EXPOSITION. he.st revealed them unto babes" (Matt. :Ii. CHAPTER XII. 25), where it is only the last clause that ex- Vers. 1-6.-TIIE SONG OF TlliNXSG!VING presses the trne object of the thanksgiving. OF THE UNITED CHUBCH. On each of her Comfortedst; rather, hast comfort-ea,, since the deliverances the Church is bound to praise effect continued. Ver. 2.-God ie my aalvation (comp. God. In some parts of the Church it is Pe. xxvii. 1; llJ:Xviii. 22, etc.). The em- customary on every snch oecasion to sing a ployment of the abstract "salvation" for "Te Denm." Tl,e ordinary Israelite hymn the concrete "Saviour" is extremely com- of praise appears to have been the hundred mon. The Lord J'ehova.h; literally, Jah Jehor,ah-a combination which occurs only end thirty-sixth psalm (I Chron. xvi. 34, 41 ; here and in eh. xxvi. 4, where it is again 2 Chron. v. 13; vii. 3; Ezra ,iii 11; Jer. used as an encouragement to perfect con- xniii. 11 ; 1 Mace. iv. 24); bnt on extraor- fidence and trust. la my strength . . . dinary oooasions special thanksgivings were wvation. This is quoted from the song of 11ung (Exod. xv. 1-21 ; 1 Sam. vii. 18--29, Moses (Exod. xv. 2), which the prophet he.s etc.). IsaiJlh is now inspired to give a pat- throughout in his thoughts. Ver. 3.-With joy shall ye draw water. tern song, suitable for the Church to sing The prophet interrupts the song to give when she is rell.Dited, enlarged, and restored a comforting promise. The "salvation" to favour. granted to the Church shall be as an inex- Ver. 1.-h that day. In the day of haustible well, from which all comers may deliverance and restoration. Though thou draw continually. Compo.re our Lord's pro- wut angry; literully, becauee tlwu tDast mise to the woman of Se.maria in John iv, 14. angry. Kay understands an actual thank- Ver. 4.-Deole.re bis doings among the fulness for the severe discipline, which ha.d people; literally, among the peoples (comp. checked them, and not allowed them to Ps. ix. 11 • lllJ:vii. 12; cvii. 22; cxviii. 17). glide on smoothly to ruin. But perhaps It is always regarded e.e one of man's chief the idiom is rather that of the passage, duties to testify of God's goodness _to other~. "Father, I thank thee that thou haat hid Here Israel is called upon to publish God B t,hea., thiugs from the wise aod prudent, 11,Dd mercies and great deeda to th11 Gentile&. 'llHE BOOK or TH~ PllOPHeT lSAIAit. 219
lli1 name ii e:ultecl. Gori ie in hie Name, of Zion ; i.e. raiee a " cry " that may be anrl his"Name e1preeeea hie nature. As there he1Lrd far and wide-a cry that shall be IL is nbthing so exalt.ed in all the nnivcree oa "shout" or rejoicing. Tho word tranel1Lted God, so there is no name so exalted as hie "inhllbit1Lnt" is feminine, and designates Name. Hence bis Narne is-protected by an the entire community or Church that dwells express commondment .. on the holy hill. 'Eor gr81Lt is the Holy . ,Ver. 5.-Bing unto the Lord; for he hath One of Israel in the midst of thee. The don~ . n:oellent things. This is another crowning glory or the Church is the pre- quotation, very slightly modified, from the sence of her Lord in the midst of her- song of Moses, in which these words were a presence continnons (" I am with you part of the refrain (Exod. xv. I, 21). Thi8 always"), efficncious (Jnhn xv. 4-6), yet is known; rather, let this be knoum ; i.e. invisible (1 Pet. i. 8). The Church is ever pnblish it-noise it obroa.d. to proclaim this presence and rejoice in it. Ver. 6.-CrJ out and shout, thou inhabitant