The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 33

Vers. 24--81.-&ntence passed. I. THE JUDGE. He is "Jehovah of hosts the Strong One of Israel" He sai th, "By the strength of my hand I have dono it " (eh. x: 13). He has power to carry out his sentences. The holy fire of his indignation breaks forth like a volcanic flood. From one point of view evil men must be conceived as the enemies of God, and their punishment as his vengeance. If alone dwelt upon, such 11 representation becomes false, because it ignores the aspect of Divine love, which converts this holy vengeance into a remedial process. Human vengeance would extinguish the sinne_r and the sin in one act; Divine vengeance would eave the sinner by extinguishing the em. II. THE PURPOSE OF JUDGMENT. 1. It is separation. The dross and the lead are to be detached from the silver. Human nature is a mixture. There are two extremes to be avoided in thinking of it-one that it is all evil, the other that it is all pure. Pes- simism enervates, and optimism hoodwinks Ull. The Bible always takes the middle view. Things are bad enough with ue, bi.~ they might be worse. We are sunk low enough, but cannot sink out of sight of our spiritual end, nor beyond the redeeming power of God. The separation of the gross and base element from the spiritual in men involves a fiery process. This fire is al ways burning in the heart of mankind, sometimes breaking out into flame and fume of war or pestilence, to remind of its presence. God has in constant operation his purgatory for souls. It is this truth which only can reconcile us to the presence of suffering. As mere pain it seems intolerable; as the means to the remove.I of evil it is blessed. 2. It is restoration. The better or golden age is ever ready to begin; good judges and rulers will again be given to the city, and· it will deserve the title of Righteo\lll and Faithful once more. When we see clearly the abuses that exist, and the necessity of fiery suffering for the renewal of purity, we have grasped a hope that cannot fail. God is ever remaking and recasting life. Not a day passes but some rust gathers, some disintegration of solid structure takes place. It may appear in any and every day that society is becoming hopelessly choked in its vices; or that we ourselves are slipping down into moral ruin. Yet in e. he.ppier morning mood it seems that all is mending with ourselves and the world. God's holiness is the vital sap of human life, and when we die to hope of ourselves, we live anew in him. Conversion, if real, will take place, not once, but many times in a life. 'l'he heliotrope turns every morning by a fresh effort to the sun. '.l.'he result of many such personal acts is seen now and again in times of religioue revival, when the multitude turns as one man, saying, "Let us wa.lk in the light of Jehovah I" ill THE PERDITION OF THE OBSTINATE. One will may defeat the remedial purposes of God. If man says, "I will be joined to my idols and my sins," no fire, no earthquake WIii power to dislodge him. If we will not relax: our hold on the evil object, we must share its fat.e. To fix our affections on objects unworthy of our choice is to bring on ourselves shame and self-contempt. The terebinth trees and the pleasant gardens, the seats of ancient idolatry, are typical of all scenes of spurious enjoyment. The volup- tuary, the mammon-worshipper, the votary of ambition, create around them a world of object~, fascinating, but unreal. The terebinth shall wither; the ge.rden, parched for want of water, shall lose all its charm. The man who seemed but now the very type of force, shall feel himself slack a.e tow, and his life-work the spark that sets it on fire. CII, I, 1-31.] THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISAIAH. 17