Isaiah 26:10-11 Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly… God has written, and spread before mankind, three large books, all of which are legible and intelligible to such as have eyes to see and a disposition of mind to read them with attention. These are, the books of Nature, of Scripture, and of Providence. None of these books should be despised, overlooked, or neglected. To this last our attention is called by the words of the text. I. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN LEARNING RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is true righteousness which is here meant. 1. Not hypocritical righteousness, like that of many of the Pharisees. 2. Not ceremonial righteousness, like that of most of the Jews, who confided in circumcision and other ceremonies of their law. 3. Not partial and inconstant righteousness, such as the tithing of "mint, and anise, and cummin," and the neglecting of "the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Matthew 23:23). 4. Not merely external righteousness, such as that of St. Paul before his illumination, and that of all unawakened sinners. 5. Not our own righteousness (Philippians 3:9); a righteousness proceeding from and terminating in ourselves, performed by the mere strength of nature, and in obedience to an outward law; which implies neither forgiveness of the past, nor renovation for the present, nor holiness for the future, but leaves the soul under guilt, and in its natural state of depravity and weakness. 6. True righteousness is intended: that which was possessed by "righteous Abel" and others. It is that righteousness through which "grace reigns unto eternal life" (Romans 5:21). This righteousness must be learned by experience and practice. We must be heartily convinced of our unrighteousness, humbled on that account, and brought to repentance. We must cordially embrace Christ by faith. Consider the vast importance of learning righteousness in this sense. All other learning, as of sciences, arts, gaining wealth, or power, or honour, is, compared to this, insignificant. This is the end of all providential dispensations, and especially of God's judgments in the earth: to teach us righteousness. II. WHEN IT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT MANKIND WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS. "When Thy judgments are in the earth." The judgments of God in Scripture often mean His ordinances, or His laws (Psalm 119:7; Ezekiel 5:6-8, 10). These, if attended to, would teach us righteousness. But, alas! they are neglected or abused. It becomes, therefore, necessary God should give us judgments of another kind, and such as are here chiefly meant, as the sword, the famine, and the pestilence (Ezekiel 7:15; Ezekiel 14:12-21). These visitations cause thoughtfulness. They cause a spirit of prayer for Divine light and grace; the rectifying of our mistaken views of God's government of the world, and of the nature and obligation of holiness; the acknowledgment of His righteousness in thus correcting us; humiliation and contrition; hatred to sin, the evil of which we are now so severely taught; reformation of life; deadness to the world, the vanity and misery of which we now see and feel. They cause us to seek all our happiness in God, as the only certain source of felicity, and they cause subjection to His will; these judgments naturally tending to subdue us. They actually do produce this effect on the people of God, and on persons disposed to be His people (vers. 8, 9). It is, moreover, highly reasonable they should have this effect. Those thus chastised may hereby see that God governs the world, and that He does not connive at sin, but severely punishes it; and that "it is an evil thing and bitter to forsake the Lord God," whether as individuals, families, or as a nation. But it may be asked, Will not gentler methods answer the same end? To answer this inquiry brings me to show — III. IF THEY DO NOT LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS THEN, THERE IS REASON TO FEAR THEY NEVER WILL (ver. 10). (J. Benson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. |
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