THE SOLITARINESS AND ETERNITY OF GOD
Isaiah 44:6. Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, &c.
A magnificent text! It places before us three of the loftiest of all themes of thought—the solitariness and eternity of God, and His relations to the Church. There are speculations that are profitless; but others are ennobling. These! About such topics we should often think; or the noblest faculties of our mind will dwindle and die (H. E. I. 3294, 3493).
I. THE SOLITARINESS OF GOD. “Beside Me there is no God.” To us a familiar fact; but let us think about it. One God! Then—
1. One Creator of all things. All—what a comprehensive term! Includes—
(1.) The lifeless universe. The sun—suns. Mountains, gems. The rocks, the waves that roll and dash against them, &c.
(2.) The living universe. How varied the living forms in this earth, this infinitesimal fragment of the universe! But God is the one source of all the life of the universe, of all its grandeur, of all its beauty.
(3.) The moral universe. Men. Angels. What a wonderful Being, of whom the outcome is so various and glorious (P. D. 631).
2. One Sustainer of all things. The regularity of the procession of the seasons, of all the events of the universe, is a sufficient proof that behind all things there is one God (H. E. I. 362–365, 3173–3182).
3. One Ruler of all things. Every departure from the laws of righteousness and love, is not merely an infraction of law, but a sin against GOD (H. E. I. 4478).
In all these respects God abides alone, eternally!
II. THE ETERNITY OF GOD. “I am the first, and I am the last.” Space and time the two mysteries before which the human mind stands defeated and appalled. They defy our attempts to grasp them (P. D. 1078). But science has done a noble service by enlarging our ideas of both. Astronomy and geology—what suggestions they are giving concerning the meaning of the word Time! But when our thoughts have travelled back as far as is possible, with what do they find themselves confronted? With God! “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth” (H. E. I. 2253). Let us travel forward. What a changing universe we are in! The predictions of science concerning the solar system. When they are fulfilled, what will remain unchanged? GOD! With Him there is no variableness (P. D. 2536).
1. This enables us to look forward without foreboding. The one Ruler will overrule all the changes for His glory and the good of His creatures. There is a richer universe ahead (P. D. 1492.)
2. How certain is the fulfilment of the promises of Scripture! He who made them will remain to fulfil them (H. E. I. 2254).
3. What an immense interest we have in this truth of the eternity of God! His children shall share in His eternity with Him (Psalms 122:4-8; P. D. 1693, 1971).
III. GOD’S RELATIONS TO HIS CHURCH. In considering them, remember that what He is to His Church He is also to each member of it.
1. He is its King. “Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel.”
(1.) Its ruler. His will only should be consulted by it. The Church should not fear man nor seek his favour; to GOD only should obedience be rendered. This the inspiring, ennobling principle of the martyrs (Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29).
(2.) Its defender. No evil can happen to it (Matthew 16:18). The testimony of the past. No fear as to the future (H. E. I. 1246–1251, 2249).
2. He is its Redeemer. “And his redeemer the Lord of hosts.” “Redeemer,” i.e., rescuer. Two modes of rescue, by payment and by power. By payment He has rescued His people from the just claims of the avenging LAW (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 3:24-26; H. E. I. 382). By sanctifying power He will rescue them from the dominion of ignorance and sin (Matthew 1:21).
(1.) There are many imperfections in the Church. But they shall all be removed (Ephesians 5:25-27). His ransomed ones shall form a glorious host with which He shall be “satisfied.”
(2.) There are many imperfections in us. Let us not be dismayed because of them, but let us struggle against them valiantly. In our case, too, God will show that He is the Redeemer of Israel (Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24; H. E. I. 1053–1070).