The Great Interpreter Of Covenant Love
“In a little wrath I hid myself from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.”—Isaiah 54:8
Love is ever open and communicative; it conceals nothing from the object beloved, which may profit or comfort the mind. ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do,’ saith the God of love, concerning his friend. Gen. 18:37. Of those that follow the Lamb he saith, ‘Ye are my friends.’ Servants are not made acquainted with their master’s secrets, but friends are. Therefore saith Jesus, the great interpreter of covenant love, ‘All things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.’ John 15:15. Children shall not be chastised, but they shall be told of the Father’s kindness and mercy in it. Love is ever in his heart, though wrath may appear in his conduct.
The joy of creation is revived by the bright shining of the sun: when that is withdrawn, clouds, mists and darkness gather. So when the Sun of righteousness hides himself from the soul, it seems a dark season of wrath. The mists of corruption arise, the thick fog of unbelief spreads itself, the gloom of dejection hangs heavy on the mind, and the prince of darkness is very busy at such a season. Like Job’s friends, he is a physician of no value, but a miserable comforter to the soul. Now all sense, nature and feeling, write bitter things against the poor sinner. The Father chastises, the Saviour hides himself, the law accuses, conscience condemns, sin terrifies, Satan threatens, but—Father, thy mercy never dies, thy love changes not. Therefore faith endures and turns to the law of love. What saith that? ‘In a little wrath I hid myself.’ Little in comparison of thy deserts, oh believer; little, compared with the greatness of the love of God. Faith listens to the testimony of Jesus, who says in effect. My deserting thee is of the shortest duration, ‘a moment,’ the twinkling of an eye; it is as no space of time compared to eternity. Then love vents itself and declares, ‘With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.’
The word of the Lord shall stand, his covenant is sure, his love unchangeable, his promises immutable. Hence the soul is excited to confidence, to assurance, full assurance; yea the fullest assurance of a God of truth, though all present appearances seem against it. Then hope dawns in the soul, and love to Jesus is quickened. Holy shame and godly sorrow for past follies fill the heart, while the Comforter inwardly testifies of Jesus. His love, how infinite; his salvation, how perfect; his person, how precious; his promises, how reviving; his presence, how joyful; and every thing which interrupts it, how exceeding hateful and abominable. Such is Jesus’ love: ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
