Bible Commentaries

STRENGTH IN QUIETNESS

‘In quietnees and in confidence shall be your strength.’

Isaiah 30:15

Our weakness sometimes brings to light God’s strength. St. Paul said of himself, ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’; and of the Old Testament saints, that they ‘out of weakness were made strong.’ There is, therefore, such a thing as strength in weakness. The text traces it to two principles, quietness and confidence. ‘In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.’

I. Quietness.—(1) There is the quietness of outward circumstances, when we are withdrawn from all the activities of life, and have not strength for any of them; when we have no power for anything, and are obliged to be still. There is a kind, soft, gentle voice that can speak to the heart when we are withdrawn from the bustle of life. This is what David prayed for when he said, ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’

(2) There is quietness of heart. ‘Quietness’ in this clause appears to correspond to ‘rest’ in the preceding one. It is not activity, but repose. There are times when the mind is so pulled down by the body that it cannot make even a religious effort. All it can do is to rest, and quietly lean on the loving arm of the Lord; to rest and be thankful.

II. Confidence.—But we cannot rest unless we have something to rest upon. So there can be no quietness unless there is confidence. By confidence is meant not a faith in a system, but a trust in a Person.

(1) Confidence in His love. When we think on what He has done, and how God loved the world, we may be quite sure that He has loved us; sure also that He Who has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, will love us unto the end, and will keep us as the apple of His eye.

(2) Confidence in His plans. He has His own plans for us all. He knows exactly what we want, and what is really best for each of us, and He never makes a mistake in planning for our good.

(3) Confidence in the fullness and completeness of your reconciliation. This lies at the bottom of all trust, and what a noble foundation it is for it! Look at the blood of atonement, the life of the Son of God. Look at the love that prompted it, the sacrifice made in it, and the promises of free forgiveness founded upon it.

—Canon Hoare.

GOD COMPELLED TO WAIT

‘Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you.’

Isaiah 30:18

God is thus compelled to wait ere He can bless us because of—

I. Our disobedience.

II. Our false confidence.

This was such a time in the history of Israel (see Isaiah 30:7).

III. Our apathy.