“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.1

The love of God “passeth knowledge.” The peace of God, that comes from believing, “passeth all understanding.” How then is it possible for men to reason out a thing which transcends human reason, and which can be known only by revelation? The “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” in the knowledge of God casts down reasonings (2 Corinthians 10:5, margin) and brings into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, so that the wisest philosopher is constrained to receive the kingdom of heaven as the little child in whom the reasoning faculty is not developed.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.2

Where is reasoning then? An outline picture from a few texts of Scripture will enable us to derive more comfort than ever before from the oft-quoted exhortation and promise in Isaiah 1:18.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.3

First compare Psalm 51:4 and Romans 3:4. The latter is a repetition of the former, with a verbal change that does not change the meaning, but gives us a larger view of it. For brevity’s sake we cite only the clause that is compared.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.4

“That Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.” Psalm 51:4.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.5

“That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged.” Romans 3:4.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.6

From the foregoing we learn that when God judges He Himself is judged. God has been fully slandered by Satan. He has been charged with selfish indifference to the wants of His creatures, and many have believed and repeated the accusation. The case, therefore, has been brought into court, God is now on trial, and the final judgment of the world will be the announcement of the verdict in His case, when every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God, “just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints.” A thorough study of the book of Isaiah reveals the fact that it is devoted to this trial, setting forth the claims of God as against those of the gods of the heathen. It is pre-eminently the book for the foreign missionary. Let us not a few suggestive passages.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 89.7

The forty-first chapter begins with a call for silence in the court-to be still and know that He is God, and then to come near and produce their cause, bringing forth their strong reasons. Verse 21. God declares the end from the beginning, and does whatsoever He will; but the idols of men cannot tell even the things that are past, and have no power to do either good or evil.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 90.1

Again in the forty-third chapter. When all the nations are assembled, God says to those who stand with His Servant, Christ: “Ye are my witnesses.” A whole “cloud of witnesses” testify to God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness, and His power and willingness to deliver the poor and needy. God leaves His case in the hands of men; those who testify for Him, and change not, will triumph when His character is vindicated before all the worlds; and they who doubt God, and acknowledge His goodness only at the last, when the overwhelming weight of evidence wrings the confession from them, will be punished as false witnesses.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 90.2

Now we come to our text. The “reasoning” is merely the deciding on evidence. Nearly all versions, except the English, use a term that accurately expresses the idea of the Hebrew, that of pleading a case in court. “Come, let us go into court together,” God says to sinful men. They have “gone away backward” (backslidden) from Him, and are “laden with iniquity.” When they would do good evil is present with them, and the adversary makes them believe that they have gone too far to turn back, that God can not pardon such sinners as they, and that He doesn’t care for them. Thus they echo Satan’s charges against God.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 90.3

Then God calls for a trial of the cause in court, and rests His cause solely on the fact that He forgives sins “to the uttermost.” “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Herein consists His righteousness. When men say that it is vain to serve God, and that He does not regard His children, He replies that He even “justifieth the ungodly.” When they think that God is so good that He must despise and look with disgust upon people whose sins have covered them from head to foot with “wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.” He replies that His goodness consists in the forgiveness of sins and in healing the wounds that sin has made.MEDM February 3, 1909, page 90.4

Yes, “Jesus saves,” because God is with Him, and He is “God with us.” There is but one God, and He is the Saviour. To this fact He has pledged His existence. He has sworn by Himself that He will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His testimony is in, and sworn to. The existence of the heavens and earth is proof that His word does not fail. Then let every sinner among the heathen “Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever;” and “let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”MEDM February 3, 1909, page 90.5

January 27, 1909

February 17, 1909