THE KING’S BUSINESS
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the thoughts of the wisest philosopher as the thoughts of the wisest philosopher are low;er than the thoughts of God. vs. 10, 11. "For as the rain cometh down, (omit ,) and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, (omit , ) and bread to the. eater: (;) so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall r prosp'er in the thing | whereto I sent it.” ¡1 A further reason is here given for forsaking our ways and thoughts and taking God’s ¡| ways and God’s thoughts instead of our own, and that is that God’s word is both sure and effective. Man’s word is very uncertain, oftentimes erron eous, but God’s word is absolutely sure. God’s predictions will always be fulfilled, His promises will never fail, and God’s word will always accomplish the purpose for which it is sent (cf. ch. 45:23; Luke 1:27 R. V.). There is still another sense in which God’s word shall not return unto Him void, viz., it bears fruit in imparting life (John 6:63; Jer. 23:29; Rom. 1:16; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). God here calls the word which the prophet spoke MY word; what the prophet says, God says. What an inspired man says is God’s word just as much as if we heard God audibly saying it; the word really goes forth out of God’s mouth (“goeth forth out of my mouth”). The Bible is the word of God. God’s word will be consummated in a redeemed society, in a redeemed creation, v. 12, 13 (cf. ch. 35:19; 49:9, 10; 51:11; Jer. 31:12-14; Isa. 35:1, 2; Rom. 8:19-23). The language here used about the moun tains and the hills breaking forth into singing is interpreted by Ps. 65:11-13. OUTLINE What is there referred to as “water” ? John 7:39. Will that water really satisfy? John 4:13, 14.
thoughts rather than our own. Ours must be forsaken because they are only evil con tinually (Gen. 6:5). Having forsaken our ways and our thoughts we must turn unto Jehovah, surrender our wills to Him in daily obedience and daily trust. Man as originally created was upright. His becoming a sinner was a departure from Jehovah and so his forsaking is a “return” unto Jehovah. The Lord will have mercy upon every one who forsakes his own way and his own thoughts, and takes God’s way and God’s thoughts. No matter how far. the man has departed from God or how deep he has gone into sin, God will have mercy on him (cf. ch. 1:16-18; 1 Tim. 1:15; Luke 19:10). God’s pardon is no scanty pardon, it is abundant, .plenty and to spare (cf. ch. 43:25; 44:1, 2; 38:17; Micah 7:9; Ps. 103:12). vs. 8 , 9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." These verses give the reason why we must forsake our own thoughts and our own ways. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts; there is a wide dif ference between man's thoughts, even the thoughts of the wisest human philosopher, and the thoughts of God. And our ways are not God’s ways: theerfore we must give them up. ; God’s thoughts and ways are not only different from ours, they are far higher than Ours. God’s ways are as much higher than our ways than the heav ens are higher than the earth, and God’s thoughts are as much higher than our thoughts as the heavens are higher than the earth. Our thoughts are nothing in comparison with His. The thoughts of a little child are not so much lower than
LESSON
( 1 ) An Invitation, v. 1. Where, practically, is this repeated in the New Testament? Rev. 22:17. How does Jesus put it? John 7 :37.
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