vii. 1-9. _And it came to pass, in the days of Ahaz the son
of Jotham, &c._
+I. There are many things calculated to fill us with
fear+--sufferings, losses, temptations, death, &c. Especially
alarming are combinations of evil: when they threaten, we are apt to
feel as did Ahaz and his people (ver. 2). Afflictions seldom come
singly: sickness brings poverty in its train, &c.; and the heart is
apt to fail before such accumulations of misfortune. +II. But God
guarantees the safety of those who trust in Him.+ 1. _He controls all
events_ (ver. 7). The Prince of Orange, when he took the field
against France and the Emperor, said he had made an alliance with
Heaven, and feared not for the result. Much more may the believer be
confident in the warfare of life (H. E. I. 200-203, 2372, 2373, 4049,
4055-4058). 2. _It is only while we trust in Him that we are thus in
alliance with Him._ Only by trusting in Him are we kept from trusting
in that which cannot deliver us--ourselves or our fellow-men, to the
exclusion of God and the rejection of His proffered help. Only by
trusting in Him are our hearts kept in peace (chap. xxvi. 3, H. E. I.
1893, 1894, 1911-1919, 1923-1926). Only by trusting in Him do we give
Him the glory which is His due, and which He will not give to another
(H. E. I. 4054). +III. The guarantee of safety which God offers to
all who trust Him extends to the soul as well as the body.+ Because
of our sins, and the enemies they bring against us, we might well
fear; but in the Gospel help is offered, and perfect safety is
guaranteed to them that believe. +IV. The inevitable result of
refusal to accept the help which God mercifully offers us is ruin.+
Ahaz, refusing the sign offered him, and trusting in Assyria, was
overthrown by his ally. There is deadly peril in any other alliance
than that which God offers to form with us. Said our Lord to all who
are tempted to apostacy, "Remember Lot's wife," and in like manner we
may say to all who are tempted to disregard and reject God's offers
of help, _Remember Ahaz!_--_John Johnston._