The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 14

through the gnrden. Thie path ia spanned by a wooden trelliR, upon which a vine is trained, and at tho time of our visit delicious grapes were l,an·!ing from it. As I con- templated this scene from within doors, or took the morning and evening air, sauntering between gate and door, I could but recall this striking figure of security and peace." The point beforo us is, that the Rnbshalceh promises the people that safety which comes from the rule of II strong and stable government. He scarcely veils his tauJJts at the parties and political commotions which were destroying t.he aense of security, and making foreign complications, for the people of Judah. We too seldom realize the importance of strong, stable government in a country. It may be illustrated in the following directions. I. STABLE GOVEBNMENT CHECKS PARTY FEELING. If the government be weak, its enemies are active, public opinion is kept agitated, demagogues appear and exaggerate public disabilities and public claims. Men a.re diverted from their proper pursuits to engage in political wrangle; the relationships of life are embittered by party divisions; and valuable national time is lost in unprofitable contentions. If the government be strong, the anarchical forces subside. Blessed is the land that is generally free from political strife. II. STABLE GOVERNMENT VIGOROUSLY REPRESSES EVIL-DOERS. And on this the security and prosperity of a country most directly depends. Business can only be carried on where there is security for property and security for rights. Illustrate from the con- dition of Israel when "there was no king in the land, and every one did that which was light in bis own eyes." III. STABLE GOVERNMENT CAN ENCOURAGE THE ARTS OF PEACE AND ACCOMPLISH JUDICIOUS REFORMS. It holds foreign relations with firm hand, and so preser\'es peace. It can crush the agitator and heed the reformer. Spared from contention, it bas time and means for aiding internal development. And it can stand by and preserve the liberties of those who, in a thousand ways, would spread among the 1,eople the know- ledge of the true God and the eternal life. Therefore every good Christian and good citizen should strengthen the government of his day. "The powers that be are ortlai.cel of God."-R. T. Ver. 18.-Insult offered to our God. It is an insult to class Jehovah with the idol- gods created by heathen imaginations and presented in heathen symbolic fi~res. Jehovah is like none else; be is God alone. The impertinence of this Rabsbakeh is seen in that he sets Jehovah among the petty and inferior gods of small nations, and assumes that Asshur and Ishtar, the gods of Assyria, were supreme above them all. Cheyne says, "The Assyrian is inconsistent. In his first speech be had stated himself to be the obedient instrument of Jehovah. Here be represents the wars of the Assyrians ns inspired by a religious hostility to all the gods of the nations." The point which may be illustrated is-What should be our attitude in the presence of such insults? Fur they are offered now. The scoffer still lives. The sceptic still flings over God the dark shadow of his doubtings. Literature, too, often thinly veils its insults. Wo should variously meet the occasions, adapting our response to the nature of the insult and the chamcter of him who o[ers it. Three forms of reFponse may be considered. I. CALM INDIFl'ETIENCE. Very mauy of the bravely uttered scepticism~ of our timo are only designed to draw attention to those who utter thC'm. They are in the nature of personal advertisements. Leave them alone. They are nothing; we must take care not to swell them into something by directing attention to them. Sometimes these insults are petty and nagging, but continuous. Agnin, indifference is the best treatment. Those who have faith in God make gmve mistakes when they too vigorously defend God against the arrows of mere childron. To noisy antagonism we may calmly say, "It doesn't matter." II. NOBLE TESTIMONY. There is a time to speak. When insults have grown to such power that the faith of the young, or the work of grace in the world, is imperilled, we must speak out. The Christian apologist has his time and bis sphere, especially when a kind of mania of unbelief seems to seize upon a people. Illustrate from the three Hebrew youths; the apostles before the Sanhedrim; Paul before Agrippa; Luther at the Diet of Worms, etc. Firm testimony of our personal convictions will often silence the scoffer.  10 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [on. xxxvn. 1-88.