The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 352

Ver. 11.-The watchman's response. "Dumah," meaning "silence." is probably a mystical prophetic name for Edom. It seem~ that Edom was at this time in a con- dition of humiliation and depression that is well represented by the night-time. As the night passes, Edom calls to Isaiah, as the prophet-watchman, asking how much longer the darkness is to last. Isaiah cannot return a comfortable and satisfying answer; he can only say, "If this night of trouble passes, it will but give place to another." 'l'he. prophet foresees a short day of prosperity followed by a new night of trouble. "The words sum up the whole future of Edom, subject as it was to one conqueror after another, rising now and then, as under Herod and the Romans, and then sinking to its present desolation." L NIGHT-TlllES 0B' Lll'E HAVE THEIR MISSION. They stand, in private life, for the times in which we a.re put aside from active work, compelled to rest. In national life they stand for the times in which national enterprise is checked by calamities, invasions, plagues, famines, etc. It is found that night has an important and necessary place ID the ewuomy of nBture. lsaoo Taylor has, in a very interesting way, proved tha~ one or two absolutely dark nights in a year Are essential to the well-being of vegetattoh. Resting-times are important for individual gro1\"th, and national· cala.mltieli llrd found to bear directly on the conquest of national evils and the culture of natibnal virtues. We may thank God thi\t in our moral life he never gives continuoull day, but relievea the overstrain by recurring nights. ' II. NrnRT-TrnEs OF LIFE HA VE THEIR REUEFS. There are the moon 1'nd' etara to ~l1ine in them ; and they presently ?:ive placo to the "gnrish day." Pain is never intense for more than a little while. The light of love and friendship and 'synipathy ralie,es the darkness of suffering. National calamities develop national 'unity a'nd energy, that pres,·ntly issue in national triumph and stability; as is well il\ustrnted in Prnssia's night-time when she was humHiated by Napoleon I. Otit of that riight- time came German unity, and the recovery of German territory. u Our light affliction, which is bittfor a moment." - ill. NIGHT-TIMES OF LIFE HAVE TH1!:m BETURNB. They are like the tunnels on S()me of our railways. ·we are scarcely out of one, nb.d enjoying the open sky, the free air, and the sunshi11e, before we rush screaming into anothe'l'. "If there be a morning of youth and hel\lth, there will come ll night of sickness and old age,;· if a morning of prosperity in the family, in the public, yet we most look for changes/' And''such returns of trying experiences are so essential for our moral training, that it is the most serious calamity to an indi,idual, or to a nation, that they liho,Hd be spared them. "Because they have no changes, therefore they forget God." "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither bath he gone into captivity; therefore his tllste remained in him, . and his scent hath not changed.., Only of the heavenly and the sinless world 'may it be said;" There is no night there. u These two thoughts may suggest an effective conclusion. No explana- tions can avail for more than just the piece of life now over us; We cannot· know God's meaning for ns until the whole of life is before us; and we can fit together the missions of the darkne!IS and the light. Well did our Lord quiet our restless desire to read the mystery of life by saying, " Ye shall know hereafter."- . And David turned away from the mystery, saying, "I sbaH be satisfied, when I awake, with thyHkencss." And nobody can ever know the meanings of a life if he fixes attention only on ·its night- times. They are tbe shades in the picture, necessary to bring ou~ the picture, but they are not the picture. We must rise to the outlook of God, of whom it js said," The darkness and the light are both alike to thee."-"'.R, T. ' Ver. 15.-The grievousness ef war. "For before the swords have they fled, before the drawn sword, and before the bent bow, and before the pressure of war." Th.e figu~es imply that the people are conquered, their camp or city ta.ken, and they-pursued· 'e:nd cut down by a relentless, blood-thirsty enemy. As this subject is a fatriiliar·one,' and illustrations lie ready to hand, only divisions need be given. The grievousness of war may be shown- -' • •• • 1. lN THE SACRIFICES IT DElUNDS. Il. IN THE LIVES IT DESTBOYB. III. IN THE TREASURE IT WA8TES. The Franco-German War of 1870 cost France £371,000,000, and Germany at least £47,000,000. The American Civil ·War cost £330,000,000. The Crimean War cost England £167,000,000. IV. IN THE PASSIONS IT ENGENDERS. '\'. IN THE NATIONAL ALIENATIONS IT LEAVES BEHIND. VI. br THE SUFFERINGS IT ENTAILS. In the Franco-German War, one hundred and thirty thousand soldiers died on the battle-fields or in the hospitals, and'·thousa.nds more Jost limbs and health. What a wail of sorrow from thousands of homes and hearts such facts bring to our ears ! • . ', VII. IN THE RESULTS IT SECURES. Which are usually most insignificant when compared with the expenditure and Joss. -' Talk of the glory of war! The Bible reminds U8 how much wiser and ho~, -much truer it is to talk of its grirooumus.-R. T, Ver.17.-The &ee'UH'ity of t'M Divine Word. "They shall .. . for the Lord God of Israel ha.th spoken it.n This sentance intimates that God, as the God of Israel, has a 011. xxn. 1-26.J THE BOOK OF THE l>ROP[IET ISAIAH. 351