Isaiah 27:8 In measure, when it shoots forth, you will debate with it: he stays his rough wind in the day of the east wind. I. ADAPTED BY WHOM. "He stayeth His rough wind," etc. Adapted by the Almighty Father. If God could not adapt a rough wind to a feeble nature, He would not be almighty. The very omnipotence of God involves power to do the tender and the gentle. II. ADAPTED TO WHAT. 1. The strength of the sufferer. There is no man who thoroughly knows his own strength — certainly not until it has been developed by circumstances. There are people who overrate it; and they will say to you that they can bear such and such a thing easily, and they look upon others, and they wonder that they should be bowed down by events of a certain class. They are placed in circumstances corresponding to those of their fellow men, and they find that their strength is absolute weakness. Other persons say, "Oh! I could never bear such a trial." The former cannot do what he thinks he can do; the latter can do what he thinks he cannot do. Now God makes no such mistakes. He knows just what we are. "He knows our frame: He remembers that we are but dust." 2. He moderates it, moreover, according to the work which has to be accomplished. Sometimes trouble is chastening. Then trouble is intended to do a preparatory work. Or there is something that a man has to do either down here or yonder — some work for which he is not educated — and God sends a trouble to educate the man. Now God moderates affliction according to the work to be accomplished. If there be a fault to be corrected, then the trouble must have great force in it — it must be rough in its character; whereas, if it be irately educational — just simply to bring out some dormant faculty — then it need not be rough in its character, but it requires to be longer continued. 3. Adapted to the time during which this work should be finished. 4. Adapted to the power and resources, moreover, of fellow. sufferers — because in most cases others suffer with us; and you do not suppose that God does not look at the entire family when He sends sorrow unto that family. III. HOW DOES GOD DO THIS? Sometimes by removing one trouble before another comes. By lightening the affliction itself, or by so strengthening the heart of the sufferer, that the affliction is relatively lighter, or by pouring through the soul of the troubled one rich and abundant consolation. IV. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES GOD DO THIS? He does it for present peace and joy. Moreover, for your enduring benefit, and in manifestation of Himself to you as a tender Father, "He stayeth His rough wind in the day of the east wind." Now this is the testimony of God concerning Himself; but it is also the testimony of God's children concerning Him. Isaiah could say this from his own experience and observation; and he addressed the words of our text to those who could acknowledge them to be true. Now, tell this to one another. God intends you to comfort each other, as well as to instruct and edify one another. Then we say to others of you, be not afraid of the rough wind. Those of you who have not felt it will feel it. (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. |
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