THE PERPETUAL MIRACLE
Isaiah 55:13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, &c.
I. MIRACLES PROMISED IN THE CHURCH OF GOD.
1. The promise takes different shapes. Savage beasts shall lose their nature and become harmless and tractable (Isaiah 11:6, &c.). In sandy wastes streams of water shall flow till they become green with foliage and gay with flowers (Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 35:7). Here, out of the ground which produced only thorns and briers, shall grow stately trees.
2. Such miracles to be looked for by believers. They have in them Christ who came to give life (Isaiah 10:10), the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2), and the word of life (Philippians 2:16), which is quick, i.e., living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). How natural, then, that death, barrenness, and the curse, should disappear where such forces are at work [1716]
[1716] Now, although neither vines nor fig-trees have spines or prickles, it must be confessed that these pungent appendages are found on some plants which are neither thorns nor thistles. For what is a prickle? It is the elongated cell which to many a stem gives its velvet, and to the moss-rose its fragrant fretwork,—it is the same pile hardened and sharpened into a piercing needle. And what is a thorn? In the morphology of a plant it is well known to be an abortive bud. If it had come on and come out, it would in due time have yielded its blossom and its fruit, and might have strengthened into a goodly bough; but, eventuating in nothing more than a cruel, useless spike, it is the very symbol of ill-trained or misdirected energy.
But here is something beautiful. In many cases it is found that thorns yield to culture. By taking in the wild plant and giving it kind treatment the skilful gardener tames and transforms it, till in the process of years the trenchant thorn is replaced by a golden apple or a rosy flower. And greater wonders are effected in God’s husbandry. In nature some plants have baffled horticulture; but if you watch, pray, and really strive, there is nothing impossible to faith and prayer. Fix on your besetting sin, and fight against it; and as in dependence upon the Heavenly Husbandman you strive and pray, the Spirit poured forth from on high will fulfil in you the promise of our text.—James Hamilton, D.D.
II. FALSE MIRACLES CLAIMED BY CORRUPT CHURCHES.
1. The Church of Rome and the Greek Church both profess that miracles are continually being wrought in their communion.
2. Reasons for disbelieving such miracles: [1719] They generally happen in obscure localities. (β) Do not convince unbelievers. (γ) Become more uncertain the more they are inquired into, (ε) Tend to support the idolatrous worship of saints.
[1719] Now, although neither vines nor fig-trees have spines or prickles, it must be confessed that these pungent appendages are found on some plants which are neither thorns nor thistles. For what is a prickle? It is the elongated cell which to many a stem gives its velvet, and to the moss-rose its fragrant fretwork,—it is the same pile hardened and sharpened into a piercing needle. And what is a thorn? In the morphology of a plant it is well known to be an abortive bud. If it had come on and come out, it would in due time have yielded its blossom and its fruit, and might have strengthened into a goodly bough; but, eventuating in nothing more than a cruel, useless spike, it is the very symbol of ill-trained or misdirected energy.
But here is something beautiful. In many cases it is found that thorns yield to culture. By taking in the wild plant and giving it kind treatment the skilful gardener tames and transforms it, till in the process of years the trenchant thorn is replaced by a golden apple or a rosy flower. And greater wonders are effected in God’s husbandry. In nature some plants have baffled horticulture; but if you watch, pray, and really strive, there is nothing impossible to faith and prayer. Fix on your besetting sin, and fight against it; and as in dependence upon the Heavenly Husbandman you strive and pray, the Spirit poured forth from on high will fulfil in you the promise of our text.—James Hamilton, D.D.
III. THE TRUE MIRACLES WROUGHT IN THE TRUE CHURCH, i.e., the Church of such as love Christ, wherever they are found.
1. These consist in the conversion of sinners, and are spoken of in the New Testament as a second birth, &c. (1 John 3:2; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 1:19-20).
2. All conversion is from God and supernatural, but this most clearly seen when great sinners converted suddenly.
LEARN—
1. Never to despair of any sinners, however hardened.
2. To think it natural that mighty deeds should be wrought by a mighty God.—C. S. Carey; The Class and the Desk, vol. ii. p. 189.
Isaiah 55:12-13. Figurative language, yet the meaning obvious.
I. The world-wide diffusion of the Gospel. II. The Gospel is redolent with blessings, and only blessings to man. III. The glory of Christ is hereby secured, much more than in any other way.—A. M‘Auslane, D.D.