The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 460

call good "evil," and evil ·, goc,d;" they even "glory in their shame," so hl!.ve they lied unto thcrnsel ve~. Ill.. 'l'HAT SINFUL MF.N ACT AB IF TRF.Y COULD RELY ON SUCCOUR WHICH 18 WORTH- LESS. They stretch themselves on a bed which is too short for their stature; they wrnp themselves with clothin~ which will not cover thetn (ver. 20). Jr. their wearine~s they resort to pleasureB which do not give them rest, and from which they rise as tired as before. In their sorrow,' or iii their shame, or in their defeat, they have recourse to cqrnforts which give no_~eart-ease, il'nd leave them sad and troubled in soul. Many weary years, whofe periods of life; even an entire earthly course, will men spend, trying arid pitifully failing to console themselves with false comforts, to find rest in excite- ments, in vanities, and sometimes in vices, which have no power to soothe and satisry the soul 'which only truth and love can fill. IV. 'l'HAT GOD WILL ONE DAY AROUSE THEM FROM THEIR GUILTY ERROR. (Ver~. 18, 19.) 'l'he oyerflowing scourge will come, and will not pass by them; they will bP. trodden down beneatll it. The overwhelming storm will hold them in its embrace of death. The day of disillusion, of selfcreproach, of shame, of Di vine retribution, will arrive: "Be not deceived [do not deceive yourselves]; God is not mocked: for what- soever a man sowetb, that shall he also reap."-C. Vers. 16-22.-The judgments of God. When human folly has gone to so great a length (ver. 15), it may look out for the coming of Divine judgment ; for this cannot be long delayed. And when we look we ftnd- 1. THE SEVERITY OF Gon's VISITATION. 1. It will correspond closely with man's guilt, as if measured with line and plummet (ver. 17); it will be broad as its breadth, deep as its depth, enlarged to its magnitude; more severe as man's g11ilt is more wanton, most severe as it is most aggravated and inexcusable. 2. It will be literally destructive, sweeping away the fal!le refuge (ver. 18), tearing up the unholy compact (ver. UJ), causing consternation as H proceeds on its desolating path (ver. 19), compelling those who try' to make shift with eartllly succour to know the utter insufficiency of their measu·res (ver. 20), constituting a very "consumption" of all that had been possesse,l and rejoiced in (ver. 22). • When'" the day of the Lord" comes it is often found to b3 a 'very terrible tii:ne indeed, stripping the rich and strong of his wealth and power, humbling the society or the nation to the ve,ry dust, causing lameotation, shame, death. • II. 'l'HE APPARENT SUDDENNESS OF IT. (Yer. 21.) As,in the person of David, the Lord" broke forth like a breach ·or waters" upon the enemy (2 Sam. v. 20), so suddenly will he appear in judgrnent against those who break his laws and reject his Son. The waters have been long collecting, the banks have been long loosening, but in a few minutes, at the last, the dam is broken, and the rushing streams are down tile valley- eide, carrying destruclien in tlleir path. So is it with the accumulating wrath of God: this is "treasured" up by sin after sin, year after year (Rom. ii. 5); but at some point in the career it" breaks forth" like David's army, like the descending waters, and behold everything is gone-treasure, reputation, health, prospects, life itself. III. Goo's INDISPOSITION TO SMITE. It is a strange work, a. strange· act, to God (ver. 21). 'fo confer and to sustain life, to impart blessing, to multiply riches, to enlarge the mind, to strengthen and sanctify the soul, to till with hope and joy,-tbis is the work which is natural, congenial, pleasant to him whose Name is love. But to visit with penalty, to smite rnther than to spare, to inflict sorrow and humilia.tbn,- this ia strange, ungenial, joyless to the heavenly Father. "As I live," saith God, "I have no pleasure in tile death of the wicked." He delighteth in mercy, but he is constraine<l. to punish. IV. Tim PURPOSE OF l\lERCY THAT RUNS THROUGH THE DIVINE JUDGll!ENT. (Ver.16.) In tile midst of a passage where we should e::s:pect to finu nothing but holy indignation, we meet with the intention to bless. Notwithstanding all that provokes to wrath and deserves destruction, there is to be laid the precious Corner-stone which nothing can remove, and which will uphold the most majestic fabric of prosperity and joy. God visits wilh correction--sevcre, continuous, complete ; yet be has a redemptiYe purpose on his mind, and out of all the strife and discord n glorious temple of trnth and piety wiU arise.  464 THE DOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oH. xxvm.1-29,