The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 346

Ho,pHality is still fou11d in generous flow among the Arabs of these regions, and reminds 'the way(arer how near God is to man in the most desolate places. Wherever th.ere is a loving human heart, there indeed is a fount and an oasis in life's desert. A[!d this scene re.minds us how good comes out of evil, even the bitterest; the sight of the flying warriors, showing the bent bow and the wave of war, touches the spring of sy'mpathy and mercy in yonder wild hearts. III. THE PROPHECY OF DOOM. In a year, "as the years of a hireling," i.e. swiftly, certainly, without delay, and without time of grace, Kedar's glory sl,all be at an end, the powerful tribes of nomad archers will be reduced to a remnant. Those tents," black but comely,'' of which the bard of the Canticles sang (i. 5), those splendid flocks, and the famed "rams of Nebaioth," shall disappear, or melt down to a fraction of the former numbers. So again the night sets on Edom, after a brief dawn. IV. THE WORD Olf THE GoD OF IsRAEL. I. These events were to happen by Divine appointment. 2. 'l'hc God of Israel is the true God. Let us take the saying to heart, amidst all that is most sadilening in the fates of nations and institutions, "God hath done it, God bath said it." The true God who revealed himself to the fathers, and manifested himself to men in Christ, is the Being whose will is made known in the course of history. And amidst his heaviest punishments we have this consola- tlon, tha.t he chastises gently, and does not "give men over to death" (Ps. cxviii. 18).-J. Ver, 11.-.A. momentous question. "Watchman, what of the uight?" This is the. question which ever occupies earnest minds. That the darkness of sin is here wise men note, without wasting metaphysical thought upon the how or why. Here is sin. On that all a.re agreed. Is there sal va.tion too ? I. PBOPHETIO VISION.·· Isaiah sees. Far a.way on the world's horizon he beholds a rising light; and, in anticipation of that, he himself is permitted to reveal truths which shall brighten the darkness of Israel. All deliverance is a prophecy of the grea.t Deliverer; all rcturnings bf Israel a.re foreshadowings of that day when to Christ shall the gathering of the people be. . 11. PROPHETI,o DECLARA~ION. "The morning cometh." Always a musical note that. To the sufferer in the chambet ·of affliction, longing for the first beams of day; to tho dismantled ship out far away on the melancholy sea; to the oppressed people waitingfor deliverance; to, the _idolatrous Israel in returning to the true and living God.. "The morning co~eth.J> A thought to be meditated on in all long and weary nights of disapP9intrrient, disaffection, doubt, and trial. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometli iu the inorni'iig/' Patience, poor heart ! 'l'he morning cometh to ~~e peni~nt Peter and_ the. doubtful Thomas. "The morning cometh." Not for Israel only, but for the. world. The nations that sat in darkness have seen a great light. • •Isaiah was right. • III. PROPHETIO cotrNBEL. "If ye will inquire, inquire ye." But do more than that, •.• Return, come." This is the condition on which the morning glory rests. "Return." Give up your love of darkne~s, and "come." God waits to forgive and bles~. "Com11.n The curiosity of inquiry may belong to mere intellectual state~ of being. The .return' of the soul means a great moral change. \Ve must feel the truth of these words, "The morning cometh, and also the night." For the morning will be no morning imless,the veil ofi:iight is taken away from our hearts.-W. M. S. Vers. 1-9.-The effect of God's judgments on tlie good and on the gui1ty. We gather, preli_minarily: I. That God uses not only elemental forces but human agents for the accotilplishinent of his righteous purposes. The winds and the waves are his ministers; but sometimes, as ·here, the whirlwinds be invokes are not the airs of heaven but the passions and agitations of human minds. 2. That the greatest human power is nothing in his mighty hand. Babylon was a "great power" indeed in human estimation at that time, but it needed only the whirlwind of God's holy indignation to sweep it away. Concerning the judgnients of the Lord, we mark- I. THEIR EFFECT ON THE GUILTY. 1. The suddenness and rurprise of thtnr over- throw; "Prepare the table . . . eat, drink," say they in the palace. But even while lhey are feasting comes the cry from tho watchman on the walls, " Arise, ye princes.  'L'HE BOOK OF 1'HE PROPUE'l' ISAIAH. [oil. :d:L 1-1'7.