The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 387

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-23.-Prophecy of judgment. The difficulties, historically considered, of this chapter must be left to the exegete. We concern ourselves with the larger sense it cont&ins of a prophecy of a judgment upon the whole world. L THE APPROACHING DESOLATION, (Vers.1-3.) The figures of emptying, draining, are employed to denote the utter depopulation and impoverishment of the earth; ·also that of t'lllming upside down, to denote disorganization and demoralization in every civil and religious institution, while the people will be driven as chaff before the wind by the scattering hand of the invader. All ranks will be alike affected and confuee!l together in the coming calamity. "Distinction of rank is highly nectesary for the economy uf the world, and was never called in question but by barbarians and enthusiasts." A ,·ariety of interests and feelings is represented in the different orders of society. Each contributes an element of wealth or of culture to the commonwealth. The untutored instincts of the mass have a certain wisdom in them; but they need to be checked and guided by the intelligence of far-seeing minds. The instinct for progress only safely uperates when it is met by a counter sentiment of conservatism. The minister of religion is a necessity in society, and equally necessary the free spirit of the people to check hie usurpations. The theory of society is that of a complicated organism, where all the parts are mutually dependent, and each on· the whole. If the sen·ant is necessary to the master, not less so the master to the servant; the lendc·r to the borrower, and the reverse. One of our chief blessings is regular government and good order. How marvellous is the immense, all-teeming, yet quiet and ordered life of Lvndon ! The slight.est menace of disturbance to it makes us feel, or ought to make u~ feel, keenly tLe greatness of the privileges so long preserved to us. " We oug'ut," says Calvin, "not only to acknowledge the judgment of Gori, but also lay it to the Llame of our own sins, wl,enever he breaks down order and takes away instruct'on and c;ourui of law; for when these fall, civilization itself falls along with them." Again, God in his judgment is no respeder of persons. No rank is spared, not even the most sacred. On the contrary, to whom much bas been given, of them mu, h will be required. The higher the rank the deeper the fall, and the sorer the punishment whore there has been ingratitude and unfaithfulness. IL is secret disloyalty to the Ewrnal and Lis laws which saps the root of life, and causes in the end the mournful sight of n nation 1uourning, its vigour ebbing away, its great men hanging their heads tiko drooping flowers. The thought of many cities and lands once flourishing, now like a flower wiLhered down to the bare stalk, should remind us of the constancy of D!Oral laws, of the fa.et tba.t "Jehovah bath spoken the word." an. U.IV, 1-28.] THE BOO!{ or TllEl l'ltOPlIE'l' tSAIAH. 88£