The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 439

rich and abundant fruit; it needs constant and careful tending i iUI \vood I~ tlscless fLI any other purpose than carrying the sap that flo•ws through it; and It is expo8ed to peril from ch1u_,ging atmo~phl·res and outward foes. To this last point of comtia1·lsb11 these verses direct us. l•or the others such passages may be consulted ss Pe. 'lii:xir., 8-16; eh. v. 1-7. Wendte that vineyard-keeping includes-'- !. TENDI1'G. This is called to miud by the ,>ery stro'tig •assurance, en I. will water· it every_mome_nt," which is evidently meant to irupres~ ?n us the cons~ancy,'·the care, the gracious ,nsdom, the prompt helpfulness, of the D1v1ne dealh1~ with the Church. 'l'o our minds it has a soIUewhat exaggerated sound, 'but that ·is only because we have 110 associations with a parched, hilly, hot, and almost rainless country, such as Pales- 1ine or Egypt. Constant and abcrndant irrigation is the essential condition of vege• mlJle life in such lands, and to it the science and practical skill of the people are· ,le'l'otetl. Channels are _made in· which the wakr may run to the vineyards, and much of the gar<lener's skill is -devoted to this n•gular and efficient wate1ing; 'l'hii' Eastern· iclea of a fruitful tree is one "planted by the rivers of water;" "its leaf, i:!hall not wither." They who are thus -careful about the·watel'irJg of their vines will;be'..sure to <lo e'!'&ything else f~r them th~t i:; 11ecessary for their weH'-bcirig. · 'l'hey will'gathiir out the stolll'S, ennch the soil, clean the bine, prune luxurious growths, guide the trailing lmrnchcs, and thin the crowded bunches. And so does the Lord of that vine- yard, the Cl.iurch, meet her ueeds at every point. \:That he sbdlll4·"water·it "every moment n suggests that his supreme care is for the renewal of ·Jie(vitality, a:nd -ass~es · us of his further care of all the forms and expressions 6f that vitall.t'y. •We II\!\Y pe sure, in New Testament·language, that with "h'is''dear: Son;-God_ will freely'give us. al1 things." He will feed, be will ·correct, be wiU: ehcoiliage, b,e· will check'. ·, what-. soe'!'er is needful for the wise tending of the Church, we may fully trust him that·he: will do, for be is a Master-gardener. In· following out this lli'ough,t, precise, practical.. applications may b~ made to the conditions and necessities of the •particli.tar· Church. addressed, •• -' ~-•• ..;·_·.', ... : 1..1,, • . . ,; •· ·,··.. , II. w..A.TCHING. "Lest tl.IlY hurt it, I will k~ep it nigb't 'and q:i.'.f."' V-an t~nnep tells us that "vineyards which are at a distance from a: villl!ge requite ·a·• constant watch and guard duriag the frnit season, or ·they' are .,ccimplctely devoured by the' j:1.drals." Some of the very earliest Egypt(an paintings are vlyia-liued representations; of trellised and festooned ~• vines," while, peering through the bo11gh~twisted fent:es, 'js' seen the sha:rp arid mobile nose of the "f=," stealthily stealing toVl'.ards his •favou!'ite· repast. It ill usual to dig a ditch all round the vineyard, info' wliieh .stone- posts ii~e' driven, branches are twisted in and out of these posts, and,'aB'_wi_ld plaJJ.ts ~nd briars = grow up among them, a thick and solid fence, or be'dge is made'.·: Biit· tqe ~IJB~' bandman is obliged from time to time to examine _all ·parts of the hedge,-and· close up aay !rap or breach made by the foxes, jackals, badgers, haris, hedgehogs, add perhaps even "wild boars which, by trampling, destroy more than 'they-eat. A 'fraihih~d- raised' on poles a good h.-ight is prepared for the defence of the vineyard; 'in it' a watch'er' remains da.y and uight while the fruit ill ripening, From his elevated l)OSitiorl. he can: see all over the vineyard, and arrangement is sometimes made for h:is• signalling to tbe neighbouring village in case of emergency. Be is provided with weapons suit!lble for· <lealinu with the JJTecise foes which he may ·have to' encounter. _These ·points· \>Jm 6uggest the gracious forms in which God has ever defel;)ded his ancient Church;· His- torical illustrations may be given. What he has ever been, that he ~till i11; (and the· individual -Christian, as well ·as the Christian Ohurch,.may rest secure' in his keeping., No foes can come· nigh us that be will riot see. None can prove"stronger..in attac~ than he jn dtfence. Sometimes the Christian may, in his despairings, say after ov~r..'- worn David, " I· sha41 now perish one day by tlie' 1:!iii:uf of Saul ; '' but, 'with God's watchiag and keeping, he shall no more peiish than David did. Th~· Cliurch, over- estimatinu the force of evil at 11.oy given time, inaY.-. cry that it ".is in danger." • It is' always at~ untrustful cry, raised when men fail to look to the" Watcher in the bobth,"·· wl..io keeps the vineyard night and day. "He. that keewtli Israel sh!'IH ne_ither slumber nor sleep." "As the mountai_ne &re round about Jerusalem, so- thti-Lt>rd)a round about hi.>! people from henceforth even for ever."-R. T:, , • -'' • • Yer. 5.-Maki-ng peaa 10itl1 God, The Bev. 'f. Toller gives· a very stiiking ill~ otJ. Xhll, 1-13.] nm UOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. {43