0393. THE DIVINE CALL TO AWAKE.
THE DIVINE CALL TO AWAKE.
Isa_52:1-3.
It is a great mercy that God does call; for the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of God are all alike prone to become insensible to their spiritual privileges. He that hath ears to hear let him hear. Note-
I. What this Call Implies. "Awake! awake!" Surely this denotes-
1. A State of Sleep. They were utterly unconscious of the nearness of God, and of His willingness at once to help them. God is at hand, but eyes sealed in the sleep of selfish ease see Him not and hear Him not till the awakening takes place.
2. A State of Degradation. Zion was to "shake herself from the dust." The dust of worldliness and sin will quickly gather on the garments of those who become spiritually drowsy. Bunyan’s "Man with the Muck Rake" is an illustration of this grovelling spirit that is wilfully blind to the better riches.
3. A State of Captivity. "Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck." Zion is here represented as being self-bound. "Loose thyself." The bands that bind many are self-made. What are some of them? Love of ease and of pleasure, the fear of man and the fear of women, pride of heart and desire for praise. Awake! awake! and loose thyself! Step out into the liberty of God’s children.
II. What this Call was to. It was a call to awake, to shake off, and then to put on, that the shame of her nakedness may not appear.
1. Put on thy Strength. Thy strength is not in thyself, but in Him who is thy God. Put it on, because thou art a weak child without this. Paul had put on strength when he said, "I can dp all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Put on, therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His strength will be made a perfect fit for thy weakness.
2. Put on thy Beautiful Garments. Awake! awake! and put off thy night-dress, and put on those garments for glory and beauty which are offered thee in Him. Put on thy beautiful garments of holiness and praise, for the Bridegroom is at hand and the marriage day is near. Put them on, that the world may see that you belong to Him and that you are looking for His appearing. Put them on, lest you may be found among the speechless at the coming of the King (Mat_22:12).
Autor: James Smith