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 301
right to say that God's hand or judgment was in his sufferings. Human laws, if they are to gain the respect of men, must be regarded as applications and adaptations of God'H law. Whon a man is convicted and punished by human law, we ought to feel that he is punished by God, Then, as Christ was delivered up to death by …
890 wordsSECTION 302The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 302
It brings to mind ignorance, wilfulness, helplessness, foolishness, as characteristics of the unrenewed man. (2) Estimate the aggravations of human iniquity. If God were severe or nureasouable,_ bravery might hal_f excuse rebellion; but our God is righteous- !'ess and l~ve.. (3) Sm finds such mamfold an1 _dre:i,dful…
1,048 wordsSECTION 303The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 303
Ver, 11.-Satisfiedfor sore travail. When the sufferings of our Lord are spoken of in Scripture, they are usually connected with bis exaltation and glory. " When they testified of the sufferings of Christ, and the glury that should follow ; " "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the r…
511 wordsSECTION 304The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 304
promise that she shall never be forsaken strayed, and Jerusalem wa.s a desolation, (vers. 6-10). and the people captil'Cs in a fAr ln.nd. The Ver. 1.--Sing, 0 barren, Israel in eap- special "reproMh of her widowhood" was ti,itY is addres~ed as "barren," b~oause, in the Bahylonin.n captivity, with the sins thitt the…
986 wordsSECTION 305The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 305
lasting kindneu (compare above, eh. xxvi. 20 all bedecked with precious stones, e.s she and Pa. xxx. 5, "His anger endureth but a we.s seen by the exile of Patmos more than moment; in his favour is life:• weeping may seven centnries later (Rev. xxi. 16-21). endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning"). After bri…
984 wordsSECTION 306The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 306
reign in the oonsoience and &bow itself in The renderin~ of the Authorized Version, the life. Externally there may be persecu- "for thy sake, ' is quite indefensible. tion, tumult, ware, fightinge; but internally, Ver. 16.-Behold, I have oreated, etc. in esch heart, there will be a "peace that The Church is encourag…
1,277 wordsSECTION 307The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 307
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vers. 1-17.-The/u.ture of the Church. "The person addressed is the ideal Zion, who is practically identical with the ideal or spiritue.1 Israel." I. HER FRUITFULNESS. Nothing to an Israelitish mind can suggest more forcibly the idea of desolation and sorrow in a nation or spiritual commu…
426 wordsSECTION 308The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 308
see Rom. iii. 29, "God of the Gentiles also.") 2. The relation of marriage in its Di'<'ine _appiication ~ints to an indi.~soluble and eternal union. The Church may appear m times of distress as "an outcast and downcast woman," divorced from her God. But "even many an earthly husband cannot bear to see the misery of …
860 wordsSECTION 309The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 309
Ver. 10.-The eternal constancy: a meditation on change. "My kindness shall not depart from thee," How much does depart in this world I There are departed sorrows, departed joys, departed friends; and in one sense, coucerning life and joy and cluty, the world is full of graves. But we have an unchanging Lord, Jesns Chri…
868 wordsSECTION 310The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 310
the fa.et that courtesy, compassion, and care do fa.ii, and, in one word, "love" is absent. I am not speaking of the false kindness of the deceiver, or the tender mercies of the ga.y, or t.he heartless mannerism which feigns affection. This is devils' work and tills the sinner's night of death with spectres worse th…
900 wordsSECTION 311The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 311
God." God is the Good I His sceptre is no iron mace of authority, but he is the Father of our spirits, and the God of our salvation. What will to-morrow brin"'? 'rhe seed-time and the harvest.. The summer sky and the son"'0 of the reaper. The release of the ice-bound fountain and the beauty and fra;;rance of a thousand…
984 wordsSECTION 312The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 312
Yers. 6-IO.-S11pera'h01J,nding goodness. The prevailing thought here is the prevalence of God's gooilness over his severity. For a small moment he had forsaken, but with great mercies he would comfort his people. Against the "little wrath" in which his face was hidden there was to be set the "everlasting kindness" w…
