The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 104

a night's debauch. They cannot understand what bas happened to them. They talk of "strange misfortunes," of inexplicable calamities. But they have an explanation. The decay of a fe.mily, or of e. class, or of a nation, is as much the result of Divine law aa any other form of dece.y. In exile and suffering men pay the long-due debt for their voluptuous indulgences. 'l'he "nobility is spent with hunger, its revel-rout dried up with thirst." The music ho.e to stop. The voice of Jehovah may be heard saying, "'l'e.ke thou away from me the voice of thy songs; for I will not listen to the melody of thy viols" (Amos v. 23). Those that have put far from them the evil day, lying on ivory couches, luxuriously feasting, singing to the viol, drinking from the flowing bowl, anointed and perfumed, reckless of human suffering aroui?d them, shall pass into exile, and darkness and desolation shall reign in the once bright and crowded hall of banqueting (see Amos vi.). 2. With equal suddenness death shall come upon them, Hades opening its jaws to swallow the uproarious rout of revellers, as in old days the rebellious crew of Korab (Numb. xvi. 32). There is meaning in the phrase," The unexpected always happens," To the thoughtless and unprepared it does. But to the thoughtful watchers of the ways of God, and those that meditate on his troth, it may be said that the expected happens, even as the harvest season in nature. III. THE ABASEMENT OF HAN AND THE EXALTATION OF Goo. Deep in the prophetic conscience lies this thought-human pride means contempt of God, and human pride needs lowering that God may receive his proper place in men's thoughts. The Gentile poets in their way reflected this teaching. The man whose thoughts aimed at rivalry with the gods, the ma.n who gave way to hybris, or insolence, was certain to be a mark of Divine displeasure. Cast down to his proper level of weakness, the power of the Eternal makes itself known, in an "awful rose of dawn," upon the conscience of mankiud. It is suffering alone that awakens the conscience, and brings sharply tc light that dualism of good and evil in the will which we contrive to confuse in thought- less hours. And only by this internal revelation do we learn to think of One who is sanctity itself, and whose sanctity we, through life's purging fires, must be brought to share, or perish in the sins we have chosen, the lives we have lived in.-J, Vere, 18-24.-.Analysis of sin. I. THE VAIN AND WANTON HIND, A singular image is used. Men are described e.s drawing down upon themselves, as with stout and strong ropes, the burden of sin and guilt. Such is the effect of their mocking jests and speeches. Dramatically, the hearers of the prophet are represented as exclaiming defiantly, " Let his wrath hasten, let it speed, let us see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we me.y know it I" Amos alludes to the same spirit of .the time, of scoffing contempt of the signs and omens of a dread future. "Woo unto you that desire the day of Jehovah I to whe.t end is it for you? the day of Jehovah will be darkness, and not light" (v. 18). Idly do they dre.'\m that thus they put far away the evil day which is close at hand (vL 3). "The evil day shall not overtake nor prevent us I" they persist in saying (i.x. 10). In idle and wilful minds superstitions about ,vords are deeply lodged. By insisting that a wished event must tako place, they think to bring it about; by repeating of something dreaded, "It shall not happen," to avert it. But mere words have no magic in them. As the incoming tide had no respect for the command~ of King Knut's followers, so neither can tho tidal march of moral forces be stayed by defiance or incantations. But our words 11nd wishes have a powerful reflex effect upon onr own moods. And this denial in words of God's truth must in time quite harden the conscience and blind the inner eye for them. We may shake our fist at the growing thunder-cloud, but it will not disappear. We may try to quell a demand for reform by obstinate clamours of, "It shall not be I" but only the more surely will it proceed to accomplishment. IT. CoNFUSION OF HORAL DISTINCTIONS. This is a further step in the climax and progress of evil. It is indeed a serious reflection-how for we may succeed, by acts of ilepraved will, in shutting out the light that would stream in npon the mind, or in quenching the light within. Both are at once involved in the sin ogainst intelligence. 'l'his is, indeed, the sin ngninst the Holy Ghost-the sin that cannot be forgiven. How solemn nre the words of the prophet elsewhere: "It was revealed in mine ee.rs by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged away from you till ye die" (eh. aiii.14)1 Another serious question is, how far words may influence thought, and thu !10 THE BOOK OF ~'HE PUOl'llB'l' ISAIAl:l, [ OU:. v. l:-3Q.