Vers. 8-12.-Gijtsfor Divine service. I. THEIR NATURE. (Ver. 8.) 1. "Power."' (Ver. 8.) ·weak as the prophet felt himself to be, he was conscious of a Divine influe11ce resting upon Lim and inspiring him, clothing him with holy energy an,l irre- Bistible might. His mind and heart had been brought into an enjoyment of the highest and holic:st fellowship with the Invisible and Eternal. His Bou] was animated by the inward witness of the Father's love. His whole nature was quickened so that the on. m. 1-12,] THE BOOK OF MTOAB. ----------------------------------- epirit, instead of being ruled by the body, had the body 88 ite willing instrument, and o.11 o.ctin~ in concert with the will of God. God dwelt In him and he in God. His spiritual· life wo.s healthy ancl vigorous. His was the strength of a man who felt that he bad been called to engage in a work demanding peculiar gifts and endowments in order to its successful discharge, but that all he thus wanted God would bestow, so as to render him efficient; and hence he was ready for service-full of inward strength, "full of power." 2. "Judgment." (Ver. 8.) 'l'he reference is not to judgment in the sense of being able to discriminate character (although thia is very desirable), but judgment in the sense of enlightenment to understand the message to be delivered. Here was a messenger who knew what to say; who did not go forth with a sense of uncertainty, but ae one who had received his message and was prepared without hesitation to deliver it. 3. "Might." The idea is that of courage. He not only knew what to say, but was ready to say it fearlessly. Humble in origin, born and trained up in obscurity, he cowered not even before princes and nobles, but rather caused them to tremble by the holy boldness with which he declared unto them "all the counsel of God." II. TREIB SOURCE. (Ver. 8.) "But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord." These words betray no egotism on the part of the prophet. Had he simply affirmed himself to be a man of power, he had doubtless laid himself open to the charge of manifesting that" self-waise" which is" no recommendation;" but the qualifying sentence entirely frees him from the charge--" by the Spirit of the Lord." He was inwardly strong; he was enlightened to know what he ought to utter in God's name, and he was prepared to go forth and to say it with unflinching courage, because there rested upon him "an unction from the Holy One," and he was inspired by God's own Spirit. III. THEIB EXERCISE. "He declared unto Jacob his transgression," etc. (ver. 8). With an inspiring consciousness of the presence with him of the Lord he served; with a clear perception of the character of the age and of the announcements he was to make in God's name, and with a boldness no adverse force could intimidate, because divinely sustained, he went forth to his appointed service, reproved the rulers for their unrighteous judgments and their acceptance of bribes, a.ad their acts of craelty and oppression ( vers. 9, 10), chastised the priests and prophets for degrading, by their mercenary conduct, the high functions they were called upon to discharge (ver. 11), and predicted the coming overthrow of the nation, fastening upon these guilty leaders the responsibility of occasioning the impending doom (ver. 12). 'l'he history of the Church of God through all ages tells of men thus inspired by God's Spirit with "power" and "judgment" and "might;" and hence who nobly fulfilled their com- mission. Peter on the Day of Pentecost, Paul before kings and governors, Luther before the Diet of Worms, Knox carrying on the work of Reformation in Scotland, Whitefield a.nd the W esleys in the work of revival-there rested upon the heads of these true servants of the living God the tongues of heavenly fire; their arms were nerved by the might of omnipotence, and there dwelt in them the wondrous spiritual force that shall yet regenerate the world. 'l'here are difficulties connected with service to God in the present as in all past times ; yet these should not dishearten or daunt us, but in the Divine strength we should courageously meet these a.nd contend against them until they nre all overcome. It betrays the possession of a weak faith, a.nd 11eems to indicate that he does not realize what Divine resources are available to him, if a man in his work for God sits down before the difficulties of his position as a. worker, iispirited and fretful. Shall we manifest less courage in reference to spiritual service than men cxhihit in the ordinary pursuits of life? Shall we acknowledge ourselves be.filed and beaten when the mighty energy of God's own Spirit is available, and may be ours if we will? There was exhibited on one occasion at the Royal Academy a. strildng picture of a. gallant knight muuntod on his charger and approaching a dark cavern. His steed was represented as drawing back through fear, a.nd the dogs following as shrinking through terror; but lo I the knight wears a countenance untouched by alarm. There may ile perils ahead, but he reeks not, for his hand grasps the cross and his trust is in the living, loving Lord. Let our trust be thus centred, and no difficulty lying before us, or no antagonism o.go.inst which we may have to contend in holy service, she.II be able to daunt us, but wo shall say, "Who art thou, 0 great mountain'! 42 'l'HE BOOK OF MTOAH. [oR. III. 1-12.
before Zerubbabel thou she.It become 11. ple.in." We should" covet earnestly the best gifts," 11.nn nbove nil seek to be" endued with power from on high." 'Ver. 10.-Natfrmal st,a;bility. I. THE ENDEAVOUR TO SECURE NATIONAL STADILITY IB LAUDABLE AND TO BE COMMENDED, Princes, nobles, lee.ders of the people of 11.ll classes, ought to seek to build up Zion and Jerusalem; and ee.rnest, enthusiastic effort direrted to this end is honoure.ble 11.nd worthy of all praise. II. THIS RESULT CAN ALONE BE GAINED BY RIGHTEOUS MEANS. National strength and stability has its very foundations in truth, rectitude, justice, and goodness. III. 'l'HE ADOPTION OF ANY OTHER METHODS MUST INEVITABLY RESULT IN DISGRACE AND DECAY. These rulers built up Zion with" blood," i.e. oppression, wrong, cruelty; and J ernsalem with "iniquity," perverting all that was true and right; and hence, despite the semblance of outward prosperity, the process of decay and dissolution was going on, and became at length completed in the ruin of the nation (ver. 12). IV. THEY ARE THE TRUE PATRIOTS WHO LIFr UP THE VOICE OF WARNING, AND WHO EXPOU1''D Alm ENFORCE THE PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. To adopt this oourse specially in a worldly, Eelf-indulgent age is sure (1) to render the teacher unpopular with many; (2) hence it requires holy courage and daring; (3) which will be possessed in proportion as the man is "moved by the Holy Ghost."