750 wordsSECTION 313The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 313
of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." We gather from this text- I. THE TRUE PRIZE OF LIFE. What is that thing which is most worth having, most worth the thought of our minds, the strenuous striving of our soul, the labour of our hands? Nations, communities, individual men, have given ciifferent r…
1,074 wordsSECTION 314The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 314
Ver. 2.-Divine enlargements. The fignre employed is taken from tent-life, and it is used in a similar way by Jeremiah. "My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains" (Jer. x. 20). "…
543 wordsSECTION 315The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 315
Hos. ii. 16), 11 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me, Ishi [my Husband], and sbalt call me no more, Baali [my Lord]"). The figure Isaiah uses is that of the Goel, or next of kin, and this very suggestive and beautiful illustration may be taken from the story of Ruth and Boaz. …
907 wordsSECTION 316The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 316
That there might be no ground whatever for the exclusive appropriation or God by the J ewa, God Sll}'S, "Blessed be Egypt my 1>eople, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine ioheritl\nce." The nature of God's relation to th~ entire race is the founda- tion of religious truth. All our religious ideas are to…
899 wordsSECTION 317The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 317
I. OUR BINS MAY AnOUSE TJIE DIVINE INDIGNATION. Scripture impresses on us that in God is always responsive feeling towards sin. In this we may find foreshadowings of the fatherly relations of God toward us. He must never be thought of as merely concerned with wrong-doing because of its disturbing Divine order, as a kin…
1,141 wordsSECTION 318The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 318
Ver. 16.-1"?ie Divine control of evil forces. "I have created the waster to destroy." This is an assurance which we, with our theological notions of the sphere of Satan, find it very difficult to realize. We cannot associate God directly with the forces that work evil Even if we get so far as to say that God permits ev…
451 wordsSECTION 319The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 319
El POSITION. and house to house (eh. v. 8). They did OHAPTER LV. not care for spiritual blessings, mnch Ieee Vere. 1-7.-AN ElUIOBTATION TO BJ CBI· "hunger a.nd thirst" after them. That which satisfleth not. Worldly things ca.n never 'l'VALITY AND REPENTANOE. The proi)het satisfy the heart, not even the bee.rt of th…
908 wordsSECTION 320The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 320
eo the pnssage is nnderstood by Gesenius, man's (vers. 8, 9). God's word, onoe pM• Maurer, H itzig, Ewald, Knobel, Delitzsoh, nounoed, is potent to effect its purpose (vers. and l\lr. Cheyne. But, e.s Isaiah frequently sets 11side ordinary gra.mmatice.l rules, and 10, 11). Deliverance from Babylon, having as the po…
981 wordsSECTION 321The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 321
Ver. 12.-Ye shall go out with Joy, and Ver. 13.-Inateo.d of the thorn shall come be led forth with peaoe (comp. eh. xxxv. 10 ; np the fir tree. "Briare and thorns" wero xl. 9-11: xliii. J-6, 19-21, etc.). A. to over!(rOW the unfruitful vineyard, accord- strong contrast is frequently drawn between ing to eh. v. 6: and t…
1,228 wordsSECTION 322The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 322
HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-The Messi,a,nic blessings. I. THE INVITATION. "Ho!" A cry arousing attention (eh. i. 4) or expressing pity (eh. xvii. 12). 1. It is addressed to thirsty ones. The figure occurs in eh. xliv. 3 also. What more powerful figure can there be for desire, e.nd for the pain of unsati…
487 wordsSECTION 323The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 323
xiii. 28; Pa. oiv. 16). The blessings of salvation cheer men amidst their sorrows; a.nd one of the firstfruits of the Spirit is joy. Milk, again, is the symbol of nourishment (Deut. :u:xii. 14; Judg. iv. 1; v. 25; John vii. 22; 1 Cor. ix. 7). It is joined with "wine" and with ''honey" in Cant. iv. 11; v.1. These blessi…
937 wordsSECTION 324The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 324
ness. .And be is 'Tlear t.o us by day and by night j in a revival of religion, or when a pious friend pleads with us, God is near to us then, and is calling us to his favour. These are favourable times for salvation-times which, if unimproved, return no more." • Let the ungodly forsake his way, and the man of iniqui…
840 wordsSECTION 325The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 325
