The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 437

sword" (Rev. xix. 15), The various miseries, visitations, calamities, which come to us e.s the sad consequences of sin are God's sword-pain, sickneBB, separation, bereave- ment, fa.mine, war, death, etc. ; sore and sharp and strong are these. 2. The thoroughness qf hui judgments. It is not only that the blows he sends are severe, but his judgments are continued and are multiplied till all their punitive or corrective work is done. He will "go through the briars and thorns" which are spoiling his vineyard, and will bum them together (ver. 4). 11 The defenced city shall be desolate," eo abandoned of man that the calf shall feed there and lie down and browse upon the branches, and these shall be so withered that the women shall come and "set them on fire" (vers. 10, 11), When head~trong and rebellions men defy the power and despise the Word of God, they find that they are contending with One whose correction is not confined to one or two blows. God pursues such men with his holy and righteous punishment, until the briars are consumed, until the city is desolate, until the haughty heart is humbled to the very dust. 3. The open~ng whi.chlhe offers them. "Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me," etc. (ver. 6). The most rebellious may return unto him: .Ahab may humble his heart, Manasseh may repent, Saul the persecutor may become his most active servant, taking hold of his Divine magnanimity, which is the strength of the Divine character. IL His TREATMENT OF THE RIGHTEOUS. 1. TM care which he takes of them. He turns the neglected wilderness into a cultivated vineyard (ver. 2); he, the Lord, does keep it night and day; be waters it every moment; he guards it against the despoiling enemy (ver. 3). God distinguishes his people by granting them peculiar privileges; he expends on them his watchful love; he guards them against their spiritual adversaries: they have to bless him for attention, for enrichment, for defence. 2. The fact that he moderatu his corrections of them. (Vers. 7, 8.) He does not visit them with the severity he shows toward those who are defiant of his will; there is measure, limitation, in the day when the "east wind" of his chastisement is made to blow. God restrains his.hand when it is his own children whom he is correcting (Ps. ciii. 8-10), 3. TM :parental purpose of hi.s chasti.sement. (Ver. 9.) It is that iniquity may be purged, that the dark consequences and the evil stain of sin may be "taken away," that the degrad- ing idolatries of the heart as well as of the life may be demolished; it is that those whom he loves may be cleansed from their impurities and may be his children indeed, not only enjoying his favour and dwelling beneath his roof, but bearing his likeness and fulfilling his will. 4 The prosperity which he promise.s them. (Ver. 6.) The prosperity which is inward, in " taking root," in laying hold of the regard and the affections of men; that also which is outward, in blossom and bud and widespread fruit, in commanding the honour a.nd enjoying the blessings of the world.-0. Ver. 5.-Taking hold of God's strength. How can man take hold of God's strength? The answer depends on the kind of strength which God is putting forth ; and his strength is manifold. He is strong- L IN WISDOM:, and the effectuating power which results therefrom. It is in virtue of his wisdom that the elements of nature have their various attributes, and the pro- cesses of nature their constant laws-that seeds sprout, and shrubs and trees bear flower and fruit ; that living bodies grow, and minds advance, and souls mature. We take hold of God's strength of wisdom when we do our human, instrumental part in these his working&-when we plough and sow and weed; when we observe and study; when we use the privileges of devotion. II. IN HAGN.ANDUTY. God is strong indeed in this grace. Provoked by everything in man that is fitted to arouse his anger, he has withheld his retributive hand (Ps. ciii. 10). He has not sentenced us to eternal exile; he has continued his loving-kind- nesses even to the most obdurate and rebellious (Matt, v. 46). He has shown him- self williog to receive again the sons a~d ~ughters that have wand~red farthest aw9:y from his home. We take hold of this hu1 strength when we av11.1.l ourselves of his merciful overtures, and hasten in penitence and faith to his feet. • III. IN OOHPASBION. God is strong in pity. "Like as a father pitieth his children, ,o be pitieth," etc. His commiseration, his tenderness, his parental responsiveness to our various sorrows, is quick, is immediate, ill perfect; there is great strength of loving 1ympa.tby in Jesus Christ (Heb. iv. 15). We take hold or his strength when, In our OIL Uvli. 1-13.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 441