"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
Preached by Rev. Ivan Foster in Walsham Le Willows Congregational church
This prophecy refers, in the first instance, to a good king such as Hezekiah. It is to be noted just how beneficial godly leadership is for a country. The cost of its absence is all too clear for us in Ulster. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn," Proverbs 29:2.
God's woe is pronounced against our leaders, Isaiah 10:1-2. They have released upon us the very elements that they should have sheltered us from.
The full application of this verse can only refer to Christ and His work of saving sinners.
Consider:--
I. THE MULTITUDE OF DANGERS AND DISTRESSES THAT BESET MEN IN THIS WORLD
Wind, flood, drought and heat. These four troubles encompass all the distresses that befall sinful man.
1. The wind. -- The devil, Eph 2:2. The restless spirit that constantly buffets man.
2. The tempest/Flood. -- Sin, Isaiah 59:19. It floods the land, changing its appearance and destroying the comforts of men and women.
3. Drought. -- A shutting of heaven. Heaven is closed against the sinner because of his disobedience, Eph 2:12, 4:18.
4. Heat. -- The burning sun speaking of the wrath of God that abides upon the sinner. John 3:36.
II. THE ONE WHO CAN SAVE FROM SUCH A MULTITUDE OF TROUBLES IS NO ORDINARY PERSON
The Lord Jesus is no ordinary person.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," Isaiah 9:6. He has infinite wisdom, immeasurable power, unfathomable compassion.
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," Col 2:9.
* He is God manifest in the flesh. He is mighty to save, Isaiah 63:1.
* He is able to save to the uttermost, Hebs 7:25.
The Lord Jesus has many titles because of His all-glorious person.
III. IT IS PLAIN FROM OUR TEXT HOW THE LORD JESUS SAVES THE SINNER
1. In all the metaphors there is a similarity. He comes between the sinner and his trouble. The cross is here pictured.
Wind cannot reach you in a hiding place.
Flood cannot reach you in a covert.
Drought cannot reach you by a river.
Heat of sun cannot reach you in the shadow.
2. The help is available to you now. Will you not enter the shelter and comfort of Christ's salvation?
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast," Psalms 57:1.
"For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall," Isaiah 25:4.
"And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people," Isaiah 51:16.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matthew 23:37.
Let these words be your testimony from this day.
"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste," Song of Solomon 2:3.