The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 115

Vers. 18, 20, 21, 23.-Four grievous si~ The ~ngodly spirit finds very variou~ modes of .expression in wilful '&Ild self-pleasing actions. Men's sins are-repeated over aud over again in every age, sometimes ~king more open a.nd defi;uit forms, a,nd.some- times hiding behind a pleasant outward _show of delicacy .and ref\n~IQ_ent,- but a·lways the "abominable things which God hates." The qoarse sins .of Eastern, peoples· see.~ offensive to our sensitive Western nations; but the sins are here amongst 1us, only, in a disguise which deoeives us. Isaiah reproves- . - .,. : . .. · , I. 'lllE iltN OF PRES~PTION. :(Vers. 18, 19.) Evil-d_o_ers_are thought of as_ harnessing themselves to the chanot of sin; as bold enough even to scoff at God'11. threatened judgment~and taunt him with his merciful dela.yings, saying," Let Jehovah hast~n•; let him hurry on -his work, that we. may see it." Wo_rdsworth paraphrases ver. 18 thus: "Woe to them that harness themselves as brute beasts to iniquity, with cords of falsehood, and drag on the weight of sin, as a waggon, with the roP,es of vicioll!I habits." Illastrate by the scoffing thief on the.cross; apd-by the parab)e pf, the, -man who presnmed upon his abundant harvest, and found he was suddenly CJllled: aw9:y fyom all his wealth. Presumption is the evil into which men are led through, temporary·aucc~sses. See the effect of prosperity on Nebuchadnezzar. It is .a ooustant effect, of.Jux.ury and, self-indulgence and immorality. His the brink, of uttef ;ind irretrievable ,rai!l., For the presumptuous man there is little hope.. He--Ill'1,I.St fall, ,and, ~ bruised an4 .crushed, ere he will learn lessons of humility and tru11t;- David knew human, natm::e well, and he taught us to pray.. " Keep hack, thy serv:ant also from 'presumptuous·sil;is; let them not have dominion over me."• ,. •. . ,., . •. • , : .. , II. THE BIN OF C01'TUBING MORAL DISTINCTIONS. , (Ver. 20.) ."Those. dq. a gr~ deal of wrong to God and religion and ~nscience-to ,their ,own souls, a,nd to the 1:iou.ls of others who misrepresent [oe\'il an.d good]; and put fa)Be· colo~rs rupon then;i ; who, call drunkenness good followship, and covetousness good husbai;idry1 and, when they p~r- secute the people of God, think they do him good service; and on the other hand, call seriousness ill nature, and sober singwarity _ill breeding, an4 ,l!ay alLm11n_qer _of evil falsely concerning the ways of godliness.'.' (Matthew Henry)._, ;I.'he,text;~ell describ~s t4Q spirit of our age. In our -over-refinewents we a.r$ losing, tb.11 stemQ.!!BS of the tru,th, carefully polishing o:>tJ every edge and lpOint and co!'ller-that might prick conscience into activity. We are toning down moral distinctions until they are .becoming.quittj confused and indistinct; we can hardly tell'for certain what is right 110,d what i_s wrpng, what is evil and what is good. One of the Iilo,st thoughtful of American divines, Dr. J, A . .Alexander, writes thus: "Do not we with oneJ>reatlussert ,the invj_olable sanctity of the truth, but with the next breath make ,provision for ben!lvolent, b1Jsiness, jocose, or thoughtless falsehood? Do we not, in the abstract, as1JCrt. the claiID!I of justice, and thq obligation to give every man his own, bat, in application to speci(ie cases, think it lawful to enrich ourselves at other men's expense, or take advantage. of. another's weakness, ignorance, or error? Do. we not adniit the P:1Tamonilt inwortanc~ ?f religjou~ duties in general, but in detail dillsect :away the vital parts as saperst1t10q,. sanctimony,, o~ fanaticism? Do we not approve the requisitions of the Law, and the provisions_ of the gospel, in so far as they apply to other people, but repudiate, or paee them_ by ~ npplying to ourselves? What is all this but eayil1g of evil, it is good, and. of good, 1~ isevil?" .• . Ill. THE em OF BELF-OONCEIT, ('Ver. 21.) The first reference. is. to coun~ell?rs, "whose ideal .of statesmanship wan series.of ehifts_e.nd.expedients, based on no principle OH, V. 1-30.) _THE BOOK OF THE PROfHET ISAIAH. 103