Furnace Conduct.

"Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires" (Isaiah 24:15). The context presents a fearfully solemn picture. It describes a time when the judgments of God are abroad: when He causes the earth to mourn, and the world to languish; when His curse devours, and makes desolate; when all classes are alike made to smart from His rod. The merry-hearted do sigh, the joy of the harp ceases, the new wine mourns; yes, we are told "all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone" (Isaiah 24:11). Then it is that this remarkable word is given to God's people: "Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires."

It is true that conditions on earth today are not nearly so dreadful as those described in the first part of Isaiah 24, yet they are of such a character as to make this exhortation a timely one for many.

"Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires." These are the words of a godly remnant who had been preserved in the midst of desolation. How few they were in number may be seen from verse 13: they are likened unto the handful of berries still on the boughs after the olive tree has been shaken, and unto the odd grapes remaining on the vine after the vintage. Thank God there always has been a faithful remnant preserved by Him in the most evil times, for He will not leave Himself without a witness on the earth. This little remnant is here seen triumphing, for it is said, "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea" (v. 14), that is, from amid the nations in a state of tumult. Those who comprised this little remnant are here seen calling upon one another to delight themselves in the Lord, to rejoice amid their afflictions. Instead of giving vent to complainings and repinings, their word is "Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires."

It is easy to be thankful and happy in times of peace and plenty, but it is contrary to flesh and blood to sing songs in the furnace: yet this is what the saints are here enjoined to do! No matter what may be their circumstances, how scant their portion, how trying their lot, Christians ought to glorify the Lord in them. For what purpose does He leave us here upon earth, but to honor Him, to witness for Him, to make manifest unto others the sufficiency of His grace? "Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires."

We shall not here attempt a strict exegesis of this verse, rather would we endeavor to make a practical application of it unto ourselves in these difficult days. At all times, in all cases, it is both the privilege and the duty of the Christian to "glorify" the Lord. He must not succumb to fear, but seek the Holy Spirit's strengthening of his faith. He is not to be the "victim of circumstances," but obtain grace to rise above and be victor over them. He is not to give way to abject despair like the poor worldling, but make it evident to those about him that the Lord is "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). "Therefore glorify the Lord in the fires." But how are we to do so?

1. By honest self-judgment: by which we mean, a frank acknowledgment that we fully deserve the chastening rod of God which is now upon us, owning with David, "I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that You in faithfulness have afflicted me" (Psalm 119:75). God will not allow His people to sin without rebuke (see Psalm 89:30-32), and He is "glorified" when they candidly own His righteousness in correcting them. The cause of all affliction is sin, and therefore God's justice must be acknowledged in His visitation upon it. He is grossly insulted if we say, "I know not why God should deal with me so hardly; I have been guilty of nothing which calls for such severe treatment"—that is the language either of rebellion or self-righteousness. Rather say with Micah, "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him" (7:9).

If we are to "glorify the Lord in the fires" we must not only affirm the general truth that all His disciplinary dealings under providence are "right," but particular application must be made thereof: "in faithfulnessYou have afflicted me." We must not only own the faithfulness of God when we are at ease, but under the sharpest chastisement. God's judgments do not come upon us at random: "for this cause many are weak and sickly" (1 Cor. 11:30). Say, then, with Nehemiah, "You are just in all that is brought upon us; for You have done right, but we have done wickedly" (9:33). Yes, own with Ezra, "You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve" (9:13). It is much for the honor of God that we have good thoughts of Him when under the rod, and that we vindicate Him in all His ways with us.

2. By not murmuring. Why should we grumble when we justly suffer what we do? "Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" (Lam. 3:39). If we are now reaping as we sowed, then there is none to blame but our foolish and wicked selves for sowing what we did. Therefore, to put it on the lowest ground, we act irrationally when we sulk and growl under God's rod. Of Hannah we read that "she was in bitterness of soul," yes, but observe what follows, "and prayed unto the Lord" (1 Sam 1:10). Instead of allowing her trouble to drive her from the Lord, it cast her back the more upon Him. To murmur is only to tempt the Lord to smite us yet more sharply! What did the children of Israel gain by their murmurings in the wilderness? Nothing; only they were made to smart for it.

Certainly we do not "glorify the Lord in the fires" by chafing and repining against His disciplinary dealings with us. O to say with David, "I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress" (Psalm 17:3). We are kept from uttering much that is grievously dishonoring to God when we rigorously muzzle our mouths. For a Christian to murmur against God's providential dealings is for him to deny His justice, impugn His wisdom, and call into question His love—sins of the deepest dye are these! Remember that things might be much worse: God has not cast us into the everlasting burnings—then why resemble, in any degree, those who gnash their teeth against Him? Let us not forget the Word declares, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain" (James 1:26).

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