PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 439,033 words · 488 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 61
sovereign lord. Hezekiah might have looked for some schemes of his own in this embassy. ]'riendship is always the expression of character and the test of character. The friendship of one who is unprincipled is full of peril. "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." III. OFFERED FRIENDSlllP MAY PROPOSE MORE …
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peraicness of busine8s prcs.~ure, the almost bankrupt me.n presumes on bis friends e.cte wilfully, and even brings others down in his ruin. Dut circumstances of success prove even greater temptations. N ebuche.dnezzar is tho typo of the prosumors, as he stands in the midst of bis city, saying, "Is not this great lla…
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liko Eli (1 Sam. iii. 18), but congratulates himself on bis own personal safety. It would, no doubt, have been the nobler course to beg that he alone might bear the punish- ment, as he alone had sinned. But the principle of the soliclarity of the forerather and his posterity, and of the king and his people, prevails a…
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e.nd the spokesrne.n of the faith and hope and WR:,\ h1 the restoration of a nation, or the passionate yenrning of e.n exiled nation, the revelation· of himself in Obrist, or the final desrende.ntl! of men living, when he wrote, establishment of his kingdom, the "way" in the profound peace of a renewed pros- must he…
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ingness of God. The point of their dia- Ver. 10.-The Lord God; literally, tM oourse is that "the Word of the Lord L<nd Jeh,n;ah. With strong hand; or, toith endureth for ever" (ver. 8), and therefore the strength. His arm shall rule for him. Kay precccling promises (verB. 2, 5) are sure. And transle.tee, "His arm shall…
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work. How infinitely above ma.n must he him WIIB his own whdom, an essential part be, who a.rron~ed in such perfection, "b;v of the Di vine essenoe. The eve.ngelioal pro- mei,snre ancl number Rnd weight" (Wied. Xl, phet approaches those mysteries of God's 20), the e11rth, the waters, and the heavens, nature which th…
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Ver. 19.-The workman melteth II graven paesnge thus: "Have ye not understood the image j rather, the worleman oa8teth an image foundations of the earth?" i.e. how it was (oomp. oh. :Iii. 7; xliv. 9-17; xlvi. 6, 7). founded, or created-the.t its creation wu.s Iero.ol's tendeooy to idolatry has been touched God's sole a.…
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their names," whioh, however, is probably then further consoled by the promise that later tl1nn Isaiah). Omnipoten<',e alone could God will give them strength to endure; have crc;itcd the starry host. Omniscience support them, refresh them, and, as it were, is required to know their number and their renew the youth …
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mouth of hie prophets, and made the comfort which they strove to give effectual. Again, sometimes he comforts us by his Word. Many a time has the despairing soul found peace and joy in the promises of the gospel, which are indeed potent to raise up hope in the most dt•Rpondent, and to comfort the most unhappy. But freq…
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Ver. 11.-God the Sl,epherd of his p«Jpk. This favourite imago is" full of figures and analogies of loving-kindness. It is almost sacramental in its depth and power." To exhaust its meaning is impossible; to draw out all that it implies is hopeless; even to make it the subject of comment may seem almost impertinent. …
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(Matt. xviii. 11). The sheep of God's flock perpetually "go astray," turn from the right way, wander into strange paths, seek pastures that are not good; if God were not perpetually checking their inclination to stray, seeking them, recalling them, "gather- ing" them, bringing them back to him, there would soon be no f…
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rejection or contempt (as in Hos. i. 9; eh. vi. 9), but as my people. "Israel, my people, and I their GL-.d," is the great word on which both Judaism and Christianity rest. Now the prophets are to "speak to the hea.rt of Jerusalem." It is to be in a voice clear &nd <listinct and penetrating. "Heart," in Hebrew use, …
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henr." But nt times they pierce through our sensuality and break up our lethargic indolence. "Clenr ye Jehovnh's way in the desert." The Divine monarch is about to make a progress. Let the heart of the nation be as a highway for their God (Ps. lxxxiv. 6). So the Gospels understand the cry (Matt. iii. 3; Mark i. 3; Luke…
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imagery to express this thought: the "hollow of his hand;" his "span;" his II tlerce," a small measure; bis scales, with which he weighs the volumes of sea and land, and measures the vast extent of heaven without an elfort,-as we use the band to weigh or to span I Far from taking offence at such figures, we feel the…
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smith overlays with gold, and for which he forges chains of silver I Let art be honoured; let artiste strive their best to give distinctneEs to thoughts that must otherwise wander in the vague. But if the concrete thing be thrust into the place of that spiritual reality it can but faintly suggest, it becomes an object …
