Magnifying the Lord ~ A Study in the Word


Looking at Isaiah 48:4 and the Writing of Charles Spurgeon


Isaiah 48:4-
**I know that you are stubborn. Like iron, you are hardheaded. Like bronze, nothing gets through your thick skull.(God's Word Translation)

**Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have done for you more than I promised, that your stubbornness and impudency might have been overcome. (Geneva Study Bible)

**I knew - Therefore I gave thee clearer demonstrations of my nature and providence, because I knew thou wast an unbelieving nation. Thy neck - Will not bow down to receive my yoke. Thy brow - Thou wast impudent. (Wesley)

obstinate- Hebrew, "hard" (De 9:27 ; Eze 3:7), iron sinew-inflexible (Ac 7:51 ), brow brass-shameless as a harlot (see Jer 6:28 ; 3:3; Eze 3:7).

Quote by Charles Spurgeon :
**...these poor souls forget the present Saviour, who bids them look unto Him and be saved.

He could heal them at once, but they prefer to wait for an angel and a wonder.

To trust Him is the sure way to every blessing, and He is worthy of the most implicit confidence ; but unbelief makes them prefer the cold porches of Bethesda to the warm bosom of His love.

O that the Lord may turn His eye upon the multitudes who are in this case to-night; may He forgive the slights which they put upon His divine power, and call them by that sweet constraining voice, to rise from the bed of despair, and in the energy of faith take up their bed and walk. O Lord, hear our prayer for all such at this calm hour of sunset, and ere the day breaketh may they look and live.


implicit ~
adjective 1. IMPLIED, understood, suggested, hinted at, taken for granted, unspoken, inferred, tacit, undeclared, insinuated, unstated, unsaid, unexpressed << OPPOSITE explicit

adjective 2. INHERENT, contained, underlying, intrinsic, latent, ingrained, inbuilt

adjective 3. ABSOLUTE, full, complete, total, firm, fixed, entire, constant, utter, outright, consummate, unqualified, out-and-out, steadfast, wholehearted, unadulterated, unreserved, unshakable, unshaken, unhesitating



Thoughts to consider:

Matthew Henry wrote about Isaiah 48:4-

"The Jews valued themselves on descent from Jacob, and used the name of Jehovah as their God. They prided themselves respecting Jerusalem and the temple, yet there was no holiness in their lives. If we are not sincere in religion, we do but take the name of the Lord in vain. By prophecy they were shown how God would deal with them, long before it came to pass. God has said and done enough to prevent men's boasting of themselves, which makes the sin and ruin of the proud worse; sooner or later every mouth shall be stopped, and all become silent before Him. We are all born children of disobedience. Where original sin is, actual sin will follow. Does not the conscience of every man witness to the truth of Scripture? May the Lord prove us, and render us doers of the word."

Do we have the "implicit confidence" active in our life above all else? How often do we choose to rise above all the issues that speak a less-than experience to abide in the "energy of faith" and step out of the facts of the matter into the truth of God's word?

Let us choose this day to do as the Lord bids:

"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."--John 5:8

For surely our implicit trust will bring an expected end.

Amen.


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