But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of Judgment, and of might
The prophetic endowment
The three gifts, power, judgment, might, are the fruits of the one Spirit of God, through whom the prophet was filled with them.
Of these, power is always strength residing in the person, whether it be the “power, or might of wisdom” of Almighty God Himself, or power which He imparts or implants. But it is always power lodged in the person, to be put forth on him. Here it is Divine power, given through God the Holy Ghost, to accomplish that for which He was sent. “Judgment” is, from its form, not so much discernment in the human being as “the thing judged,” pronounced by God, the righteous judgment of God, and righteous judgment in man conformably therewith. “Might” is courage or boldness to deliver the message of God; not awed or hindered by any adversaries. “Whoso is so strengthened and arrayed uttereth fiery words, whereby hearers’ hearts are moved and changed. But whoso speaketh of his own mind doth good neither to himself nor others.” So then, of these three gifts, power expresses the Divine might lodged in him; judgment, the substance of what he had to deliver; might or courage, the strength to deliver it in face of human power, persecution, ridicule, death. These gifts the prophets know are not their own, but are from the Spirit of God, and are by Him inspired into them. Such was the spirit of Elijah, of John Baptist, of Paul, of the apostles. (E. B. Pusey, D. D.)
The Holy Spirit the Author of all ministerial qualifications
The work of the ministry is the most arduous, the most important, the most honourable work in which a man can be engaged. Arduous, because it requires constant diligence, watch fulness, zeal, and perseverance. Important, because it involves the eternal interests of man. Honourable, because it is the work of God, and in the due discharge of it the glory of God is most promoted.
I. The minister’s appointment. This is not of man, but of God; of God the Holy Spirit. God has set apart certain persons to this office, who from time to time, as the services of His Church require, are raised up, converted, qualified, and sent for this office. Jesus sends His ministers whither He Himself will come. All the qualifications of ministers for their office are of God, both gifts and graces. Ministers are men of God sent from God to work for God, and bring sinners to God.
I. Their faithfulness in the discharge of their holy duties is of God the Holy Spirit. The first ministers were commanded to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with “power from on high” (Acts 1:8). The prophets under the Old Testament and all the ministers of Christ in the present day have been and are equally indebted to this gracious operation. Nor can we be surprised at this, when the blessed Saviour Himself is represented in His mediatorial character as qualified and sustained by the Holy Ghost. Ministers know not what to preach, except as the Holy Spirit teaches them.
III. That ministers’ success is of the spirit. And this Spirit is poured out just in proportion as Christ is preached. Learn--
1. Where to look for a blessing. All our fresh springs are in Jesus.
2. Ask whether the Lord is among us or not?
3. To whom we should give the glory, all the glory, for any benefit that we at any time receive from the ministry. (R. Simpson, M. A.)
The true prophet
It is supposed that this chapter belongs to the reign of Hezekiah; if so, the mournful state of matters which it depicts cannot have begun until towards its close. These words lead us to consider the true prophet.
I. The work of a true prophet. “To declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” It is a characteristic of all true prophets that they have a keen moral sense to discern wrong, to loathe it, and to burn at it. No man is a true prophet who is not roused to thunder by the wrong. Where have we men now to “declare unto Jacob his transgression, and unto Israel his sin”?
1. This is a painful work. It will incur the disfavour of some and rouse the antagonism of the delinquents.
2. This is an urgent work. No work is more needed in England to day. To expose wrong goes a great way towards its extinction. St. Peter on the day of Pentecost charged home the terrible crime of the crucifixion to the men he addressed!
II. The power of a true prophet. “Truly, I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment and of might.” There is no egotism in this. A powerful man knows his power and will ascribe it to the right source--the “Spirit of the Lord.” His power was moral; it was the might of conscience, moral conviction of invincible sympathy with eternal right and truth. This is a very different power to that of mere intellect, imagina tion, or what is called genius. It is higher, more creditable, more influential, more Godlike.
III. The fidelity of a true prophet. This is seen here in three things--
1. In the class he denounces. “Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, princes of the house of Israel.” He struck at the higher classes of life.
2. The prophet’s fidelity is seen in the charges he makes. “They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.”
(1) He charges them with extortionate cruelty.
(2) With base mercenariness.
Money was the motive power of all. The prophet’s faithfulness is seen--
3. In the doom he proclaims. The reference may be to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. (Homilist.)
A faithful prophet
During the Chartist agitation many of Kingsley’s friends and relations tried to withdraw him from the people’s cause, fearful lest his prospects in life might be seriously prejudiced; but to all of them he turned a deaf ear, and in writing to his wife on the subject he says: “I will not be a liar. I will speak in season and out of season. I will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. My path is clear, and I will follow in it,” (A. Bell, B. A.)
Showing the transgression
The great power of Charles G. Finney in dealing with awakened souls consisted in this: he used to pin a man down to his favourite sins, and say to him: “Are you willing to give up this in order to obey Christ?” At that decisive point came the defeat or victory. He once knelt down beside an inquirer, and as he enumerated various sins the man responded that he would surrender them. At length Mr. Finney said: “I agree to serve God in my business.” The man was silent. “What is the matter?” said Mr. F. kindly; “can you not do that?.. .No,” stammered the poor fellow; “I am in the liquor trade.” And in it he continued. He rose from his knees and went back to his cursed business, with a fresh weight of guilt upon his head.