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must be growing WMfY and mint, and something less than God. Thie mood the prophet meets (cf. eh. xlix. 14; Job x:xvii. 2). II. TBE REPLY OF THE PROPHET. 1. He appeal., to their intelligence. "Hast thou not perceived?" Look away from self and its restriction within the bonds of present distress; look at others who a…
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II. HEDJ!J IS BEST. "Her warfare Is accomplished." The weapons to be put into the hands of the faithful suffice to secure victory, and therefore the warfare ie spoken of a.H accomplished. Looking forward to the Redeemer's days, Isaiah reminds us that his sacrifice is to be complete, as we read in Hebrews, "Once in the …
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Ver. 10.-Present reward. "His reward is with him." There is a glory to be revealed. There is a day of the manifestation of the sons of God-a day of august solemnity, when the King shall say, "Come, ye blessed." But the Christian dispen- ffition is not fairly represented when its rewards and punishments are declared …
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Ver. 30.-Bpiritualfaintness. "Even the youths shall faint," etc. Then faintness is not a matter of age. Exhausted power may belong to youth. We are to learn that natural spirits are not enough for this great campaign. Health and energy will do much for the earthly soldier, and for the young mountaineer on the Swiss Alp…
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Vers. 3-6.-Iluman[reparation for the Divine advent, We sbe.ll find, with very little seeking, a threefol application for these words: (1) a primary one in the restora- tion of the Jews to Jerusalem; (2) an historical e.nd human one in the advent of our Lord e.nd the founding of bis kingdom; (3) e. future one in the …
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question, what it can do to quicken the coming of Its Lord in hiA redreming and regenerating power. And it may find its answer here. 1. Fill up thegulfa of unr,elicf; let not lack of faith on the part of Christ;an men hinder the putting forth of D, vine power (Matt. xiii. 58). 2. Uernove the hills of inconsi.~tency; le…
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establish them in the land of their fathers. Dut it is o.n incalculably greater instance of Divine power to overcome o.11 ~he h\ndrances i~ t_he way of .o. spiritual redemption of the race, and to secure that glorious issue. This 1s that which the ruling o.nd over- ruling arm of the Almighty is now accomplishing. We…
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greatest affairs, of prevision and provision, of ruling and overruling, is at his command. His wisdom is incap11blo of increase; it is absolutely complete. II. HUMAN LITTLENESS. "The nations are as a drop of a bucket" (ver. 15). We note, as corresponding with God's greatness: I. Our insignificance. We may find ourselv…
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_ Vers. 18-26.-The degradation of the_ pivine. The holy indignation of the prophet 1s aroused as he sees the Godhead so p1tifully presented to the mind, so shl\mefully represented to t~e eyes of men. He has in view the power and majesty of the Supreme One, and places m contrast the creatures of hnma.n imagination, the …
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expectant Father, who is grieved concerning him, and who earnestly remembers him stilL (3) The object of his redeeming and self-sacrificing loue. "He loved me, and gave himself for me," we can all say, after the apostle. (4) The object of his discipliw,ry dealing. "Whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every so…
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I. Joyless souls, ,vho have no gladness in God, and no happiness in his service, who walk even in the "path of lire" with uo brightness in their countenance and no elasticity in their step. But they include also: 2. Half-hearted souls, whose devoted- ness to Christ is seriously def<:'ctive, who cannot say, "With my …
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porspective vision, he obtained of the remarhble interposition of Divine providence for their deliverance." We notice that the comfortable and comforting message is to give assurance of three things. I. WARFARE ENDED. The warfare meant is that struggle to bear and keep heart which had been so trying all through the lo…
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II. THE WORLD WAS NOT READY FOR CHRIST. They had made no room for him. The inn ~as full. He J?Ust find a place for himself, where he could-some strange place, out m the stable, m the manger. And there was no better room for him in men's hearts. Only_ let the story of his life unfold a little. Only let his hands begi…
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who can deliver UB from the very love of sinning, and "create in us a clean heart." Is, then, your path full of the stones, the crooked w~ys, the rough places, of loved sins? remember that Christ is a Saviour from sin. He is named Jesus, because he shall save his people from their sins. He will not save you at all unle…
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burn up the vegetation in an hour, and change freshness and flowers into barrenness nnd death. The Word of God endures for ever. It cannot be likened to anything on which rests the earthly st.amp. It is not even like the giant trees, ,vhich grow on while the grass and the flowers of a hundred passing summers flouris…
