Isaiah 54 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

The gracious Lord, still going on to satisfy and silence the fears of his Church and people, here condescends to make use of another similitude, to testify the firmness and unalterable engagements of his covenant and his peoples safety. The smith cannot make a weapon to destroy without God's permission; for both the smith and the weapon, the fire that forms it, and the iron formed, all are no other than creatures and instruments, and can act no farther than the Lord permits and appoints. Everybody, and everything, is subject to God's control, and therefore can never act without his commission. And the Lord speaks of these watchings of his over his people, not as a thing limited to certain characters or situations only, but as the general inheritance of all his servants, whose righteousness is in Jesus. Isaiah 45:24-25.

REFLECTIONS

READER! shall we not join this hallelujah, for redemption to the Gentile church, when we, as poor Gentiles, have, or ought to have, so much interest in it? Hath Jehovah indeed vouchsafed salvation, and granted repentance unto life, to the Gentiles also; and shall not we glorify God, for the unspeakable gift? Do you not know, have you not felt, hath not God the Holy Ghost opened your eyes to see, that we were once afar off, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope, and being without God in the world? And are we now brought nigh by the blood of Christ; married to Jesus, and made heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ? And shall we not sing the song of salvation to God, and to the Lamb? Oh! for grace to enter into the full personal enjoyment of this sweet scripture, and to take part with the Gentile Church, breaking out on the right hand and on the left, and to feel interested in all that concerns Zion.

And oh! thou blessed, glorious, gracious Husband of thy people! we would hail thee as our maker, redeemer, surety, husband, friend! Thou art indeed the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth! Thou art indeed, in one and the same moment, our Ishi, our Jesus; for thou hast said, I am married unto you, saith the Lord; and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Bring all thy redeemed, Lord, where thou thyself art, to behold thy glory, for thou hast said, where I am, there shall my servant be.

And do thou, blessed Jesus, until thou comest to take all thy ransomed home, fulfil all those gracious promises, to our soul's joy. Noah's waters shall no more cover the earth, neither shall the Lord be angry with his redeemed in Jesus. Though mountains melt at thy presence, thy people shall behold thy face with joy. Jesus will teach, Jesus will comfort, Jesus will be the portion of his afflicted. Hearken, ye enemies of the cross, hearken to what our God hath said, in these sweet promises, and give over all your fruitless attempts to hurt his anointed. No weapon shall be formed to hurt them; for the smith, the maker of weapons is under the control of our God. Both the heritage and the righteousness of God's people are in himself; how then can any fail? Be wise now, therefore, O ye enemies of my God, for he that is his peoples portion, will be his people's glory and defense. Let every foe hear, and tremble; whosoever shall gather together against any of Christ's little ones, shall fall for Christ's sake! Hallelujah! Amen.