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The waters of Shiloah were the secret supply of Jerusalem, "the river that makes glad
the city of our God", Psa. 46: 4 referring to this rock-hewn tunnel which gave access
from within the city to the spring. The thought of quiet confidence suggested by the
hidden supply of water is prominent in Psa. 46::--
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore will not we
fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea. . . . the heathen raged, the kingdom were moved; He uttered His voice, the
earth melted. The Lord of hosts is WITH US."
Here we find the same words that go to form the sign-name of the Messiah given to
Ahaz, "Immanuel, God WITH US". So in Isa. 8: 10, the word Immanuel is translated
by the words, "God with us". Speaking to the nations the prophet declares that all their
associations and counsels shall come to naught, for "God is with us". This was the
prophet's confidence; it was not alas shared by King and people. By a strong hand the
Lord instructed the prophet saying:--
"Say ye not, A confederacy, whensoever this people shall say, A confederacy; neither
fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your
fear, and let Him be your dread."
The people, devoid of faith, were running panic-stricken to the arm of the flesh for
succour; on every lip was the cry, "A confederacy". The separate calling of this people
was flung aside, the faithfulness of their God was discredited, His covenant set aside;
instead of "Sanctifying the Lord of Hosts" by quiet confidence in Himself, they "rejoiced
in Rezin and in Remaliah's son". Are we not in need of this word? Is there not a
tendency in all to forget our separate calling, to fail to sanctify the Lord, to lean on the
arm of flesh, to underestimate the "waters of Shiloah that go softly"?
To those who are strangers to grace, who have no hope in God, to those whose sphere
is the flesh, the use of all the ways and means of the flesh might be reckoned consistent,
but what shall we say when the church of God, purchased by the blood of Christ, made
alive together with Him, yea, raised and seated with Him far above all principality and
power, what shall we say to that people if they take up the popular cry, if they desert their
rock and refuge? Grave spiritual dangers are ahead of us, pressure such as is foreign to
us now may be brought to bear; the temptation to yield, to give up the struggle, to go just
a little way with the tide will be great. Take, among other passages, these words of Isaiah
in the day of apostasy, Say ye not a confederacy. . . . Sanctify the Lord. . . . let Him
be your fear.