Isai. xxix. 17. Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest ?
OUR blessed Lord reproved the Scribes and Pha- risees of his day ; because when, from particular ap- pearances in the atmosphere, they could judge with considerable accuracy what the state of the weather would be, they could not discern, from the clear evidences before them, that their Messiah was indeed come*. We will not say that a similar reproof is due to those who see not the near approach of the Millen- nium now, because the evidences of it are by no means so clear and strong : but I think there is abundant ground for the appeal which the Prophet Isaiah made to the people of his day ; " Is it not yet a very little while," and all the wonderful blessings of the latter day shall overspread the earth ?
In confirmation of this sentiment, I will set before you,
I. The event anticipated —
The prediction in my text relates to one great event —
[It is generally supposed to comprehend two events; namely, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the rejection of God's ancient people. But I feel no doubt but that it relates generally to the conversion of the whole world to Christ ; and that its true sense is this: " In a little time the uncultivated forest of the Gentile world shall become a fruitful field ; and that which would now be reckoned a fruitful field, namely, the Jewish Church, shall be esteemed as a forest," so incomparably more abundant shall its fruitfulness be in the latter day.
This accords best with the very words of my text ; for it is not said that the fruitful field shall be turned into a forest, (as in the former clause,) but that it " shall be esteemed as a forest ;" where the diversity of the words clearly marks the diversity of the sentiment contained in them.
This also well accords with the general strain of prophecy,
a Matt. xii. 28. with xvi. 2, 3.