outward man, and leave "the hidden man of the heart" hungry and starven. Yet men spend their money-that is, their time, strength, enthusiasm, and energy-on sham bread. II. SouL-ATTENTION. "Hearken diligently unto me." For God has spoken-in nature, in conscience, by the prophets and by bis own Son, the express Image of…
1,086 wordsSECTION 326The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 326
Vers. 2, 3.- Wasted strength. It has often been remarked of the criminal population that, if they would only give to honest and honourable pursuits the same patient atten- tion, the same untiring energy, the same keen ingenuity, which they now devote to illegal schemes, they would soon rise to competence and honour.…
550 wordsSECTION 327The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 327
Ver. 4.-The leadership of Ohrist. These words, primarily applicable to David, aro true of that Son of David whose course was to be so different, but whose work was to be so much deeper a'nd greater than that of the King of Israel. David was a man who showed himself possessed of all the essential qualitfes of a great le…
828 wordsSECTION 328The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 328
Ver. 7.-Di,stance--return-weloome. Few more gracious words than these can be found in Scripture: they are of those which the world would not willingly let die; whole libraries coulu. be better spared from human literature than this single verse. Vve may l·xprcss the thoughts it offers to us by four simple propositio…
811 wordsSECTION 329The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 329
man who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" perfectly represented the Spirit of the Father, who occupies his eternity and expends his omniscience in doing good to all his creation. 2. Tbe Spirit of God is magnanim=. God delights not to give pain or lo send sorrow. to those who have offended him; that is h…
791 wordsSECTION 330The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 330
•ccording to Jewish thought. "Wine," that cheers; "water," that refreshes; "milk," that nourishes. " Buy without money " impresses the worth, as well as the freeness, of the thing obtained. I. THE CRY OF SOULS IS SO VARIED, THEY NEED LARGE AND OOMPBEIIENBIVE INVITA• TIONS. So various, so large, so intense, so immed…
883 wordsSECTION 331The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 331
close beside the living spring. And all the bitterness is gone, if the supply is close beside us, and we may drink when we please. Apply to the soul's love. 'l'he love of Christ is the satisfying respouse. To the soul's trust. The work of Christ is the satisfying response. To the soul's ideal. The Person of Christ is t…
837 wordsSECTION 332The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 332
the Bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," On Christ, as the Gift of God to us, our souls may "eat, and live for ever." There is in ver. 4 a first allusion to King David, but a further final allusion to _Jesus. " He that hath the Son hath life." The po…
811 wordsSECTION 333The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 333
These conditions are absolutely necessary, and yet there are in no sense at all any merit,., or price, on which the ~ace is obtained. The harmonizing of the two things is not difficult. When we bestow a gift we look for a proper recipiency in those who receive. It would be t<> waste our gifts to bestow them where there…
818 wordsSECTION 334The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 334
elight, electricity, magnetism, chemical affinity, etc., are modes of motion, and, as suoh, mutually interchangeable. And we are also taught that there is no evidence of any at-0m of matt-er having ever been annihilated. Disintegration is not annihilation." I. GoD's WORD IS <;:APABLE OF ENDLESS TRANSFORMATIONS. God'…
841 wordsSECTION 335The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 335
palace of the King of Babylon (2 Kings xx. oumcisiou nor uncircumcision, but 11. CO!Ik 18), Daniel, Hnnaniab, Misboel, and AzB- munity where all are brethren and all have riah were such persons (Dan. i. 3-6), and equal privileges. there may have been others. By the letter Ver. 7.-111.y house of prayer. In Solo- of the …
976 wordsSECTION 336The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 336
their barking, they remain ap&thetic, and wine. Here we have mention of a third 'utter no waraing at all. It is as if they defect. 'l'he prophets of the time are not passed their lives in sleep. only negligent of their duty, aud covetous, Ver. 11. - Y88, they are greedy dogs. but they are given to excess in wine o.n…
838 wordsSECTION 337The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 337
