The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 398

EXPOSITION. "Who is like," etc.? the same with eh. xxv. CHAPTER ~xv. .1, "Doing wonders;" Exod. xv.16 with eh. _ Vers.1-12.-ls.lllB.'8 SONG OF PRAISE ON 'viii. 13, "Fear and dread;" Exod. xv. 18 with eh. xxiv. 23, "The Lord shall reign." THE ESTABLISHMENT 01!' GoD's KmGDOM. As Wonderful things; thy collll8ala of old are, in eh. xii., after describing the first setting etc.; rather, thou hast WTought u,on.urs, up of C,hrist's kingdom and the call of th.e c:ounsels of old, fa-ithfulness and troth. The Gentiles, the prophet broke out into song, wonders for which God is praised were through joy at the tidings he was commie• decreed in his counsels from all eternity ; their accomplishment shows forth God's 1ioned to announce, so now, having pro- "faithfulness" and "truth." claimed the final establishment of the same Ver. 2.-Thou hast made of a aity an heap. kingdom in the heavenly Zion, he is again No particular cjty is pointed at. The pro- 4)arried away by th~ sense of BX!Jltant phet has in bis mind the fate of all those glad~i:ise into a· fresh Lobgesang, which h~ cities which have been enemies of Jehovah nnd persecutors of the saints upon earlh. A utters in his own person-not, as the former d'efenced oity ; i.e. " a. fenced, or fortified. one, in the person of the Church. His song city." Apalaceofstrangeri Asthe"city" divides itself into three sections: (1) vers. of this passage is not a.n individWl,l city, so 1~5, a thanksgiving for deliverance; (2) the " p11l11ce" is not an indi vidul\l palace. vers. 6-S, a commemoration of blessings All the paloces of those who were "stra.ngars" to God o.nd his covenant have ceased to be granted: and (3) vere. 9-12, exultation in -they are whelmed in the general destruc- the security obtaiDed. tion (see eh. xxiv. 20). They will never Ver. 1.-Thou art my God; I will exalt rise a.gain out of their ruins. thee (comp. Exod. xv. 2 and Ps. cxviii. 28). Ver. 3.-Therefore shall the lltrong people To Isaiah the " Song of Moses " seems to glorify thee ; rather, strcmg peoplea. God', have been a pattern thanksgiving, from judgments on the nations specially hostile which he- delighted to draw his phrase~ to him would ea.use some among the heathen when he was bent on formally singing praise peoples to range themselves on his side. to Goel. Compare the following: Bxod. xv. 2 Perhaps Per,ia. is mainly intended (see oh. with ob. xii. 2,," He is become my salva- xliv. 28; xiv. I, etc.; and comp. Ezra i. tion; " the same with eh. :u:v. I," He is my 1-4; vi. 3-12, eto.). The city of the God; I will oxo.lt him;" Exod. xv. 6 with terrible nations; rather, m.ties of tern"ble eh. xiii.16," HBth dashed in pieces;" Exod. nntio11s. Though the !loun is singular, the xv. 7 with eh. xlvii. 14," Consumed them a.a verb is plural, showiug that the word" ciiy" lltubble·;" Exod. xv. 11 with oh. xlvi. 5, is again used distributively. 400 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET lSATAH, [on. nv. 1-19.