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From looking into the future Isaiah comes back to his work of trying to amend the present. He neither wastes time in singing funereal dirges over Israel's decay, nor spends his life in useless reveries about the future. He saw the sad present, and wept; he saw the bright future, and rejoiced; and then set to work with heart and tongue to arouse the nation, crying, "O house of Jacob," etc. So let us all act.

I. THE SECRET CAUSE OF THIS PEOPLE'S GUILT — moral and spiritual gloom. By implication, at least, we learn from this text that moral darkness is the fruitful mother of every species of iniquity. One master stroke of Paul's pen gives the secret of the sins of Rome in his day — "their foolish heart was darkened. The way of the wicked," says Solomon, "is as darkness."

I. Let us dwell upon the natural darkness of men —

(1) Observe that sin blinds men as to its own nature. Its solicitations to our first parents were such as to hide from their innocent, unsuspecting minds all knowledge of its own hideous features; and not until it was too late did they know what an evil and bitter thing it was to sin against the Lord. Not till sin has done its work does it allow itself to be seen and known It is in the month honey, but when eaten a deadly poison. It changes its shape like Proteus, and its colours like the chameleon. It has the fascinating voice of a siren, luring to destruction.

(2) Sin also deceives men as to their own moral condition. (Isaiah 5:20.)(3) Sin, moreover, hides from man the deep spirituality of the Divine law. He is in the dark as to its inner meaning and far-reaching influence. If he observes the letter of the law he thinks he has done well. He altogether overlooks the fact that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(4) Sin also darkens the mind and heart of man as to the Divine character. This must be so, because it is only the pure in heart who can see God.

2. This darkness is wilfully and wickedly incurred. If the "house of Jacob" were ignorant of the character of God, this was their own fault, for God had revealed Himself in manifold and marvellous ways. And if they had sufficient light who dwelt in the dim dawn of revelation, what shall be said of us who have the accumulated light of intervening centuries?

II. We have THE ONE REMEDY DECLARED. "Walk in the light of the Lord." Like all Divine remedies it is striking in its simplicity.

1. Get into the light. Con. version is the passing of the soul "out of darkness into His marvellous light." What is this light?

(1) The people to whom this exhortation was first addressed would, I think, understand by it the light of the Divine Word. To Israel the words of the prophet meant, "Study the law of the Lord, and so come into the light of that law." To us they mean, "Search the Scriptures," and so come into the light of Divine truth. Bible reading of itself will not save, but it reveals the Saviour who can and will.

(2) Isaiah also meant by this exhortation that they should get into the light of communion with God. They bad sought fellowship with idols, but now Isaiah calls them to return to fellowship with Jehovah. Every blessing is born of communion. The diamond which sparkles and flashes out rays of light was once but a piece of black coal It had no inherent light. It is as if by some mysterious process the light has become absorbed until it has transformed that black substance into the likeness of its own essence. Thus the nature of the sinner, black and dark through sin, becomes, in communion with the eternal, pure and beautiful with the light of God.

2. Make progress in the light. "Walk in the light." Both the Old Testament and the New speak of the daily life of the godly man as a walk, suggesting that it is to be a progressive life.

3. Associate with the children of light. "Let us walk in the light of the Lord," says Isaiah. He will not walk in the light alone, but will seek the company of those like minded with himself. He will use his influence to induce others to walk in the light with him.

(W. Williams.)

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KJV: O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

WEB: House of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.