Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished… 1. "My people." The Almighty has a people of His own; a people with special privileges and a special work to do. In the Old Testament and the New this is clearly written. "My people," says Isaiah; "My flock," says Jesus Christ. That is the method of grace. God acts upon some of us that they may act upon the rest. In the days of a school the young influence one another. In a town, in a nation, it is the same. And a whole country has its mission for the world as the Hebrews had. Now, in the text that nation is complained of. Why? Because they had no knowledge. 2. "My people" is a term which shows us God's character. The inferences which arise from it should be dear to Christians. God will not be without a people, because He is a God of love. He must have around Him children to love. But it is a quality inherent in love to love its like. Children may be helpless, or wayward: we can bear with them, love them, not less, perhaps more, for their weakness and dependence; but they must not be reprobate. There must be some affinity of feeling, something lovable in them, or at last we shall not love, or at any rate love will be in abeyance. God, we believe, has not, and never will, disinherit Israel finally. Why did he go so wrong and choose so badly? "Therefore My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge." They had knowledge enough in their head no doubt, but they had not taken it to their heart. 3. Now, as regards ourselves, we are God's people — not exclusively, but among other Christian nations of this later time. God has given us great knowledge of His truth. He has even revealed to us deep secrets of His own nature: even the mystery of the Holy Trinity itself. Since God has given knowledge to us, it should be kept by us not in a passive but in a living active state. (2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Jude 1:3.) And this knowledge is so efficient and operative a force that it is all-important to keep it "whole and undefiled." This "doctrine" of the Holy Trinity is no speculative thing, but it is closely interwoven with the principles of Christian life. (T. F. Crosse, D. C. L.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. |
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