The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 528

Vers. 3, 4.-Disabled and restored. The words are suggestive of the spiritual incapa- city of which Israel was too often guilty (see Ezek.. xii. 2), and of the recovery which, in !Jetter dl;!.ys, they were to experience. I. MAN DISABLED BY SIN. There are four directions in which we suffer ead deterio- r~tion and incapacity as the consequence of our sin. 1. Spiritual perception. After some transgressions, after continued disobedience and estrangement from God, we fail to "se.e-light in his light;" our vision of his truth is less clear and full; sacred trutl,s lose .their .true proportions in our view. Then come positive error, actual misconception, moral blindness; and finally comes that terrible mental distortion of which the Master spoke so sorrowfully and th.e prophet wrote so strongly (Matt. vi. 22, 23; eh. v. 20). 2.. Recognition. of the pivine.voice. The commission of sin ends in, first, a. partial, aucl ultimately a complete, spiritual deafness. At first the .quieter and more habitual tones in \v hich God is speaking to us ( daily loving-kindnesses, sabbath pri ,ileges, etc.) become j:Q_audi.ble to .us, convey no measage to us froru God; then more distinct and unmistak- able voic.es.from heaven are unheeded and unheard; at last, the loudest demands which God ever makes fail to produce any impression on the ear of the soul. 3. The choice of that which is wis.e. The rash heart (of the text) is the heart which chooses precipi- tately, and. therefore foolishly. Unde1: the dominion of sin we come to choose the visible in prefer~nce to.the invisible, the material to the spiritual, the transient to the abiding, the .human to .. the I)ivine. 4. The utterance of Divine truth. 'l'he clouded vision naturally leads to the "stammering tongue." As man becomes more affected by the sin which dwells within and works upon him, he utters God's truth less plainly, less faithfully, more partially, with ever-widening divergence from the mind of tho Eternal. . II. THE TOUCH OF DIVINE POWER. When man bas become disabled there is no hope for him. but in God. Human teaching is valuable enough, but it does not avaiL Only the awakening, reviving touch of the Divine power, brought into immediate contact with the soul, can call back these slumbering powers. But it can and does; God's renewing Spirit breaks upon the disabled mind, upon the degenerate natnre, and that which was lost is regained; the faculties of the soul revive. Then we have- III. SPIRITUAL RESTORATION. Revived by the power of God: 1. We see clearly. We apprehend the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning us, the excellency of his service, the beauties of holiness, the luxury of usefulness. 2. We hear distinctly the voice of God as he speaks to us in his Word, in his providence, in the privileges of the Christian Church. 3. We choose wisely. We become thoughtful, reflective, studious of the Divine desire, obedient, and -therefore wise; we" understand knowledge." 4. We •peak plainly. Discerning that which is acceptable in the sight of the Lord, we speak &imply, faithfully, fearlessly, "with all boldness as we ought to speak," "the everlastina gospel ''-both the elementary truths which make wise unto salvation, and those" deepe~ &lwigs of God," which enrich the uund and sanctify the spirit.--0. I  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oH. llXll, 1--20.