The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 221

Vers. 11, 12.-The 'f'ejuge of tl,e 'f'emnant. Allusion is here made again to "the remnant" (see eh. x. 20-22), who are spoken of in the following verse (ver. 12) as "the outcasts" and " the dispersed." The remnant of a thing or of a community is not the choice part, but rather that which is left when everything (every one) else has been chosen-the shapeless scraps which remain when all else has been selected and appropriated ; the broken-off ends which are flung aside as of no account; the scattered men who fall out of rank, dispirited or disabled, etc. It signifies that which is of least regard among men. The remnant of Israel .was that part of the community that was left when kings had lost their throne, and nobles their nobility; and priests their function, and the country was wasted. However despised and rebuffed of man this remnant might be, it should still have a place in the thought and in the purpose of God. He would remember it, would "recover" it, would "gather it together," wonld manifest his favour toward it in the eyes of all the nations. We may let God's treatment of the remnant of Israel remind us-- 1 THAT HUMAN SOCIETY ALWAYS CONTAINS ITS REMNANTS, those of very small account in its estimate. We can always find, if we look for them, those who seem to be abandoned, to be helpless, to have "no future," to be beyond recovery; those for whom there is nothing but resignation, if not, indeed, despair; those whose cause no man espouses, and who do not expect to be recovered or restored. Of these are: 1. The hope- lessly sick-those who inherit a constitution or receive injuries which disqualify them for the battle of life, and place them at the mercy of the community of which they are members. 2. Those who have broken down-who went np eagerly to the battle and struck some good stroke, bnt ha,·e been sore wounded; who have overtaxed their strength, and who find themselves unnerved and incapable, obliged to resign their duties tu uther hands, their post to other aspirants, 3. Those who have mistalcen t!,eir calling-who have pnrsued a line of action beyond their capacity, or for which they were not fitted; who have, consequently, been halting and stumbling all along their course, and have come into ill repute and condemnation. 4. Those who have been signally unfortunate-who have embarked all their resources in one scheme which has broken down, or who have entered into some most serious (pP.rhaps the supreme human) relationship which has proved to be a disastrous mistake; whose heart is well-nigh broken, and whose hopes are quite blighted. IL THAT TllEBE ABE THE OBJECTS OF PEOULIAB DIVINE REGARD. Some of these are near to us; they are the poor whom "we have always with us," living hard by. ~!I, worshipping in our sanctuaries, walking in our streets. As we have opportumty, we should assure them that they must not take the negligence or disregard of man as in any way indicating the mind of God. As the human mother lavishes the wealth of her tenderness and love on that one of her children who is the frailest and the most dependent of her family, so does the Divine Parent care most for those of his children who are mQII~ m need of bis special kindneBB, Was it not the "little ·ones," i,tJ. thv OH, xt. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH, 213