The divine righteousness and its consequence are here represented as being brought near while men are still stout-hearted.' We must feel the emphasis laid on I will bring near My righteousness,' and the impression of merciful speed given by My salvation shall not tarry.' The whole suggests such thoughts as these:-
The divine love is not drawn out by anything in us, but pours out on us, even while we are far off and indifferent to it. His bringing near of righteousness, and setting His salvation to run very swiftly side by side with it, originates in Himself. It is the self-impelled and self-fed flow of a fountain, and we need no pump or machinery to draw it forth.
The divine work is accomplished without man's co-operation.
It is finished,' was Christ's dying cry. But what is finished?--Bringing the righteousness near. What still remains to be done?--Making it mine. And that is accomplished by faith.
It is mine if by faith I claim it as mine, and knit myself with Him who is righteousness and salvation for every man that they may be accessible to and possessed by any man.
A man may be far from righteousness though it is near him and all around him. Like Gideon's fleece, he may be dry when all is wet, or like some rock in a field, barren and sullen, while all around the corn is waving.
