prophets and kings-第49节
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ity is taken away； and thy sin purged。〃 Isaiah 6：7。
In beholding his God； the prophet； like Saul of Tarsus at the gate of Damascus； had not only been given a view of his own unworthiness； there had come to his humbled heart the assurance of forgiveness； full and free； and he had arisen a changed man。 He had seen his Lord。 He had caught a glimpse of the loveliness of the divine character。 He could testify of the transformation wrought through beholding Infinite Love。 Henceforth he was inspired with longing desire to see erring Israel set free from the burden and penalty of sin。 〃Why should ye be stricken any more？〃 the prophet inquired。 〃Come now； and let us reason together；
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saith the Lord： though your sins be as scarlet； they shall be as white as snow； though they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool。〃 〃Wash you； make you clean； put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes； cease to do evil； learn to do well。〃 Isaiah 1：5； 18； 16； 17。
The God whom they had been claiming to serve； but whose character they had misunderstood； was set before them as the great Healer of spiritual disease。 What though the whole head was sick and the whole heart faint？ what though from the sole of the foot even unto the crown of the head there was no soundness； but wounds； and bruises； and putrefying sores？ See Isaiah 1：6。 He who had been walking frowardly in the way of his heart might find healing by turning to the Lord。 〃I have seen his ways；〃 the Lord declared； 〃and will heal him： I will lead him also； and restore comforts unto him。 。 。 。 Peace； peace to him that is far off； and to him that is near； saith the Lord； and I will heal him。〃 Isaiah 57：18； 19。
The prophet exalted God as Creator of all。 His message to the cities of Judah was； 〃Behold your God！〃 Isaiah 40：9。 〃Thus saith God the Lord； He that created the heavens； and stretched them out； He that spread forth the earth； and that which cometh out of it；〃 〃I am the Lord that maketh all things；〃 〃I form the light； and create darkness；〃 〃I have made the earth； and created man upon it： I； even My hands； have stretched out the heavens； and all their host have I commanded。〃 Isaiah 42：5； 44：24； 45：7； 12。 〃To whom then will ye liken Me； or shall I be equal？ saith the Holy One。 Lift up your eyes on high； and behold who hath
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created these things； that bringeth out their host by number： He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might； for that He is strong in power； not one faileth。〃 Isaiah 40：25； 26。
To those who feared they would not be received if they should return to God； the prophet declared：
〃Why sayest thou； O Jacob； and speakest； O Israel； My way is hid from the Lord； and my judgment is passed over from my God？ Hast thou not known？ hast thou not heard； that the everlasting God； the Lord； the Creator of the ends of the earth； fainteth not； neither is weary？ there is no searching of His understanding。 He giveth power to the faint； and to them that have no might He increaseth strength。 Even the youths shall faint and be weary； and the young men shall utterly fall： but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength； they shall mount up with wings as eagles； they shall run； and not be weary； and they shall walk； and not faint。〃 Verses 27…31。
The heart of Infinite Love yearns after those who feel powerless to free themselves from the snares of Satan； and He graciously offers to strengthen them to live for Him。 〃Fear thou not；〃 He bids them； 〃for I am with thee： be not dismayed； for I am thy God： I will strengthen thee； yea； I will help thee； yea； I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness。〃 〃I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand； saying unto thee； Fear not； I will help thee。 Fear not； thou worm Jacob； and ye man of Israel； I will help thee； saith the Lord； and thy Redeemer； the Holy One of Israel。〃 Isaiah 41：10； 13； 14。
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The inhabitants of Judah were all undeserving； yet God would not give them up。 By them His name was to be exalted among the heathen。 Many who were wholly unacquainted with His attributes were yet to behold the glory of the divine character。 It was for the purpose of making plain His merciful designs that He kept sending His servants the prophets with the message； 〃Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way。〃 Jeremiah 25：5。 〃For My name's sake；〃 He declared through Isaiah； 〃will I defer Mine anger； and for My praise will I refrain for thee； that I cut thee not off。〃 〃For Mine own sake； even for Mine own sake； will I do it： for how should My name be polluted？ and I will not give My glory unto another。〃 Isaiah 48：9 ；11。
The call to repentance was sounded with unmistakable clearness； and all were invited to return。 〃Seek ye the Lord while He may be found；〃 the prophet pleaded； 〃call ye upon Him while He is near： let the wicked forsake his way； and the unrighteous man his thoughts： and let him return unto the Lord； and He will have mercy upon him； and to our God； for He will abundantly pardon。〃 Isaiah 55：6； 7。
Have you； reader； chosen your own way？ Have you wandered far from God？ Have you sought to feast upon the fruits of transgression； only to find them turn to ashes upon your lips？ And now； your life plans thwarted and your hopes dead； do you sit alone and desolate？ That voice which has long been speaking to your heart； but to which you would not listen； comes to you distinct and clear； 〃Arise ye； and depart； for this is not your rest： because it is polluted；
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it shall destroy you； even with a sore destruction。〃 Micah 2：10。 Return to your Father's house。 He invites you； saying； 〃Return unto Me； for I have redeemed thee。〃 〃Come unto Me： hear； and your soul shall live； and I will make an everlasting covenant with you； even the sure mercies of David。〃 Isaiah 44：22； 55：3。
Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better； until you are good enough to come to God。 If you wait until then you will never come。 When Satan points to your filthy garments； repeat the promise of the Saviour； 〃Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out。〃 John 6：37。 Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin。 Make the prayer of David your own： 〃Purge me with hyssop； and I shall be clean： wash me； and I shall be whiter than snow。〃 Psalm 51：7。
The exhortations of the prophet to Judah to behold the living God； and to accept His gracious offers； were not in vain。 There were some who gave earnest heed； and who turned from their idols to the worship of Jehovah。 They learned to see in their Maker love and mercy and tender compassion。 And in the dark days that were to come in the history of Judah； when only a remnant were to be left in the land； the prophet's words were to continue bearing fruit in decided reformation。 〃At that day；〃 declared Isaiah； 〃shall a man look to his Maker； and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel。 And he shall not look to the altars； the work of his hands； neither shall respect that which his fingers have made； either the groves； or the images。〃 Isaiah 17：7； 8。
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Many were to behold the One altogether lovely； the chiefest among ten thousand。 〃Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty；〃 was the gracious promise made them。 Isaiah 33：17。 Their sins were to be forgiven； and they were to make their boast in God alone。 In that glad day of redemption from idolatry they would exclaim； 〃The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams。 。 。 。 The Lord is our judge； the Lord is our lawgiver； the Lord is our king； He will save us。〃 Verses 21； 22。
The messages borne by Isaiah to those who chose to turn from their evil ways were full of comfort and encouragement。 Hear the word of the Lord through His prophet：
〃Remember these； O Jacob and Israel； For thou art My servant： I have formed thee； thou art My servant： O Israel； thou shalt not be forgotten of Me。 I have blotted out； as a thick cloud； thy transgressions； And； as a cloud； thy sins： Return unto Me； for I have redeemed thee。〃 Isaiah 44：21； 22。
〃In that day thou shalt say； O Lord； I will praise Thee： Though Thou wast angry with me； Thine anger is turned away； and Thou comfortedst me。
〃Behold； God is my salvation； I will trust； and not be afraid： For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song； He also is become my salvation。 。 。 。
〃Sing unto the Lord； for He hath done excellent things： This is known in all the earth。 Cry out and shout； thou inhabitant of Zion： For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee。〃 Isaiah 12。
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Chapter 27
Ahaz
The accession of Ahaz to the throne brought Isaiah and his associates face to face with conditions more appalling than any that had hitherto existed in the realm of Judah。 Many
