STRENGTH IN QUIETNESS [1120]
[1120] See also CHRISTIAN QUIETNESS, Isaiah 30:15.
Isaiah 30:7. Their strength is to sit still.
There is a sense in which “sitting still” is not our strength, but our destruction. To sit still in sin and unbelief is the practice and the ruin of the unconverted. To such men, exhortations of a precisely opposite character must be addressed. There is a sense too in which there is to be no “sitting still” even for the righteous (Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:5-10; Hebrews 4:11). To understand our text, we must acquaint ourselves with the circumstances which gave occasion to it. The Israelites were under the special protection and guardianship of God. Many and great were the deliverances which He wrought for them. Yet, when in difficulty and danger, they thought more of man’s arm than of His. Now threatened by the Assyrians, where did they turn for help? To Egypt—to that very people who had once so cruelly oppressed their forefathers! To make sure of having it, they sent to Egypt large sums of money. It was in rebuke of such foolish ingratitude to God that our text was written. “Their strength,” said the Lord, “is to sit still,”—to forbear, that is, from sending off for help to man, and to “sit still” quietly at home, relying on the help of God. This was their strength, for let them but do this and then they had a stronger with them than all that were against them.
To-day the believer in Christ Jesus is often tempted to a sin very similar to that of Israel, and to him this admonition is equally applicable and important. In a more especial manner than Israel of old he is hidden under the shadow of his Lord. And yet he also is strongly tempted, in more ways than one, to make flesh his arm, whilst his heart departeth from the Lord. He is often tempted thus to do in reference—
I. To the everlasting salvation of his soul. Satan tempts him to look off to other confidences, as if Christ were insufficient; to look out for something in himself, which he may boast of and depend upon. But in Christ there is everything the sinner wants (Colossians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
II. To temporal difficulties and dangers. The Christian is authorised to use all proper means for his deliverance. It would be tempting God, not trusting Him, to neglect those remedies or those precautions which He has placed within our power, and expect to be delivered by a miracle (H. E. I., 169, 170). Yet he must, in a sense, “sit still.” He must place his whole dependence on his God, and not on any plans which his own prudence may suggest to him; nor must he resort to any means of safety or deliverance which would be inconsistent with the rule of duty laid down for him in Scripture (H. E. I., 171–178). Asa, 2 Chronicles 14:11; Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20:12; Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. Let these worthies of old teach us what a blessed thing it is, in times of difficulty and of danger, to wait calmly upon God; using means, indeed, such as God may put within our reach, yet not abusing them by making them our staff.
III. To seasons of affliction. Then is it most eminently true that the believer’s strength is to “sit still.” How is he to do so? By submitting himself patiently and humbly to the chastening rod without a murmuring word upon his lips, or a murmuring thought within his heart; by acknowledging the faithfulness and wisdom of the dispensation; and by waiting the Lord’s time for the removal of it. Job 1:21; Eli, 1 Samuel 3:18; David, Psalms 39:9. Not to “sit still” under the chastening rod will only make our case the worse; but he who waits upon God has a way of comfort and deliverance opened to him (Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 26:3).
IV. To time of provocation. He is affronted and injured. Shall he turn himself about to see how he may revenge himself? No; his strength is to “sit still,” to forbear from recompensing evil with evil, and to commit his cause patiently and calmly to his God. David did so in more instances than one; and the Lord took up the quarrel of His servant, avenged him of his adversaries, and set him up on high above them (Romans 12:19-21).
In regard to all these things we must “sit still” in faith, in hope, in resignation to the blessed will of God. For the grace that is needed to enable us to do so, let us have recourse to Him who can teach us “quietness and confidence,” to the spirit who gives faith and consolation, who can make the soul to rest in Christ, and say to all its troubled feelings, “Peace, be still!”—Arthur Roberts, M.A.: Plain Sermons, Second Series, vol. i. pp. 31–39.
SOME ASPECTS OF MINISTERIAL DUTY
Isaiah 30:7. Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Jerusalem and Judah were threatened by Sennacherib with dangers and desolations. This people’s sin, for which they were reproved by Isaiah, was their trusting to the Egyptians; they were all in a hurry to obtain help from them, without seeking counsel of God and resting upon Him. Isaiah saw that the help of the Egyptians would be worthless to them, and therefore he counselled them to “sit still,” trusting in the power, providence, and promise of God, from whom too much cannot be expected.
I. Notice the prophet’s intermeddling in this important matter. He publishes God’s mind concerning it. It is the duty of ministers to meddle sometimes in public matters, whether in Church or State; they are to show Jacob their sins, and Israel their transgressions. This is a part of ministers’ work, to testify against sin in all. Christ was the light of the world; and they should be like their Master, testifying against all works of darkness. True, the world quarrels with the servants of God because they bear testimony against its sins; and on this account many ministers who have some light, put their light in prison: “They hold the truth in unrighteousness.” They do this by not bearing witness against public wrongs, and the sin and defection of statesmen. But it was a graceless expression of a graceless Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “What am I concerned with the souls or the sins of others? What am I concerned with the public evils of the day I live in?” True religion begins at home, but it does not end there; it will come without doors with us (H. E. I. 1184–1186).
II. Observe the manner of the prophet’s address to this people. “Therefore have I cried concerning this.” It is the duty of ministers to be earnest and zealous in reproving sin and reclaiming sinners. They are to be both seers and criers; and when they see any danger, they should CRY, that the people may hear and flee out of harm’s way.
1. This is true in regard to public wrongs and national projects which are contrary to the will of God (P. D. 2855).
2. They need to cry about matters of eternity, that people may secure something that death may not be able to take from them—such as these: saving knowledge, saving faith, pardon of sin, evangelical love of God in Christ, faithful labours for the honour and glory of God.—Ralph Erskine, A. M.: Sermons, vol. ii. pp. 252, 253.