they require a large fund of "the wisdom which is from above," a large experience of human life and of the human heart, and a deep acquaintance with the written Word, wherein treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid away. "Blind guides" constitute a te1Tible danger. "If the blind lead the blind, shall they not both fa…
802 wordsSECTION 338The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 338
Israel wit.bin Israel, the spiritnal circumcision, the holy seed, that he acknowledges, vindicat.es, rescues, glorifies" (Cheyne). II. SABBATH-KEEPING AS AN EXPRESSION OF OBEDIENCE. How significant the sabbath in the institutions of Judaism I True, the seventh day belonged also to Babylonian religion, but we know i…
824 wordsSECTION 339The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 339
great heathen empire (cf. Ezek. xiii. 4; xxxiv. 8; xxxix. 4; Jer, xii. 9; Rev. xix. 17, 18). Especially the prophets are referred to ( cf. Ezek. iii. 17 ; eh. xxi. 11 ). These "dumb mgsn are opposed to the faithful shepherd-dogs (Job xxx. 1). "We must suppose that the prophets referred to were no better than the ancien…
929 wordsSECTION 340The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 340
Ver. 1.-The attitude of holy expectation. God evidently requires of us that when ,..e are anticipating any special manifestation on his part, there should be special 'purity on our part. \Ve look at- • I. OuR C0!\'DITION. 'l'his is one of complete dependence on God. We need the action of the Divine power to give ef…
678 wordsSECTION 341The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 341
approach by 1111 to tho Father of souls; that one principal purpose of worship is that of coming into close, holy, personal fellowship with the living God. But the main truth of tho passago is found in the thought of- I. 'l'HE OPEN GATE INTO THE KINGDOM OF GoD. When God's full purpose should be revealed, them would be…
1,020 wordsSECTION 342The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 342
~er. 1.- Goa;s nea:n~s a,rlea. . "My salvation is near _to ?ome;" therefore "keep ye 1udgment, and do Justice. Isaiah announced God's dehvermg and redeeming from Babylon as close at han<l, and used this fact as a plea by which to urge immediate moral preparation. "When God is corning to us in a way of mercy we must …
690 wordsSECTION 343The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 343
could give, was the observance of their sabbath ; their sabbath was the one outwl\rd tl,ing which brought their religion to their mind. Hence its observance acquired quite a special value." Inquire what signs of their allegiance to Jehovah, and their obedience to his commands, pious Jews in Babylon could give to those …
780 wordsSECTION 344The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 344
out the shopkeepers who defiled the temple (see Matt. xxi. 13). The prophet deola.res that the "prayers and praises (those spiritual sacrifices) of devout Gentiles shall be as pleasing to God as those of the pious Jews, and no difference shall be made between them; for, though they are Gentiles by birth, yet through g…
929 wordsSECTION 345The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 345
EXPOSITION. cxv. 17), bnt into "peace," or, as the CHAPTER LVII. word might be renderecl (Cheyne), " a state Vere. 1, 2.-THE EARLY DEATH OF RIGHT• of peace." There is, no doubt, primarily, EOUS MEN ACCOUNTED FOR. The Hebrews "a contrast to the awful troubles which the were given to expect the.t long life should, sur…
759 wordsSECTION 346The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 346
genital tendency has broken out into act. who followed the example of hie grand- The Israel addressed is as "adulterous," i.e. father in himself SRoriflcing one of hie sons idolatrous, as tbe Israel of former times. (2 Kings xxi. 6). Under the last three Ver. 4.-Againat whom do ye sport yo'lll'- kings it prevailed t…
1,008 wordsSECTION 347The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 347
tion of the formulm which tho Iere.elitee Ver. 10.-Thou art wearied In the were oommo.nded in the Lo.w to write on gree.tneH of thy way. Judah had travelled their doorpoete 11nd on their go.lee (Deut. far from God, seeking aid from all quarters, vi. 9 ; xi. 20). Bot, in the firat place, there and might well be "wearied…
1,016 wordsSECTION 348The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 348
M;d. The prophet heare a ,oice, saying, he were "extreme to mark what is done Cut ye up, cast ye up; i.e. make a highway amiss," none could abide it (I's. cxxx. 3). to the holy mountain by heapiug up He remits somewhat, therefore, from the material (eh. b.ii. 10); and, having made it, claims of strict justice, and i…
1,244 wordsSECTION 349The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 349