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Ver. 11.-God, in (Jhrist, shepherding, or doing shepherd's work. Here also the first glance seems to be at Cyrus, who, in eh. xliv. 28, is called God's shepherd; but the arter-glance rests on him who could say, "I am the good Shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." "The change in the fortunes of th…
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e.s much the suggestion of the shepherd-figure as the previous ideas of rulo and gentle- ness; but it is not so often dwelt on or realized. He who rolls over us the" tribulum" of discipline and trouble, to separate the chaff from the wheat, finds the rollino- to be hard and trying work. . Our Shep]1erd sul!'ers in h…
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excuse for their doubtings nnd depressions in their national circumstances. They had been so long in tho power of their enemies, and their outlook was so utterly dark and hopeless, that they concluded they were quite overlooked by the God of their fathers. And we cannot wonder at this, for circumstances, private and na…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XLI. kings. Mr. Cheyne translates, "me.kes him trample upon kings," which seems to give Vers. 1-7.-A.N"NOUNCEMENT OF THI!: DE- the true sense. It we.s certainly not the LIYERER, AND EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING genera.I policy of Cyrus to establish under NATIONS. Isaiah returns to the standpoint him…
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he tho.t he ho.s done this thing. By "the giving the people grounds of comfort and First, o.nd with the lost "-n favourite phrase trust during that trying time. in these lo.ter chapters (eee oh. xlv. 6 and Ver. 8.-Israel ... my servant (comp. xlviii. 12)-eeems to be meant simply "the eh. xliv. 1, 2, 21; xiv. 4; xlviii.…
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"that 11re at ~lrife with thee; " "that are the kind described are still in use in Syria in CM>jl-irl with thee; " " that are at war (Thomson, • The Land ancl the Dook/ p. wit.h thee." The order is one of climax. 539) and Asia Minor (Fellows,• Asia Minor,' Similarly, with each augmentation of the p. 70). The oorn is…
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writer fn.milio.r with the Po.leelanian region, mentators regard "the former thinge" as but not fomilie.r with Babylonio.. things actually past--•• the bcginninge or Ver. 20.-The.t they me.y see, etc. The history, for instance, which to the heathen cho.nge would be such thnt those who ex- nations were, wrapped in dark…
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(ibid., p. 165), through the district called captives, but naturally deprived them of all Akkad to the Cb&ldea,n oopit&l. Herodotus power. agrees with the monuments in bringing him Ver. 26.-Who he.th deole.red from the to Babylon from the north. Shall he oall beginning1 Which of the idol-gods has upon my Name ; or,…
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the thirty-two kings nre repulsed by "the young men of the princes of the provinces " (1 Kings xx. 1-20). Cyrus, with a handful of Persian rustics, defeats Astyages (Herod., i. 126, 127). Three hundred Greeks decimate the myriads of Xerxes at 'l'hermopylm. Judas Maccabaius, with e. few thousands, destroys half a dozen …
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sights and sounds and actions are "illusions," cheats, nonentities with a semblance of being ;-this, which is the creed of the educated Hindoo, is another belief so contradictory to common sense, that it might have been supposed impossible of acceptance by any considerable number of men. It is held, however, by thou…
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Deut. xxxii. 39; Ps. cii. 28): "Thou art he, and thy years will not come to an end." Also Ps. xliv. 6. '"The nameless, he whose nod is Na.tare'& birth." II. THE ANXIETY OF THE PEOPLES. The decision of the question is postponed; but a scene of alarm among the peoples is depicted. They have heard the news of Cyrus's co…
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Vers. 17-29.-The claims of Jehovah. The thought seems to resume the thread broken off at the beginning of the chapter. Jehovah appeals to what he has done and to what be is. I. HIB MERCIFUL DEALINGS WITH ms PEOPLE. '!'he scene and state of exile is brought before u~. They are dwelling in the "tents of Kedar." They …
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mankind may gaze, and by which they may be convinced. But judgment must go by defRult. The gods" can show no prophecies, cannot so mnch as speak, are dumb, not gods (Hab. ii. 18)." And they must be known for what they are-" nothing in the world." III. SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE. Jehovah raised up Cyrus. When called from the …
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for them. The v,•ay they speak to servants is detestable. They complain ir the physician does not come at once-if they are not the first considered by others. Don't they pay? Terrible neglect; they are not helped. Money does not satisfy their indebted- ness. Let us see whom they he\p-if they are swift to speak the g…
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wilderness-One who gives us the testim-,ny concerning himself, that he will be in us "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." We have- I. SPRINGS IN THE DRY LAND OF srn. What depth of meaning there is in the promise, "The Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head" I All seemed lost; and yet at his…
