13 DECEMBER (PREACHED 13 DECEMBER 1767)
Foundations under trial
‘And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.’ Isaiah 32:2
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Mark 4:35–41
If the first clause had stood alone, I might have considered it under many particulars, for, not only the first work of conviction, but many things that follow in a believer’s path may be compared to a mighty wind from which they need a strong and safe hiding place and must perish without one. But here are four different views given of this Man, and the benefits derived from him by faith, and we may therefore with more exactness refer some things to one heading and some to another. In the English this seems much the same with the former—a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the storm are not very different, but there is a difference in the Hebrew. The word signifies properly a flood and is so rendered in 28:2 and Psalm 90:5. The wind tries the strength of the building, the flood tries the foundation, and threatens to sweep all before it. Now when a soul has felt the mighty wind of the Spirit and bows in conviction, and sought and found a hiding place in Jesus, the difficulties are not all over. It is not indeed easy to persuade those who are rejoicing in their first love that they shall ever be otherwise, but experience convinces them.
Believers will know more or less of two floods which, if the Lord permits, will make them cry out for a refuge or covert: indwelling sin and temptation.
FOR MEDITATION:
When, like a baneful pestilence,
The angels’ LORD, himself is nigh,
Sin mows its thousands down
To them that love his name;
On every side, without defence,
Ready to save them when they cry,
Thy grace secures thine own.
And put their foes to shame.
Angels, unseen, attend the saints,
Crosses and changes are their lot,
And bear them in their arms;
Long as they sojourn here;
To cheer the spirit when it faints,
But since their Saviour changes not,
And guard the life from harms.
What have the saints to fear?
SERMON SERIES: ISAIAH 32:2, NO. 2 [1/3]
Milo 