Sermons on Isaiah 11:1-10, Sermon · Verse 4
VERSE IV.
But with righteouſneſs ſhall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity, for the meek of the earth; and he ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the wicked.
HIs juſtice in the Government of his ſubjects, is ſet down here poſitively; where we underſtand by judging the poor, his delivering of them out of the hand of their oppreſſors, by taking them and their cauſe into his own cognizance and protection, and in end doing juſtice to them and upon their oppreſſors, Pſ. 140.12. I know that the Lord will maintain the cauſe of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
By the meek we underſtand both the great and ſmall, who being wronged, bear the wrongs with a meek ſpirit, (not avenging themſelves by reviling, or by rendering evil for evil) as was the diſpoſition of David, though a great man, Pſ. 38.13, 14. But I as a deaf man heard not, and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth: thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whoſe mouth are no reproofs.
By reproving for the meek of the earth, we underſtand our bleſſed Lord his appearing for them in his gracious providence, and in the courſe of vindicative juſtice, when under their afflictions and perſecutions, they are quiet and peaceable; then doth the Lord, unto whom they commit their cauſe in righteouſneſs, ofttimes ariſe, and in their ſtead reproves their oppreſſors and injurers, not only by his Word, as he did David by Nathan, for the wrong done to Ʋriah; but alſo many times by his rod and ſad judgements, Pſ. 105.14. He ſuffered no man to do them wrong; yea he reproved Kings for their ſakes. Or ſometimes he reproves them by awaking and tormenting their guilty conſciences, Job 20.19, 20. Becauſe he hath oppreſſed, &c. he ſhall not ſurely feel quietneſs in his belly, he ſhall not ſave of that he deſired: And ver. 26. a fire not blown ſhall conſume him.
Obſerv. 1. The Lord God is the judge and defender of the poor, even of ſuch as are in a deſtitute and deſolat condition, as of the widow, the fatherleſs and the ſtrangers, Pſ. 12.5. For the oppreſsion of the poor, for the ſighing of the needy, now will I ariſe, ſaith the Lord. As a Judge he will ariſe in judgement, to decide in their favours: thus he aroſe in judgement for oppreſſed Naboth, and by a viſible judgement upon Achab the oppreſſor, declared to all the world the innocency of Naboth, who had been unjuſtly condemned as a blaſphemer: the Lord recommends ſuch oppreſſed perſons as his ſpecial Clients, unto his Deputies and Vice-gerents upon earth, Pſ. 82 3. Iſ. 1.17. He commends in all Judges, the care they have of the poor and deſtitute, Pſ. 72.12. ſpeaking of Solomon, He ſhall deliver the needy when he cryeth, the poor alſo and him that hath no helper. Upon this account, good Joſiah is much commended by the Lord, Jer. 22.16. He judged the cauſe of the poor and needy▪ then it was well with him; was not this to know me, ſaith the Lord? Prov. 29.7. The righteous conſidereth the cauſe of the poor, but the wicked regardeth not to know it. And he threaten ſad judgements againſt ſuch Judges, who reſpect perſons, and turn away the right from the poor, Job 13.10. Amos 2.6. Micah 3 10.
Ʋſe 1. For imitation unto all men in place of publick judgement; they ſhould in judging, follow the example of our bleſſed Lord, who in judging and governing, did plead and aſſert the cauſe of the poor and deſtitute, 2 Chron. 19.6, 7. Take heed what ye do, for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement: wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor reſpect of perſons, nor taking of gifts. The poor are frequently recommended in holy Scripture by God himſelf unto the Judges on earth; and we know, ſubordinat Judges take ſpecial notice of theſe who are recommended to them by the ſupreme Judge and Ruler of the Land; and their cauſe is expeded with all poſſible and convenient diligence.