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Vers. 1-7.-Thefcilse refuge and tlie frue.. In the regulation of his life, a wise man will gi ,·e a large place to the consideration of what resources he will have in the times of great emergency. For he knows that snch times must come to him as they come to all men, and when they come there is urgent and even terri…
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and fulnese; (2) wrought upon by kindly, helpful, winning influences, in the home 01 in the Ohurch; (3) affected by the direct and immediate influences of his Divine Spirit, Thus ha~ God chosen and called us to himself. II. THE LIFE TO WHIOH WIii HAVE BEEN CALLED, A life of holy service. "Thon, Israel, art my servant.…
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Vers. 17-20.-The pity and the purpose of Christ and his Church: a missionary se:nrwn. With what different eyes do we look out on to the world, and how varied a spectacle it presents, according to our views, our spirits, our aims! To the geo"rapher :rnd discoverer it appears in one aspect, to the statesman and the his…
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foree.ke them. I will open rivers . . . I will plant trees," etc. If this be primarily e.pplic:i.ble to the Israelites in captivity (or on their way home), it must be true of all God's children. lie who pitied the thousands of bodily sufferers will much more pity the millions of bis sons e.nd daughters who are in the …
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Vers. 6, 7.-Man's devices to do without God. A curious and interesting fact is con- nected with the reference in this passage to hammering an idol into shape. Ancient hammers had no handles; the workman held in his hand the metal piece with which he worked. In all the copies of Egyptian figures engaged in various ar…
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Ver. 10.-The supreme promise. "I am with thee." This assurance is the applica- tion of that truth of God's infinite superiority to all idols on which the prophet has been, sometimes so seriously, and someLimes so scornfully, dwelling. Here is the argument-- God is God alone. He is your God. He is with you. It is a prom…
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striking fignre of this text, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down ima2:in~- tions, and every high thin" that exalteth itself a"ainst the knowledae of God." While there may be designed pr~phetical allusion to the mastery …
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something. But they c.1nnot. "They are of nothing, and their work of nought" (see 1 Cor. viii. 4). Cheyne says," The Divine Speaker waives the question of foreknowledge, and makes the least requirement I?Ossible. 'Prove that you nro alive, by performing some act whether good (for your fncnds) or bad (for your foes).…
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dience. Whom I uphold. " As the FrLther ii. 32; John i. 4-9), he will bum brightly hnth lire in himself, so hath he given to the e.nd strongly; e.s a Reed, or Rod, he will be Bon to 1,ave life in himself" (John v. 26). firm e.nd uubroken. Till he he.ve set judg- As the fount or origin of Divinity (1r71-y¾, ment in t…
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conjoined (']auses, and by the comment of is frequent in the Psnlms (xxxiii. 3; xcvi. vers. 16-19. To bring out the prisoners 1; xcviii. 1; cxliv. 9; oxlix. 1). His pre.iae from the prison; rather, to bring out from the end of the earth; i.e. "let his pri6oners. To deliver from the bondage of praise be sung by nil t…
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the greo.t o.nd o.wful day. The event directly Ver. 16.-I will bring the blind by a way in vibW is the destruction of the Babylonian that they knew not. " The blind" here can power by the irresistible o.rms of Cyrus. only be captive Israd, still dim-sighted from Hence the allusion to idolo.ters o.ncl imo.ges thP effect…
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and open their ears, and are reminded that before his people. It is uot tho original all their recent and present sufferings arise giving of the Law at Sinai only that is from their former "blindness " and diso- meRnt, hut e.lso its constant incnlcntion by a long series of prophets. Iarael's ,·xperienco bedience. (…
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Scripture in various senses. All who work out God's purposes, however unconsciously or e"en unwillingly, are co.llc,l by the sacred writers" God's servants," in respect of the service, albeit unconscious or unwilling, which they render him. Thus Jeremiah calls Nebuchadnezzar "God's servant'' (xxv. 9; xxvii. 6, etc.), a…
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them, members of the one human family, intimately connected one with another, and bound to have friendly feelings one towards another. P,•tty quarrels and differences, 'such as crop up between near relations, and still more between neighbouring peoples, should not be allowed to overpower the general sentiment of goo…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-2'7ie Servant of Jehovah. "Behold I" Let all the world hearken and 11Ucnd to the new revelation. It is admitted that the conception is substantially that of Christ in the Gospels. According to one critic, indeed, the prophetic passage springs from tlie time of Herod II. Let us t…
923 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.