Duty of Reflection on God's Judgments
J. Benson, D. D. Isaiah 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment… I. THE PEOPLE ADDRESSED. "My people." 1. The Lord addresses, in these words, all, in general, who profess His name, and are named from Him; who receive His Word as the rule of their faith and practice; who attend His ordinances, and use the means of grace. 2. Therefore His true people are more especially meant in this passage. But who are these! They are described by St. Peter, who, having termed them "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people," says, they "are translated out of darkness into His marvellous light." II. THE ADVANCE HE GIVES THEM. "Come, My people." Come to Me, and — 1. Make confession. 2. Utter your complaint. 3. Exercise trust and dependence upon Me. 4. Praise Me for My long suffering and mercies, and devote thyself to Me afresh. "Come with Me into thy chambers." The word means retired, secret, and safe places. "Let the storm which disperses others bring you nearer together, to Me and to each other" (Henry). Withdraw into the changers of defence. The attributes of God are the "secret of His tabernacle" (Psalm 27:5). His name is "a strong tower" (Proverbs 18:10). III. THE REASON OF THIS ADVICE (ver. 21). God "comes out of His place" when He shows Himself in an extraordinary manner from heaven. The expression is borrowed from the usage of princes who come out of their palaces, either to sit in judgment, or to fight against their enemies. (J. Benson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. WEB: Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.