They fail in duty, or they even transgress His commandments. Then
they certainly suffer. Utter is the delusion that _they_ may sin with
impunity. Unlike human parents, God never spoils His children; He has
no foolish fondness for them that would lead Him to be blind to or
tolerant of their faults. On the contrary, sin in them is most
grievous to Him (H. E. I., 4563-4570), and the chastisement thereof
is certain and often severe (Amos iii. 2). Terrible was the
punishment which Isaiah foresaw would come upon Israel--deportation
to the land of their conquerors. In that calamity what varied and
awful sufferings were involved! So it is still! there is severity as
well as mercy in the God we serve. Because he loves us, He will not
allow us to go on to ruin unchecked. By terrible calamities, if need
be, He will arrest us in the path to perdition.
II. IN THE SEVEREST AFFLICTIONS WHEREWITH GOD VISITS HIS PEOPLE HIS
MERCY IS MANIFEST.
Manifest, 1. +In the fact that they befall them here and now.+ How
kind in Him, not to stand silently by, and leave them to go on
unchecked to ruin! Remember, the sinner has no claim upon the mercy
of God in any form. 2. +In the restraint with which they are measured
out.+[1] There is no passion or vindictiveness in God's dealings with
them that provoke Him to anger. Though His chastisements may seem to
burst upon the backslider like a hurricane of east wind, in reality
mercy controls and directs the storm. "In exact measure," &c.[2]
Because it is so exactly measured out by mercy, (1) _it always falls
short of the guilt of the sinner._ Did justice measure it out, so
that it should be commensurate with the guilt of the transgressor, it
would mean destruction. This is seen in the case of the enemies of
God. Persistent ungodliness is visited at length, not with
chastisement, but with judgment, _i.e.,_ utter ruin (note the picture
of the doom of Babylon in verses 10, 11). So that when God's erring
people have been chastened most severely, His prophets can put to
them Isaiah's question in verse 7. To it they can only return the
answer given in Ps. ciii. 10. (2) _It always falls short of the
transgressor's power of endurance_ (H. E. I., 180, 187). When it is
ended, he still lives--lives to bless the hand that smote him (Ps.
cxix. 71, 75, 67). 3. +In the motive that inspires them all.+ By them
God seeks, not the destruction of His erring people, but their
deliverance. Israel was held in the degrading bondage of idolatry;
the terrible calamites of the captivity were the strokes by which He
brake their fetters. When the discipline was over, they hated
idolatry in all its forms; all the altar-stones in which they had
delighted were "like lime-stones dashed in pieces," and the Ashérahs
and sun-images rose in their midst no more. It is the same motive
that inspires Him in all His afflictive dealings with His people
to-day (H. E. I., 56-59, 66-74). Therefore, if He is visiting us with
afflictions,--1. Let us not be rebellious, but submissive (H. E. I.,
158). 2. Let us be moved to penitential self-examination (H. E. I.,
145-147). 3. Let us give heartfelt thanks to God because He is
resolved to make us like Himself (Heb. xii. 10; H. E. I., 162-165).