viii. 1-4. _Moreover, the Lord said unto me, Take thee a
great roll,_ &c._[1]
This singular record reminds us, +I. How marvellously varied are the
means which God employs to bring men to a knowledge and belief of
saving truth.+ That which God's ancient people needed to save them
from their mistakes and miseries was real faith in the elementary
truth that God is the only safe counsellor, for this simple reason,
that He alone sees the end from the beginning. All their
circumstances, interpreted by merely human wisdom, seemed to point to
the desirableness of an alliance with Assyria, the very thing which
God by His prophets emphatically forbade. That it might be easier for
them to believe what seemed so incredible, namely, that the Assyrian
alliance would be a calamity and not a blessing to them, God gave, in
addition to the testimonies of His prophets to this effect, a
prophecy of an event seemingly as incredible, namely, that the great
power of the two nations, Israel and Syria, from which they had
suffered so much, and which seemed so likely to be permanent, and on
account of which they sought Assyrian help, should be utterly broken,
and that speedily. God predicted this in words (chap. vii. 4-9), and
He condescended to a symbolic act that He might impress this truth
more vividly on their minds. It is of that symbolic act that we have
the record here. Now that God took so much trouble for such a purpose
is a fact worth thinking about. As a matter of fact, it is but one
instance of His constant method of dealing with men. He is so bent on
bringing them to a knowledge and belief of truth that to them would
be saving, that He shrinks from no trouble at all likely to secure
this result (Jer. vii. 13, 25; Heb. i. 1; Luke xx. 10-13).
Illustrate, _e.g.,_ how various are the methods by which He
endeavours to awaken a careless soul to anxiety, and to effect its
conversion! What is the explanation of this versatility and ingenuity
of methods in dealing with us? It is the tenderness of His love for
us; it is His yearning solicitude for our welfare.
+II. How mercifully clear are the warnings by which God seeks to turn
men from ruinous courses.+ The tablet[2] on which Isaiah was to write
was to be large, and he was to write upon it "with a man's pen," an
obscure expression, but yet at least meaning this, that the writing
upon it was to be easily legible (Hab. ii. 2). It is true that though
the words on the tablet were easily legible, their meaning was
obscure. But that very obscurity was of a kind to excite inquiry
(Dan. v. 5-7), and that inquiry earnestly and honestly conducted
would have led God's ancient people to a saving knowledge of truth.
Thus it is with all the warnings contained in God's Word (H. E. I.
602-606).
+III. How important it is that God's servants should be prudent as
well as zealous.+ After the prophecy was fulfilled, unbelief might
have questioned whether it had ever been given, and therefore Isaiah,
acting under Divine direction, selected two witnesses whose testimony
could not be gainsaid.[3] Probably that which they were required to
testify was, that the prophecy, _and its interpretation,_ was
delivered to them on a certain day; the interpretation embracing both
the facts, that to the prophet another son was to be born, and that
while still in his infancy the two nations of which Judah stood in
dread should themselves be conquered. Isaiah was thus acting on the
general principle given by our Lord for the guidance of His people
(Matt. x. 16). Now, as then, His prophets, while loyally obedient to
His directions, should maintain a constant wariness and prudence, in
order that the testimony they bear for Him should be placed beyond
cavil and dispute.
+IV. How certain of accomplishment are the prophecies involved in
God-given names.+ The prophecy contained in the name bestowed on this
child of Isaiah's was fulfilled.[4] So already had that implied in
the name bestowed on the child previously born to him,
_Shear-jashub,_ "a remnant shall return."[5] As it was with the sons
of Isaiah, so is it with the Son of God. The names bestowed on Him
are not merely glorious but empty titles. He is the very truth JESUS
and IMMANUEL (Matt. i. 21-23). He is JESUS because IMMANUEL. On the
promises involved in these great names we may lay hold with joyful
confidence, for they also shall be fulfilled.