xxxiv. 16. _Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord, and read,
&c._
We may be sure that God would not give a revelation without affixing
His seal to it; otherwise it would be useless, there being no
evidence of its Divine origin. Supposing a revelation given, what
would constitute a satisfactory proof of its Divinity? Evidently it
must be some sign not capable of being counterfeited, some
unmistakable indication that GOD has spoken to us. This might be
given by some exertion of Divine power or some manifestation of
Divine knowledge. As such, miracles and prophecy would furnish
indubitable proof that a revelation was from God, and those which
attest the Bible are its proper seals. Along with the internal
evidence and the argument drawn from the success of the Gospel, they
are so many buttresses supporting the edifice of revealed truth; but
each is a distinct and sufficient support by itself. The Scriptures
themselves appeal to the evidence of fulfilled prophecy in support of
their reception as the Word of God, and one of the most pointed of
these appeals is that before us. In this chapter Isaiah predicts the
desolations that were to come on the chief city of Edom. Placing
himself forward in time amid the scenes he predicts, he challenges
any one to compare the predictions in the Book of the Lord with the
actual condition of the city; he is confident that "the Book" will
bear that test, and will come out of it triumphantly.
+I. Read the prophecy before us in the light of its fulfilment.+ The
apologetic value of prophecy has often been discredited. Attempts
have been made to explain it on natural grounds, as a sagacious
forecast, a shrewd prognostication. But what natural sagacity could
have foreseen that Edom, so powerful and prosperous in Isaiah's time,
would become a desolate waste? It has been well remarked that
prophecy possesses as a proof of Divine revelation some advantages
that are peculiar. Its fulfilment may fall under our own observation,
or may be conveyed to us by living witnesses. The evidence from
miracles can never be stronger than it was at first; but that of
prophecy is increasing, and will go on increasing until the whole
scheme of perdition is fulfilled. It is the accomplishment, and not
the mere publication of a prophecy, which supplies a proof of the
Divine origin of the Bible; and this evidence is constantly
accumulating. The prophets themselves did not understand some of
their oracles (1 Pet. i. 11, 12). They were like documents written in
colourless ink, to which some chemical preparation must be applied to
make their characters legible. Their meaning could be seen only in
their fulfilment. But all the prophetic writings are not thus
obscure; many are clear and definite; more like the details of a
historical narrative than the visions of prophecy. Nothing can be
plainer than the description here given of the state to which Edom
would be reduced. The wards of this lock are too intricate to be
opened by any key which we choose to apply to it; but the fitting key
has been found. "The whole," says Alexander, "is a magnificent
prophetic picture, the fidelity of which, is notoriously attested by
its desolation for a course of ages." The chief city in the region of
Mount Seir was Selah or Petra, the Rock City. It was long unknown
till it was discovered by Robinson, and since then it has been
visited by successive travellers. It lay embedded among the hills. So
nestled was it in its rocks "that it could only be approached by two
narrow defiles. Dwellings cut out of the solid stone line the face of
the cliffs, and the central space indicates that a large city once
stood upon it." Malachi speaks of its utter desolation (Mal. i. 2,
3), but afterwards it recovered for a time. Its condition for
centuries as described by unbiassed witnesses is a standing evidence
of the truth of the prophetic Word.
+II. We may test "the Book" in other fields.+ As a tourist verifies
his guide-book and finds it trustworthy at every step, so in many
regions do we find the prophetic Word made sure (2 Pet. i. 19-21).
Babylon, Tyre, and the fortunes of the Jewish people, all bear
witness to the truth of the prophecies. But especially in the career
of our Lord and Saviour do we meet with remarkable fulfilments of
Scripture. What could be more minute than some of the prophecies
concerning Him? His miracles, His submission to unmerited suffering,
His riding upon an ass, His being pierced, His being sold for thirty
pieces of silver which should be applied for the purchase of the
Potter's Field, the lots cast on His vesture, and the vinegar given
Him to drink, were all the subject of definite prediction.
+III. The Bible will bear testing in its declarations concerning
human nature.+ No book so unveils us to ourselves. We feel its truth
in what it says about our noble origin, our lamentable fall, our
sinfulness, and the strife within us between the flesh and the
spirit. Because it tells us all that ever we did, we feel that it
must be Divine.
+IV. From all this two sound and important conclusions
follow+:--1. _We may put equal confidence in its declarations
concerning God._ Nothing but Divine knowledge and insight can so
disclose the future and the hidden; and if we have found the Bible
reliable when it tells us of earthly things, may we not believe it
when it tells us of heavenly things? 2. _We may be sure that its
prophecies concerning the future of Christ's kingdom and the destiny
of the human race will in like manner be fulfilled to the letter_
(Ps. lxxii. 11, 17; Rom. viii. 19-23). So many of the prophecies of
God's Word have already been accomplished, that we should feel
confident that those not yet fulfilled are surely marching on to
their fulfilment. The prospects of success in the mission field are
brighter in our day than ever they were. The Church is taking an
interest in the enterprise quite unknown to former generations, and
openings have been made into lands before closed alike against
commerce and Christianity. But even if our hopes of success were less
cheering, we would not despair. With so many Bible predictions behind
us in the past now become history, we cannot but be encouraged to
look for the fulfilment of those glowing prophecies concerning the
future coming of the Redeemer's kingdom which stand on the inspired
page. Let us never lose sight of those grand predictions; let us
cherish a hopeful and expectant spirit, and in the confidence of
success descend to the spiritual harvest of the world (H. E. I.
1166-1168).--_William Guthrie, M.A._