar, but the fire that burned in his heart only grew brighter. Do not despair if you are alone in your stand for God. One acorn, when the life of Nature touches it, may become parent to a forest, These exiled Jews hardly dared to hope that they could escape from their foes. The air was heavy with their revilings, but compare v. 8 with 50:9. With such assurances we may face a world in arms. The forces of evil are strong, but God is stronger. The clouds threaten, but the sun is shining. Don’t forget the Lord thy Maker, thy Redeemer, thy Father! He cannot fail or forsake!

Isaiah 51: 12-23. During the Sepoy mutiny in India, when a number of English men and women were shut up in a quarter of Cawnpore, expecting a terrible death by assault or slow starvation, a torn page of the Bible, containing this passage, was found on the street pavement and was of unspeakable comfort. Oh, the blessedness of appropriating the 16th verse! See 49: 7.

We are too apt to forget that God pleads the-cause of his people, even when they have sinned and have reduced themselves to sore straits, vs. 17 and 22. We think more of the earth than of the over-arching skies; of the fading grass than of the tree of Life; of man than of God. The near obscures the distant, and the flaring earth lights, the shine of the stars! Root yourself in God! Think of him who sits at the right hand of the throne, the seat of resistless, ceaseless energy! Believe that God has placed himself between you and all enemies and circumstances which threaten. To fear all day is impossible in face of these paragraphs.

Isaiah 52. It is not God that has become lethargic; but we that have slept and need to awake. Being awakened, we discover that two sets of attire are waiting for us: First, his strength, so that we may not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves round

about; and secondly, the beautiful garments of our Lord’s character. See Col. 3: 9-17.

At last the climax of the long prophetic stairway is reached and the summons for the exodus from Babylon rings out, v.11. It was God’s return to the desolate city, vs. 2 and 8. The stately procession moves slowly and fearlessly. It is not the escape of a band of fugitive slaves, dreading pursuit and recapture, v. 12. Before it speed the heralds, appearing on the sky line as they ascend the mountains which surround the Holy City, publishing peace and salvation, v. 7. The central body is composed of white robed priests, bearing with reverent care the holy vessels, v. 11, of which Nebuchadnezzar despoiled the Temple, but which Cyrus restored. See Ezra 1: 7-11. Thus, also, the Church marches through the world.