Divine purpose and Divine power.
We have our thoughts directed in this passage to—
I. THE DIVINE PURPOSE. "I have thought … I have purposed … this is the purpose … upon the whole earth," etc. God had a special purpose respecting Assyria, and he may have had a distinct purpose in inspiring Isaiah to pronounce at this especial time what it was, viz. that, in the dark days of Babylonian captivity, his people might remember its fulfillment, and be assured of an accomplishment for which they had still to wait. But these expressions suggest to us the existence of Divine purposes in the mind of God, dating from the remote past and stretching on into the far future. God's purposes in regard to his creatures have been or are:
1. Creative. In the "far backward and abysm of time" he determined to call worlds, beings, intelligent and immortal spirits, into existence, to be the objects of his thought, care, love; to many of whom he himself should be the Object of worship, affection, service.
2. Ministrative. His purpose was that of boundless benefaction—of conferring on multitudes and millions of sentient beings a life of happiness and, to a vast, number, that of true dignity and worth.
3. Punitive. His purpose has been to punish, never indeed under the impulse of mere resentment, but always in the interests of righteousness and, ultimately, in that of true happiness also.
4. Restorative. He has purposed, and does purpose, to restore; either
II. THE DIVINE POWER. "So shall it come to pass … so shall it stand … I will break … I will tread under foot … This is the hand that is stretched out … Who shall disannul … who shall turn back" (his hand)? It is true that:
1. God has taken time to effect his purpose; e.g. the building of this world for man's residence, the preparation of the world for Christ's coming.
2. God has permitted his rebellious children to lessen the sum of happiness and worth they would otherwise have possessed.
3. God's beneficent design for the redemption of the world by the gospel has been hindered by external opposition and by internal shortcoming. Yet it remains true, and this is the larger as it is the brighter half of the truth, that:
3. God's purpose of restoration will one day be accomplished. "This is the purpose which is purposed upon the whole earth," and "this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations." "The Lord of hosts hath purposed." There may be many obstacles in the way. Difficulties may, to the eye of human calculation, seem actually insurmountable; the estimable forces of truth may appear unequal to cope with the overwhelming agencies of error and evil. But this our great hope is not a bold enterprise of man; it is the purpose of the living God, the Lord of hosts. "His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" Let the Christian worshipper offer expectant prayer; let the Christian workman go up to his post with holy confidence; for the purpose of God, though it be long delayed, shall assuredly be fulfilled.—C.