Isaiah 26:8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, O LORD, have we waited for you; the desire of our soul is to your name… I. THE WORDS CONTAIN A SOLEMN PROTESTATION — a protestation, on the part of these faithful people of the Lord, to Himself, in reference to His "judgments." "Yea," say they, "Verily Thou, O Divine Searcher of hearts, knowest that we lie not, when we declare that in the way of Thy judgments we have waited for Thee." What a happy state of mind and heart is this! There may be a multiplication of observances, lastings, solemn assemblies, where, on the part of multitudes, there is nothing but form. II. THESE GODLY JEWS SPEAK TO THE LORD OF HIS "JUDGMENTS." If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without. Thy knowledge and permission, how much more is Thy agency to be traced in those mighty desolations that have moved the earth, and come down with such appalling fury on the land of Thine own people! III. THESE GODLY PEOPLE, IN THEIR SINNING AND CHASTENED LAND, SPEAK TO GOD OF "THE WAY" OF HIS JUDGMENTS. We read of Jehovah's "way" in a gracious sense — His way of mercy to lost sinners — the wondrous and glorious path along which He has passed, and is still passing, in saving sinners of our fallen race through the atonement of His own beloved incarnate Son (Psalm 67:1, 2). Blessed, most blessed, are they who are Divinely taught this "way" of the Lord! A far other "way" of Judah's God is that to which her mourning children refer in the verse before us. It is His judicial way — the wrathful way in which He is provoked to "come out of His place," and move towards highly favoured but deeply sinning and guilty lands. IV. Let us contemplate and imitate the exercise of this "small remnant" of the fearers of the Lord in the land of Judah. THEY WAITED FOR HIM IN THE WAY OF HIS JUDGMENTS. What are the elements which should enter into the exercise to which we are this day called? 1. Solemn recognition of God. 2. Solemn adoration of this high and holy Lord God. 3. Justification of God. 4. Humiliation of soul before God. 5. Pouring out the heart in earnest supplication before the Lord. (W. Mackray, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. |
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