This chapter, though consisting of nine verses only, is a little Gospel.
In some of the preceding verses are to be found all the particulars of the Gospel--such as, the substitution of Christ as a sacrifice in behalf of His offending people, the satisfaction made to Divine justice by His death, the purification of the Church through sanctified afflictions, the blessed privileges and intercourse they are allowed to enjoy with their God and Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ. The text was fulfilled when the nation was destroyed by the Roman army, and when, amidst all the dreadful scenes which were then beheld, He preserved His own people. This is the primary meaning of the text, but it refers also to the dealings of God with all His people, in all generations of the Church, down to the end of time. The words describe the trials and triumphs of God’s people. The trials which come before their triumphs in some cases, and the triumphs which accompany their trials in others.
I. The trials of the children of God. “I will bring them through the fire.”
1. This implies that He will bring them into the fire. Afflictions are our lot. They are what we must expect. We may resist them, avoid them, be angry with them, harden our hearts under them, ascribe them to second causes, but we cannot escape them.
2. The nature of afflictions. They are called “fire,” which denotes the severity of the Divine chastenings. Afflictions must be felt, or they are not afflictions. If we do not feel, the end of these afflictions is not answered.
3. The end and design of affliction. “I will bring them through the fire.” God does not chastise for the sake of chastising. Fire is searching, and fire is purifying.
II. The triumphs of the Christian.
1. Ultimate deliverance. It is a happiness to know that He can bring you through, and a still greater happiness to know that He will bring you through.
2. Communion with God. They that belong to God make their requests known to Him. He has commanded and encouraged them to do this. In this we may win a triumph.
3. Covenant relation to God is another part of the Christian’s triumph. God owns them in adversity. There is no backwardness on the part of the believer to own the relationship when God says that it exists. (W. Thomas.)
As silver is refined
“I saw in Rome,” says a modern writer, “an old coin, a silver denarius, all coated and crusted with green and purple rust. I called it rust, but was told that it was copper, the alloy thrown out from the silver until there was none left within; the silver was all pore. It takes ages to do it, but it does get done. Souls are like that. Something moves in them slowly, till the debasement is all thrown out. Some day, perhaps, the very tarnish shall be taken off.” Well, there is this alloy, this tarnish in all of us, and the education of life is to purge it all away--by sorrows, by disappointments, by failures, by judgments--
“By fires far fiercer than are blown to prove
And purge the silver ore adulterate.”
(Great Thoughts.)
God’s method of dealing with His people
Thewisdom, sovereignty, and power of the Supreme Ruler are nowhere more clearly and impressively set forth and illustrated than in the fundamental methods which mark His government of mankind. What these methods or principles are it is not difficult to determine from Scripture and providence. And the choice of methods and the disclosure of them are made for the purposes of instruction and moral discipline. Among these methods are the following--
1. Agencies wholly inadequate, seemingly, to accomplish purposes so grand and infinite.
2. Instruments, “weak” and “foolish” in themselves, chosen to “confound things that are mighty”--the wisdom, philosophy, pride, and wealth of the world.
3. God’s method is one to compel faith--the whole structure of the Supernatural rests on faith.
(1) It is true in regard to the Scriptures. From Genesis to Revelation we “see as through a glass, darkly.” God gives light enough to discern duty, but not to satisfy a thousand anxieties. We must believe, trust, patiently wait, or perish.
(2) Providence is a book full of painful mysteries. We cannot break the seals and interpret. Darkness that may be felt encompasses our path here. We are shut up to faith.
4. The Divine method is the method of severe discipline. By the way of the Cross to the Crown! Fellowship in suffering the condition of joint heirship in glory. “Whom He loves He rebukes and chastens.”
5. God’s method is one of slow growth and development. Light, grace, prosperity, favour, discipline, as we can bear it.
6. God’s method of dealing has respect to that system of rewards and punishments which forms a part of His moral government. Sin and misery, virtue and happiness, obedience and reward, are so conjoined in this life that no man can mistake the will of God, or reasonably doubt that the law of eternal rectitude is bound ultimately to prevail.
7. Occasionally by “terrible acts of righteousness” God reveals Himself to the nations, “that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.” (Homiletic Monthly.)
I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God--
Intercommunion between God and man
What a vivid representation this passage affords of the personality of God! Here He appears as One who thinks, observes, feels, and purposes; a far higher and juster view of the Eternal Power than that which sees only abstract law behind and above Nature. And how striking is the intercommunion here pictured between the Creator and His creatures! Owing to man having been made in the Divine image, he is capable of spiritual intercourse with his Maker. And what a delightful intimacy distinguishes this communion!
I. The voice of God--“It is My people.”
1. My rightful people. The Lord of all asserts His authority, puts forward His claim. This is a view of religion often overlooked. We are God’s by right.
2. My loved people. We hear in this utterance the tone of affection. There is a touching tenderness in the possessive “my,” in such expressions as “my friend,” “my father,” “my son,” “my husband,” “my wife.” So here, when the Lord says, “My people.”
3. My redeemed people.
4. My sealed people. It is usual to mark property with the owner’s name. It is by the renewed character and the obedient life that the Lord’s property in His own people is most surely attested. “The Lord knoweth them that are His,” and, “Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Religion may be regarded as consisting of man’s acknowledgment of God’s revelation; an acknowledgment which is first of the heart--when it is faith; next of the language--when it is confession; and further, of the life--when it is obedience.
II. The voice of man. “The Lord is my God.”
1. This cry is a response to the Divine assurance. It is the faithful echo to the heavenly voice.
2. The Lord alone is our God, whom we honour supremely. None other divides our heart with Him.
3. The Lord is our God to trust. The greatest and most pressing need of man in this life is One upon whom his weakness and helplessness can absolutely rely.
4. The Lord is our God, to appropriate and enjoy. What gladness fills the soul when a long hoped for discovery has been made, a long sought treasure found, a long lost friend recovered!
5. The Lord is our God, to serve and glorify.
6. The Lord is our God forever. Our God is the eternal God. (J. R. Thomson, M. A.)