Ʋſe 2. For admonition to men of power on earth, not to oppreſs the poor, for the Lord is their Judge, and will own their cauſe, Exo. 22.22. Job 34. from ver. 24. to 29. what the oppreſſor at a time gets by oppreſſion, the ſupreme Judge of the earth in his juſtice and providence, doth oft-times revocke from him or his poſterity, Job 20.15. He hath ſwallowed down riches, and he ſhall vomit them up again; God ſhall caſt them out of his belly. Sometimes the Lord ſmites him with terrour in his conſcience, which is as a fire not blown or viſible to the world, but ſecretly he torments him, Job 15.21. Job 20.26. This oppreſſion of the poor brings great houſes to deſolation. Hab 2.9, 10, 11. Wo to him that coveteth an evil covetouſneſs to his houſe, that he may ſet his neſt on high The Lord God oft-times in his juſtice, raiſeth up one oppreſſor againſt another, as one Pyrat for robbing of another, Iſ. 33.1. Wo to thee that ſpoileſt, and thou waſt not ſpoiled; and dealeſt treacherouſly, and they dealt not treacherouſly with thee; when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoil, thou ſhalt be ſpoiled; and when thou ſhalt make an end to deal treacherouſly, they ſhall deal treacherouſly with thee.
Ʋſe 3. For comfort to the poor, who are deſpiſed and oppreſſed; let them not be altogether diſcouraged, nor deſpair of redreſs: but let them quietly, without tumult, noiſe or ſedition, make their addreſs and appeal to the ſupreme Judge and Lord, who judges righteouſly, Pſ. 10.14. The poor leaveth himſelf upon thee, thou art the helper of the fatherleſs. Thus did our bleſſed Lord, (1 Pet. 2.23.) not cry bitterly againſt the oppreſſor; but cry quietly to God, who will comfort the oppreſ'd, and redreſs the wrongs done to them, Job 35.9, 10, 14. Although thou ſayeſt thou ſhalt not ſee him, yet judgement is before him, therefore truſt thou in him.
Obſerv. 2. God avenges the cauſe of the meek and humble in ſpirit; for it is ſaid here, he ſhall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. David was meek and ſilent when foul-mouthed Shimei railed againſt him, and was confident God would do him good for his curſing, and one time or other give to the inſolent and inſulting railer a ſad reproof, as the Lord did afterward by Solomon puniſhing him. In like manner, the people of Iſrael were ſilent at the blaſphemous railing of Rabſhekah; and God gave a ſad reproof both to him and his Maſter, by that extraordinar and viſible judgement upon that great Army.
Ʋſe 1. For admonition to proud inſolent brawlers, not to injure and affront the meek, and therefore inſult over them, as ſilly baſe-ſpirited men, becauſe they are quiet, and do not render evil for evil: although they are ſenſible of the wrong done to themſelves; yet they are ſenſible of their duty to God and his holy Commandment, Rom. 12.19. Avenge not your ſelves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, ſaith the Lord. And from ſenſe of the wrong done, they lay it forth in ſecret before the Lord, who will reprove for them, and ſpeak by his judgements in their behalf, as many times he has plagued the wicked, who oppreſs the meek of the earth: yea, ſometimes he puniſhes even the godly, when they out of a fit of envy, do wrong to the meek: God gave a ſad reproof by a viſible judgement to Miriam, when out of envy ſhe ſpoke againſt meek Moſes, Numb. 12.
Ʋſe 2. For admonition to theſe who are wronged and oppreſſed in any manner or meaſure; let them ſtudy to be of a meek ſpirit, and of a quiet deportment; avenge not thy ſelf by contumely or injury: for if thou do ſo, God will look on and ſuffer thee to be doing; but in ſo doing, thou wilt ſpoil and marr thy own cauſe; not unlike to ſome poor ignorant Countrey-men, who preſuming to ſpeak for themſelves at the Bar of Juſtice, do oft-times marr their own Cauſe: But if thou be meek and patient, God will ſtand up in his own good time, he will plead thy cauſe, and make thy juſt poſſeſſion of thy good name and eſtate, to outlive the unjuſt calumny, oppreſſion or violent intruſion of thine adverſaries, Pſ. 37.6, 11. He ſhall bring forth thy righteouſneſs as the light, and thy judgement as the noon day: the meek ſhall inherit the earth and ſhall delight themſelves in the abundance of peace. Mat. 5.5. Bleſſed are the meek, for they ſhall inherit the earth.