Isaiah 38:14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: my eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed… The possessions of the world are often the means of lightening life's sorrows, and of increasing its enjoyments. What experience teaches us in this respect the Word of God allows. Prosperity is recognised by it as a subject for gratitude. But that riches in themselves are insufficient to make us happy is undeniable. At all seasons the limitation of their power is obvious; but at no time does it appear more strikingly than when the king of terrors gives challenge to an earthly potentate, and he finds that "there is no discharge in that war." The history connected with our text will furnish us with an instance. I. THE CAUSES OF MOURNING. This image of mourning as a dove is not confined to this one passage (Isaiah 59:11; Ezekiel 7:16; Nahum 2:7). Now the plaintive mourning notes of the dove we will suppose to be descriptive of various classes of men of sorrow. 1. We will begin with those mourning from the same cause as the author of our text. It was pining sickness which wounded the monarch's spirit, and the prospect which it presented to him of certain dissolution. If, while as a dove you mourn plaintively, your mourning be dove-like because it is meek and submissive, still your mourning will be real. 2. Another source of mourning is the untowardness of worldly circumstances 3. Other sources of sorrow are to be found in the coldness of former friends, the treachery of those whom you trusted, or persecution from those who should encourage and support. 4. Another common cause of mourning like a dove is the departure of endeared ones. 5. A further source of mourning is remembrance of iniquity. II. THEIR REMEDIES OR RELIEFS. 1. To the afflicted in body there is an obvious consolation — the possibility of their cure. The ease before us is thus encouraging. Another support in bodily affliction is the conformity which it gives us to our Lord. Again, Jesus Christ hath "brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." 2. What, next, is our relief in case of the wreck of worldly circumstances? The possession of wealth is no sure criterion of God's approval. If your earthly losses have brought you to reflection, and led you to a right judgment of worldly goods; if the changes and chances of this mortal life have induced you to set your affection on things above; if they have broken your proud spirit, brought you to Christ, and ensured you an interest in His "unsearchable riches," then mourn not as a dove, but sing as a lark. 3. We touch next on the grief which springs from dishonour done to us by familiar friends. We account this a curse: God may turn it into a blessing. We were wont to trust in man; we loved the creature with too ardent an attachment. Henceforth we think more of that Friend "who sticketh closer than a brother"; "who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever"; concerning whom it is our privilege to exclaim, ' Whom have I in heaven but Thee? "&c. If the ill-treatment of which we complain consists in persecution for righteousness' sake, our Lord's words in the beatitude supply all necessary consolation: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you," &c. "As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." 4. Separation from those we love was the fourth cause of mourning for which we were to seek for a relief. Though in lands remote, they tread the same earth. The rough ocean is kind to each of us: he bears on his bosom the swift messengers carrying the interchange of tokens that many waters cannot quench our love. The weeds of widowhood may be twined with flowers of cheerfulness; for "a defender of the widow is God in His holy habitation." The orphan's lamentation may be hushed; for God is "a Father of the fatherless." God can give "a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters." And is it a small thing that "the righteous are taken away from the evil to come"; that "they rest from their labours"; that they are "present with the Lord"? 5. The last source of mourning which we noticed was the remembrance of iniquity. Is the wound incurable? "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" (T. W. Thomson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. |
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