HOMILETICS. Ver. 14.-The ministry of angels. Without intruding it on the reader's attention, Isaiah is continually implying the interest which angels take in all God's dealings with bis Church, and the assistance which they render. Voices fil! the heavenly sphere around him and about him, which can only be angelic utt…
1,149 wordsSECTION 350The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 350
HOMILIES BY V A.RIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 3-10.-Picturea of idolatry. The idolaters are summoned to hear the judg- ment upon them. They are characterized as "sons of a sorceress, seed of an adulterer:n The source of all idolatry is unfaithfulness to God regarded as the Husband of his people (Ezek. xvi. 44, 45). Yet, in the…
1,124 wordsSECTION 351The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 351
the burden and remove the load " (Ps. lxxviii. 38, 39). Why has he smitten them at all? lt is ?.:cause of thei~ sin. Unjust gai~ is put for sin in general (cf. Jcir. vi.13; v.1; Ezek. xxx111. ~I; Ps. cx1x. 36), even, as 1n other places, the shedding of blood. He has seen their ways, both of sin and aberration, of su…
829 wordsSECTION 352The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 352
But first defeat bas made many a true general, has quickened many inventors, like Watt, Stephenson, and Brunel, and the vanquished one has become the victor iu after- llours. Still, weariness comes-to student, explorer, scientist, and missionary, to philanthropist saddened with ingratitude, and to disciple following …
844 wordsSECTION 353The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 353
all our solitude may be lightened by bis presence, all our weariness refreshed by hls love. Ioto green pastures be will lead us, by still waters be will talk to us. And all the weary and heavy-laden may find rest iu bim.-W. M. S.. Vers. 1, 2.-Thru pidures of the human. Our attention is called to- L A PIC'l'URE OF HUM…
854 wordsSECTION 354The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 354
on a weary life, profoundly dissatisfied with what they are in themselves and what they are accomplishing, and yet allowing themselves to continue in their guilty course? 'l'he path of sin is a very pitiable one; it is no wonder- Ill. THAT IT 0ALLB DOWN A STRONG DIVINE REPROACH, (Ver. 11.) God reproaches his erring ch…
776 wordsSECTION 355The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 355
of the infinit~ God, and then pictures him to us as resident in a humble human soul- I. THE_ EXCEED_ING ~REATNESS OF Goo. And _this whether we have regard to (1) the dura.tzon of his existence,-tbe fact that be "mhahits eternity" that he is "from everlasting to everlasting;" or to (2) his position in the universe,-…
878 wordsSECTION 356The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 356
very solemn sense "God is angry with the wicked;" they abide under bis "wrath." He is compelled to withhold from them the light of his countenance; he rebukes thE>m; he sends the penalty which 1e due to sin, and which is appropriate to the par- ticular Rin which is being committed. He hides his face; he withdraws his b…
995 wordsSECTION 357The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 357
Ver. 4.-Insult of good men is insult of God, "The righteous dies, and is at rest; but ye, what will ye make at last of your derision of the righteous, and of the follies and idolatries wherein ye trust? Nothing." Matthew Henry says, "Mocking the messengers of the Lord was Jerusalem's measure-filling sin; for what wa…
691 wordsSECTION 358The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 358
of prophesying rough things and bard things. Exactly what our over-civilized genera- tion needs is some prophet of God, who will tell us strongly, plainly, sternly, what God would have us do. But of thiA we may be quite sure, even in this enlightened nine- teenth century, such a prophet and teacher would have a hard ti…
1,152 wordsSECTION 359The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 359
Ver. 11.-Wrong thoughts of God keep menfrom repentance. God pleads, saying, " Who filled thee with dread, or of whom wast thou afraid, when thou provedst false.,, and didst not remember me?" Some mental creation of God, or some false teachino- concerning God, occupied the thought and the heart, and kept the men of I…
511 wordsSECTION 360The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 360
ritual, social, and national requirement. St. Paul state~ the old test thus: "The man that doeth them shall live in them." It was the work of the prophets to introduce the new moral test, and prepare the way for the higher spiritual test of Christianity. The later prophets even venture to be severe on mere ritual obedi…
915 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.