The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 218

glowing words, and believe that but e. step may carry us into a world where it is realized by nil. The prophecy is e.lready fulfilled for us if Gcd has made a heaven of hope in our heo.rts.-J. Vere. 10-16.-Judah and the nati()'l'l,8. I. lloNOUB TO THE ROOT OF JUDAH. The scion from the ancient trunk will be honoured far and wide among the heathen, because of those virtues already described in the preceding section. It will be a banner to which they will flock, a centre of light and living oracles. II, REDEMPTION OF THE REMNANT, 'fhe mighty hand of Jehovah will be stretched forth to gather the scattered ones from all the four quarters of their dispersion. When the banner is raised, the heathen will own its power and the captives will be released. III. INTERNAL UNITY. The two great tribes will remain side by side, but then enmity will cease. The recent destruction of Samaria had been paused by that enmity; which ceasing, it will be found that union is strength, and the nations will submit on the West and East. And tho8e great threatening neighbours, Egypt aIJd Assyria, will feel the weight of Jehovah's hand and the punishment which the word of his mouth inflicts. And as the great river is smitten into seven fordable streams, the company of pilgrims will flow back, a way made for them by the hand of their God, as in the days of their forefathers, and the exodus from Egypt. The scion from the old stump may be taken as a figure of the revival of true religion in times of decay. And such revival means the union of long-sundered hearts, the recognition of an internal unity among all the faithful, the restoration of influence, and the dismay of the ungodly world.-J. Ver. 10.-The rest ef <Jhrist. "And his rest shall be glorious." This chapter commences with the full Messianic strain. " There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse;" and the music swells, in the Hebrew rhythm of thought, into a sublime prophecy of the reign of Christ. This "root of Jesse" is to be "an ensign of the people," and "t-0 it shall the Gentiles seek." We are thus led to understand the words, "his rest," as applying to the triumph of the Saviour. I. MANY IDEAS OR FORMS OF REST ARE INGLORIOUS. They are connected with mere military conquest. There is the peace of subjection, or there is the peace of compromise, or there is the peace which belongs to the desert and the wilderness, when they are simply let alone. But Christ's peace is his own beautiful peace of nature. "My peace I give unto you." His rest is not artificial. It is the rest of holy expectation. He sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied. II. 'l'BIS GLORY IB PROSPEOTIVE AS WELL AS PRESENT. It" shall be glorious.n The golden age of the gospel is in the future, " From henceforth expecting ; " " He must reign.". It will be e. glorious rest. For truth will conquer error. Right will conquer might. Love will have victory over all forms of division and hate. It shall be; for Christ bath spoken H. It shall be ; for he has all power in heaven and earth. It shall be on spiritual grounds; for the mightiest moral force ever and always triumphs in the end. III. THIS REST OF CHRIST is OUR BEST TOO, We have not only received forgiveness through the cross, but newness of life as well. We have rest now, not in its fulness, but in its ideal; for we have the mind of Christ. We have within us the kingdom and patience of Christ ; we are one with the Father through Christ. " I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one."-W. M. S. Vers.1-5.-0haracteristics of Jes'U,8 Ohrilt. The expression of the prophet," The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him," has a very close correspondence with the New Testament references to Jesus Christ (Matt. iii. 16; Luke iv. 1, 14, 18; John iii. 34). This full possession by our Lord of the Spirit of God revealed, itself, and is still found, in these particulars which the prophecy indicates. I. HIB PERFECT PIETY. In him dwelt the "fear of the Lord" without measure (ver. 2), and he" delighted in the fear of Jehovah;"" the fear of Jehovah was fragrance to him" (emended readings for, "and shall make him of quick understanding," etc., ver. 3). He could say, "I delight to do thy will . . . yea, thy Law is within my heart" (Ps. xl. 8). 'fo reverence, to please, to obey God, to consult hiB will and be subject to it, was the law of his lifo and the refrcshmllnt of his spirit. lSAIAll, I' 210 THE BOOK OF TIIE PROPHEl' ISAIAH. [CH, XI, 1-16,