The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 59

forbidden (Exod. xxxiv. 12; Deut. vii. 2); the multiplication of silver and gold am\ of horses (ver. 7), however unobjectionable it may seem to us, was disallowed to the Hebrew nation (Deut. xvii. 16, 17). The Jews would be under strong temptation to disregard these prohibitions; many of the lower ambitions of our nature would urge ihem to transgression. But the clear, untnistakable "Law of the Lord" pronounced against these things. And as every fact, both of a brighter and a darker kind, admonished them " to obey the voice of the Lord their God," they were "verily guilty" in their disobedience. God requires of men, of every age and land, that they should obey him. He will accept nothing of any kind as a substitute (1 Sam. xv. 22; Matt. vii. 21). C)w, ignorance of hiH purpose in commanding is no excuse for our disregard -of· his will. How can such little children as we are expect to fathom the wi~dom of the Infinite .Father? When we set our poor judgrnent against his perfect knowledge, our mistaken wishes a~ainst his holy will, we fall into the most serious sin. Our obedience is to be intellrgent and not mechanical, cheerful and not grudging, instant and not tardy, or it will not be obedience at all. 2. Idolatry. This sin, so grievous in the sight of God, .is found in one .of three forms.. (1) In its most gross and degrarling form, as-in Judrea at this period (vers. 8, 9), when both the" mean" and the" great" -prostrated• themselves before the image made with bands; or (2) in the less gross but 8.till degrading form of superstition in" Christian" rites; or (3) in that which con- stitutesjts. essence, viz. the giving to the creature the thought, the affection, the energy, which are due to the Creator. In this last form we are all under condemnation. We withhold from him whose we are and to whom we owe ourselves and all we have, the devotion and the tribute which we reserve for our neighbours or expend upon ourselves. This is essentially idolatroUB. - II. DIVINE RETRIBUTION. Here are four features of it. 1. It begins in the with- drawal of Divine favour. "God forsakes his people " ( ver. 6). He ceased to make the light of 'his countenance fall on them; their prosperity wanes, their joy diminishes, their power declines. 2. It may·well be dreaded as certain to arrive in time. "There- fore thou wilt not forgive them" (ver. 9). God cannot and will not pardon the im- penitent, ,and those who are disobedient or idolatrous may count on the coming of his judg:ments as the most certain of all future things. 3. It is such that the boldest may well shrink from •it.· ••"Enter into the rock, and hide thee ... for fear of the Lord," etc. (vers. 10, 19). (1) When God makes the sins of a man's life to bring forth their natural and fitting fruits (intemperance, dissoluteness, dishonesty, etc., working themselves out in penury, disease, contempt, etc.); (2) when God causes special enormities to be followed by extraordinary calamities; or (3) when be makes the hardened sinner to confront death, judgment, and eternity ;-then does he come as One who is in "the glory of his majesty, shaking terribly the earth; " then does he manifest his will and his power in such wise that the boldest and most fearless may well shrink and shudder at his appearing. However valiant sin may show itself while the righteous Lord delays to speak and strike, there is an hour coming when it will "call to the rocks to hide it, and to the hills to cover it," when it will tremble and cower at the touch of the band of the Holy One, 4. -It is that which nothing can escape. (1) No man. "The day of the Lord . . . every one that is proud," etc. (ver. 12); not only the humble, but the haughty; not the defenceless only, but the strong and well fortified, even those who think themselves most secure, will feel the keen edge ·of the avenging sword (ver. 17). (2) Nothing. The cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Basban, the mountains and the bills, the treasuresladen ships and the pleasant pictures and even the trusted idols,- all shall feel the blow of the mighty hand; nothing too high or too strong to be beyond its reach (vers. 13-18). : Ill. THE ISSUE. The end of Divine judgment is: 1. The humiliation of that which is false and evil. 'fhe idols which had been so honoured are to be cast to the moles and to the bats (ver. 20). When God appears in judgment there is s great reversal and over- throw. That which was first becomes last; that which was highest in esteem becomes the object of derision and contempt. 2. The exaltation of the Lord himself. "The Lord alone shall be exalted," etc. (ver. 17), And, though we do not gain the thought from these verses, we may o.dd: 3. The salvation of the penitent and the faithful. 'l'here is one Rock in which, if we seek its gracious shelter now, we shall then be able to ni•1e, end in whose shadow we shall be safe; " for the mouth of the Lord bath spoken it."-0.  THE BOOK m• THE PROPHET ISAIAR. [cm. It. 1-22.