The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 312

others, ,The pmphet lifts up- his voice 4> this people. A signal will be seen on tho mountah1s, the blast of a tru,npet will be heard. There will be symptor,1s of the Divine presence, restraining, overruling the wrath of men for ends of Divine wisdom. "When ware o.re carried on, every one sees clearly what is done; but the greater part of men ascribe the beginning ancl end of them to chance. On the other hand, Isaiah shows that all .these things ought to be ascribed to G9d, because he will display his power in a ;new and extraordinary manner; for .sometimes he works so as to conceal his hand, and to prevent bis work from being perceived by men, but sometimes he displays bis hand in it in such a manner that all men are constrained to acknowledge it; and that is what the prophet meant" (Calvin), . .II. THE WAITING OF JEHOVAH. Impressive is the contrast between the noise and stir.and agitation below, and the calmness abovo. Jehovah" will be still "-as the blue sky behind a moving host of clouds, above a !lllrging sea. below. In the second psalm we have the picture of him sitting in the heavens and "laughing'' at the vain attempts of the enemies of the Messianic kingdom. There are three thoughts here. 1. The repose of God. It seems as if' we must ever contemplate him resting from his toils of designing and cl'eating,and providing-entered on an eternal sabbath. The consciousness of vast force, sle!lping, held in resel've, we must conceive of in God. Hence his stillness amidst our excitement.· At times when vague movements are passing through the bosom of society, many voices l'end the air with opposing cries, deep questions agitate the heart and conscience of thoughtful men. We long to hear the one infallible ,oice, to see the signal ,extended; .and yet "God speaks not a word." Perhaps it may be said, a still small voice,.saying, ,\' Be _s~ill, a,r;uj. kn.ow t)lat I am,, God I" may be heard by acuter spiritual ears. His stillness must be the effect of infinite strength and profoundest confidence. 2. His contemplativeness. He "looks on in his mansion." Not as the Epicureans repre- senttd the gods .of tb.e: heal,hen, sitting apart, reckless of the weal or woe of men; but intently watchful of the development o.f things, the ripening of good, the gathering up of ,evil towards the day of sifting and judgment. In a powerful biblical image, "his eyes are in every place, beholding the good and the evil." And our thought, to be in harmony;with his; must•, in,, JI1an7 Illatters. and at many tim,es fall into the mood of contemplation,·. lnstel!-d of seeking t() 1 theorize rashly upon the strange mixture of tendencies. 'life, at, any troubled. epooh, presents, it were well to possess our souls in patience-,to look on and·" let both gr<:>~. together till the harvest.n 3. His wa'itiny attitude, "While there is clear heat i,!l sunshine, while there are clouds of dew in harvest-heat," he is waiting till:" the fruit of .Assyrian annoyance is all but ripe." The heat and the clouds of dew hasten the powers in nature; there are corresponding forces at work- in the. IJ;ll.oral world, seen by, hi.m to be working towards certain results. God c(lifl, wait because he wn.Q1J,JS, And may i;iot we in a·mea.sure compose our souls into that littitude of waiting? Some things we, too, know; about many others we can say, "God knows," and so leave them. Especially so in times or in moods of alarm. In the present case men below see one picture of the future; quite another is seen by God above. To them a vast black cloud is gathering over the horizon ; he sees the sun that will presently smite it asunder. They .see a fell harvest of woe for themselves ripening; he has the pruning-knife in his hand, with which be will make havoc among the growth .. They see an immense hqst of ifresistible warriors; he the birds of prey and the beasts that will soon be feeding upon their remains. Let us think of the immense reserves of force at the disposal of Jehovah. The statesman, in times of alarm, assures a trembling country that the "resources of civilization" are not yet exhausted; yet they have their limit. Behind them lie the absolutely inexhaustible resources of the living and eternal God. Let our hearts be stayed on hiIQ, and all will be well. III. THE EFFECT ON ETHIOPIA. They will bring a tribute to Jehovah Sabaoth, to Lte Lord of hosts, in. bi~ seat on Mouut Zion ..· It is he who has done these things. We fin.i the like impressive pictme passing before a prophetic eye in Ps. lxviii. 32 : "King- doms of <;plendour come out of Egypt, Ethiopia stretches out her hands to God." 'l'he gathericg of so glorious a people into the true Church is to bo the result of the manifes- tation of the power of Israel's God. LEBB0NB, 1. Tlie providence of God QWT" the C!mrch. " He shows that be takes care of the Church, and that, though be determines to chastise it, still he comes forward at the proper season to hinder it from perishing, aud displays his power iu opposition tu 308 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [on. x'flll, 1-7