The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 404

ll, Tm: DOOM OF THE HEATHEN, Moab seems to stand for the heathen in general. Moab, as the proud foe of Israel (2 Kings uiv. 21 Ezek. xxviii. 8-11), shall be trampled down, swamped, and contend like a swimmer for his life. But his pride will ho abased; his strong walls be cut down, even to the dust. So that hand, which is outspread beneficently, like the canopy of the broad sky, to protect and bless the chosen, may be clenched in threat and for vengeance upon the wicked. There are two senses in which that band may" rest" upon us-lightly, as the father's hand rests on the head of a beloved child, to express affection, approval, and the promise of aid; or heavily, to punish, to overwhelm, to II tum our moistnre into the drought of summer." To listen to the voice, to submit to the hand of the Eternal,-this is the expression of genuine piety. To writhe and struggle and resist the pressure of that hand, to tum a deaf ear to that voice,-this is the expression of hardness of heart and impiety, bringing certain punishment in its turn. "To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts I ' -J. Ver. 8.-(Jhrisfs conquest Q/ death. "He will swallow up death in victory." Here the fulness of Isaiah's evangelical prophecy begins to break forth. In the fourth verse he has described Jehovah as II a Strength to the poor, a Strength to the needy in his distress, a Refuge from the storm, a Shadow from the beat ; " and all this, he says, Goo has been. Human history will endorse the record. But he unU be more to men than all this I Death, that dogs men's footsteps and darkens even their days wi tb fear; death, that breaks in upon all dreams of perfect friendship and permanent joy; death, which, as invisible monarch, holds empire in so many breMts ;-death itself shall be destroyed. , I. THE VICTORY CAME. It was not then. But the prophecy was fulfilled. Death had to bring its sacred. spoils and to lay them at the feet of Christ during his earthly ministry. And when men wondered at his mighty power, Christ said, "Marvel not at this, for all ....that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man, and shall come forth." - II. THE VICTORY WAS COMPLETE. Death was swallowed up in victory. No province was left undisturbed. No delay intervened. No conflict occurred. Death knew its own Lord and King, and gave back at once its spoils. 'l'hus we nnderstand the words, "He led captfoity captive." The very powers that once had held empire over men he now despoiled. And as in the Roman processions, the princes who once had spoiled others were now led captive at the chariot-wheels of a greater victor than themselves, so death was led captive at the chariot-wheels of Christ. III. THE VICTORY WAS PERMANENT. 11 Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." Now that Christ has risen from the dead, he has become the Firstfruits of all that sleep. The triumph of the Saviour over the grave was designed to give great rest and gladness of heart. "And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." It is immortal life that not only gives pre- ciousness to friendship, but that gives relief from overwhelming tribulation. We sorrow, indeed, still; the hot rain of tears fa.Us from the aching brain; but we sorrow not as those without hope. We comfort our hearts with these words of Jesus: " Let not your hearts be troubled.••• In my Father's house are many mansions."-W. M. S. Vera. 1-6.-Rejoicing in God. Such words as these could only come from an 1nlightened mind. They woul<l have been impossible to a heathen sage. The gods of 41b.e nations were beings in whom no right-minded man could rejoice at all, and their ,haracter could not have been painted in these colours. But the God of Isaiah, our God, is One for whom "praise may be continually on the lips" of the wise and pure. Our souls can "delight themselves in God ; " for- I. His ABIDING FAITHFULNESS. 11 His counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (ver. 1). "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." WhaL he has purposed and promised is sure of fulfilment. 'l'he lapse of time, the passing of centuries, makes not the faintest difference in the certainty. Heaven and earth may pass, but hie promise never (JM. i. 17; Heh. xiii. 8). We ma.y lean all the weight of our hope on his Divine Word, and we shall find that we are rest- ing on the immovable rock. i06 THE BOOK 01<' THE PROPHE'l' ISAIAH, Celt. u.v. 1-1~