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Voice in the Wilderness
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Isaiah’s Portrayals Studied
Isaiah’s rapt portrayals of the Messiah’s glory were his study
by day and by night. See
Isaiah 11:4
;
32:2
;
62:4
. The heart of the
lonely exile was filled with the glorious vision. He looked upon the
King in His beauty, and self was forgotten. He beheld the majesty
of holiness and felt himself to be inefficient and unworthy. He was
ready to go forth as Heaven’s messenger, unawed by the human,
because he had looked upon the Divine. He could stand fearless in
the presence of earthly monarchs, because he had bowed low before
the King of kings.
John did not fully understand the nature of the Messiah’s king-
dom, but the coming of a King in righteousness and the establish-
ment of Israel as a holy nation, was the great object of his hope.
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He saw his people self-satisfied and asleep in their sins. The
message God had given him was to startle them from their lethargy.
Before the seed of the gospel could find lodgment, the soil of the
heart must be broken up. Before they would seek healing from Jesus,
they must be awakened to their danger from the wounds of sin.
God does not send messengers to lull the unsanctified into fatal
security. He lays heavy burdens on the conscience of the wrongdoer
and pierces the soul with arrows of conviction. Ministering angels
present the fearful judgments of God to deepen the sense of need.
Then the hand that has humbled in the dust lifts up the penitent.
On the Edge of Revolution
When the ministry of John began, the nation was verging on
revolution. At the removal of Archelaus, Judea had been brought
directly under the control of Rome. The tyranny and extortion of the
Roman governors, and their efforts to introduce heathen symbols
and customs, kindled revolt, which had been quenched in the blood
of thousands of the bravest of Israel.
Amid discord and strife, a voice was heard from the wilderness,
startling and stern yet full of hope: “Repent ye; for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” With a new, strange power it moved the people.
Here was an announcement that the coming of Christ was at hand.
With the spirit and power of Elijah, John denounced the national