The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 306

view of II prophet of the sou them kingdom, Syria was the ringlea.rler of II confederacy ag11inet Judah, and so against Jehovah and the Jehovah-worship. And to such a Jehovah-prophet, Syria was the agent in tempting the northern kingdom of Israel to forsake even its show of allegiance to Jehovah, and throw in its interest altogether with idolatrous nations. The.t is the point on which we now dwell. God carries on hie work of grace by means of temptations as well as by means of trials ; our te.9tings of faith, virtue, e.nd obedience are just e.s truly within the overrulings of God as are our afflictions e.nd our ce.ree. This is taught WI in the prologue to the Book of Job, where Satan, the tempter, ia represented a.s appearing e.mong the "sons of God," and receiving Divine commissions. Syria ma.y ete.nd for the associations and circumstances which tested the ollegiance of Israel to Jehove.h; a.nd so for the relationships a.nd conditions of our life, which bring out and prove what really is in our hearts towards the God of our fathers. It is true the.t God tempts no ma.n in the sense of maliciously enticing him to do evil. It is also true that God tempts every ma.n in the sense of placing him in circumstances under which, while he may fail and fa.11, he may be confirmed and established in goodness. This view is strikingly supported by a passage in Deut. xiii. 2, 3. 'l'he prophet who uses his gift to persuade men to forsake the Lord God is to be rejected, for by such a. prophet "the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with a.11 your soul." All such tempters, whether they be individuals, classes, or nations, come at last under Divine judgments, as Syria did. Syria. tempted Israel- I. BY THE ATTRACTIONS OF ITS WEALTH. Damascus was one of the wealthiest of ancient cities, and situated so as to be an important centre of trade. The attraction it proved to Israel may be illustrated by its influence on the luxurious and ::esthetical king, Ahaz. Associations of wealthy companions are often serious enticements to youths. The entree of wealthy society makes many a family live beyond its means. 'fhe swiftly growing wealth of some business men excites others to grasp a.t wealth by questionable means. II, BY THE ATTRAOTIONS OF 1TB IDOLATRY. Wealth enabled the expressions and forms or Syrian idolatry to take refined and artistic shapes. These tended to bide the e.bominations which attend on all idolatrous systems. So, it may be shown in relation to modern times, infidelity offers itself in the garb of advanced knowledge, and immo- rality appears in the guise of exciting plea.sure. Syrian idolatry would have presented but feeble temptation if it had looked a.a repulsive as it really was. And still we are so often "drawn away and enticed," because Sa.tan can appear to us as e.n angel of light. Illustrate by the well-known picture "The Pursuit of Pleasure." If Pleasure were not such a lovely syren form, irurely the foolish host would not thus vainly punrne her. The practical skill of life is shown in the detection of what a thing is, no matter in what form it may appear. III. BY THE ATTRACTIONS OI' ITB ALLIANCE. Which seemed to offer security for Israel from the foe which we.a becoming so dangerously strong. But it was soon proved that Syria was unable to protect itsel[ Its position exposed it. Its wealth attracted the invader. It was but an arm or flesh, and was powerless when the evil day cam~. It took Israel away from allegiance to Jehovah and trust in him, and brought ou that kingdom, the curse of him who trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm. As a general application, observe that untried character e.ud untested piety are of little worth. No man can hope to receive the crown of life, save e.s he is tempted, tried, and proved. That crown belongs only to those who "stand in the evil day."-R. T. Ver. 6.-The Lord', remnant. Figuratively here ia called to mind the fact that God's dealings are never wholly destmctive; they never utterly desolate; there is always a mitigation, always a spared remnant. The figure used, of the few olive berries left for the gleaner, is e. very striking one, if the customs of the olive-growing countries is understood. In Thomson's 'Land and the Book' there is a full description. "Early in autumn the berries begin to drop off of themselves, or are shaken off by the wiud. They are allowed to remain under the trees for some time, guarded by the watchma.u of the town-a very familiar Bible character. Presently public proclamations are made that the owners may gather the fruit. A.nd in November comes the general and final summon& No olives are now safo unless the owner looks after them, for the watchmen 302 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [olI, X'Vn.1-14.