The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 107

and luscious at first, afterwards " it biteth like a nerpent, and stingeth like an adder," We c,m never make a philosophy of life out of "first'' experiences. We have only to wait and we shall find that "the way of transgressors is hard." III. 'I'HE MORAL JUDGMENT OF Goo. " Woe unto them I" Who? Why, special woe to those who "put" it. False counsellors, like Ahithophel to Absalom; fu.lse teachers, llke Uiose who corrupt the truth. There is leadership everywhere-at school and college, in the Church and in the world. Let no man despise the warnings ofGod.-W. M. S. Vers. 1-7.-Privilege a,id penalty. We have a striking picture of- L THE FULNESS OF THE DIVINE PROVISION. (Vere. 1--4.) The second verse describes in detail the processes by which the vineyard 1s prepared for fruitfulness, and in the fourth verse the question is asked," What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" The idea is th11.t of the fulness of the Divine provision for the Jewish nation. God had provided: 1. Illustrious men-Moses, A11.ron, Joshua, &mucl, David, etc. 2. A perfect Law; perfect inasmuch as it (1) reflected his own holiness, and at the same time (2) was accommodated to their imm&turity. 3. A helpful ritual, a series of ceremonies adapted to the age and to their nature. 4. Providential discipline; all the attractive and inviting influences of prosperity together with the solemnizing and cleansing influences of adversity. We have now a corresponding fulness of provision/or mankind in the gospel of Christ. We have: 1. The knowledge of God 1LI1d of his will revealed in Christian truth. 2. The way to himself and to his pardoning love opened by the mediation and atonement of his Son, our S11.viour. 3. The influences of the Holy Spirit, which are the purchase of his work and the promise of his Word. 4. The leadership of him who lived a perfect life, and offers himself 11.s the Exemplar as well as the l''riend of man. 6. The hope of eternal glory. The Author of the sal v11.tion in Jesus Christ m11.y well address us and s11.y, "What more could have been done?" We may 11.lmost say that the ingenuity of Divine love is spent and exhausted on the provision which is made in the gospel for the return, for the acceptance, for the renewal, for the elevation, of the children of men. II. THE SORENEBB OF THE DIVINE DIBSATISFACTIOl!f. (Vere. 4, 7.) Centuries of bondage in idolatrous Egypt might well account for, if they could not excuse, a large measure of moral feebleness, of religious error, of spiritual declension. But centuries of Divine teaching and Divine discipline should h11.ve wrought much of restoration. The sovereign Ruler of Israel had a right to expect rich fruit in his well-cultiv11.ted vineyard. But he was utterly disappointed. Instead of the good gr11.pes be looked for, it brought forth" wild grapes;" instead of judgment was oppression; instead of righteousness, the cry of him that was wronged. In us, from us, who have been the recipients of his manifold mercies and of multiplied privileges in Christ Jesus, God looks for grea.t things; he looks for penitence, faith, purity, spiritual worth, holy usefulness. Only too often he finds the miserable and guilty opposites or these-impenitence, unbelief, continuance in sin, moral unsightliness, injuriousness of life. And the hea.rt of the Holy One ill grieved. He who would have looked with delight on his " pleasant plant" looks with pain and sorrow on the fruitless tree, on the bush that bears poisonous berries. He who would have regarded with pleasure those "in whose heart are paths" observes with indignation and regret those whose hearts are as a tangled wilderness, uncultivated and useless. For these he has only the language of severe reproach and of stern and solemn warning. llL 'l'RE WEIGHT OF THE DIVINE PENALTY. (Vers. 5, 6.) The doom is destruction. The vineyard should, as a vineyard, entirely disappear. The defences should be removed; the useful plant should give place to the useless thorn; the elements Hhould work for its withering, and le.ave nothing that was desirable or valuable. God's message to the guilty nation, Church, family, individual soul, is this solemn one-the abuse of privilege will be visited by terrible tokens of Div!ne d_ispleasure; all that was promising will be removed; the signs and the sources of life will be taken away; from him that bath not (that does not use what is in his power) will be t11.ken his pres~n, privilege (Matt. xxv. 29). He who (tbat which) is eulted to heaven in opporlumty will be cast down to hell in condemnation and in ruin (Matt. xi. 23).-0. Vera. 8-10-The character and lhe doom qf covdoueneu. The judgment denowaced OIL V, 1-30.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 93