When the heroes of old prepared for the fight they put on their armour; but when God prepares for battle He makes bare His arm.
Man has to look two ways--to his own defence, as well as to the offence of his enemy; God hath but one direction in which to cast His eye--the overthrow of His foeman; and He disregards all measures of defence, and scorns all armour. He “makes bare” His arm in the sight of all the people. When men would do their work in earnest, too, they sometimes strip themselves, like that warrior of old, who, when he went to battle with the Turks, would never fight them except with the bare arm. “Such things as they,” said he, “I need not fear; they have more reason to fear my bare arm than I their scimitar.” Men feel that they are prepared for a work when they have cast away their cumbrous garments. And so the prophet represents the Lord as laying aside for awhile the garments of His dignity, and making bare His arm, that He may do His work in earnest, and accomplish His purpose for the establishment of His Church. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The great revival
I. THE CAUSE OF A TRUE REVIVAL. The Holy Spirit. While this is the only actual cause, yet there are instrumental causes; and the main instrumental cause of a great revival must be the bold, faithful, fearless preaching of the truth as it is in Jesus. Added to this, there must be the earnest prayers of the Church.
II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A REVIVAL OF RELIGION. The minister begins to be warmed. The members of the Church grow more serious. Family duties are better attended to; the home circle is brought under better culture. There is an inquirers’ meeting held. The revival of the Church then touches the rest of society.
III. A CAUTION. “Let all things be done decently, and in order.” Distinguish between man and man. While, during a revival of religion, a very large number of people will be really converted, there will be a very considerable portion who will be merely excited with animal excitement, and whose conversion will not he genuine. Take care, ye that are officers in the Church, when ye see the people stirred up, that ye exercise still a holy caution, lest the Church become lowered in its standard of piety by the admission of persons not truly saved.
IV. With these words of caution, I shall now STIR YOU UP TO SEEK OF GOD A GREAT REVIVAL OF RELIGION throughout the length and breadth of this land. The Lord God hath sent us a blessing. One blessing is the earnest of many. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God
Tidings of salvation to the ends of the earth
I. THE SALVATION OF GOD. “Salvation” carries our meditations direct unto the names and the offices of Him, of whom it hath been said, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” And in this connection the whole scheme of mercy and eternal life bursts at once upon our view.
1. It is a great salvation.
2. An everlasting salvation.
3. A complete salvations.
4. A salvation all of God and of grace.
II. THE CERTAINTY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS PROMISE, as an encouragement to us to do our duty. If “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God,” an imperious necessity is laid upon us to favour every opportunity which offers of sending the report of this salvation to all parts of the earth. The truth of the promise, and the certainty of its accomplishment, might be argued--
1. From the Divine purposes taken in connection with the first promise.
2. From the settlement with Abraham respecting the coming of his promised seed.
3. From the style of the prophets, and the expectations which they excite.
4. From the progress of Christianity through the world, in defiance of all the opposition which has been combined against it. (W. Taylor.)
