The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 26

hns set in order II uuivt•reo of men, and not of machines, and he is too wise not to havo ordored all things wieoly and well. Mo.n is evidently a being born to the perils which beset all froedom. 'l'hue he ce.n speak agninst the Most High. "I am er1ual to the snd occe.eion," says in elTect Jehovah to faaioh. "The servants of the King of Assyria have blasphemed me, but I will send a blast upon them." No more solemn thought con occupy our minds than the considemtion how every day bla.sphcmous, false, and base words are spoken against our Father in heaven. II. THESE WORDS ARE OFTEN DESIGNED TO BURT l!IB CHILDREN. " Fear them not," says God; "they cannot hu1t you." We are thankful for this revelation of the impo- tence ofevil... If your ch'1racteris falsely traduced, God can" bring forth thy righteousness o.s the light, e.nd thy judgment as the noonday." If your influence is injured for a time, God has so ordered the world that evil men reveal their true character. They are not good, and they know it; "and they that be otherwise cannot be hid." Let not the friends of Goel tremble in the presence of inlltlcl insinuation or sceptical scorn. God's nature has been revealed. Hie wonde1 ful works attest hi~ power and goodness. Christ and the cross are the revelation of his love. Ill. THESE WORDS ARE SURE TO DE BEARD, We cannot at times help the entrance of evil, but we can help the entertainment of it. We mwt treat all the evil surmises of wicked men with the disdain that they deserve. We can, as Solomon suggests," turn from it and pass away." Besides, just as there is in love what Dr. Chalmers calls " the expulsive power of e. new e.ffection," so there is in love to God a power t,> banish all that old love of the world which ruakes men mingle with the irreverent and undevout. 'l'he syren vuice of evil whisperings will have no charm for us when we hide God's Word in our heart. The great lesson is not to be afraid of the wickedness of the wicked, or to make their words of account by taking too great note of them. Many malignant words would have perished at their birth if they had not been ma,le much of by argument and reply. The best e.nswer is to trust in God e.nd do the right.-W. M. S. Vers. 1-4.-0ur highest solicitude. A very graphic scene is here sketched, The highest personages in the realm are moved to the strongest feelings of indignation and concern. Dignity is entirely forgotten; the profoun,l agitations which have stirred their souls are expre~sed in actions which, to less excitable and imaginative pecple, seem violent and unbecoming. But the rent garments a.11d the coarse sackcloth best uttered, f11r them, the distracted heart and a deep sense of shame. It was eloquence in action, e.nd was more forcible than the most imp1LSsioned speech. Doubtless many feelings mingled in this strong emotion, but we prefer to think (nncl by the fourth verse are justified in thinking) that what most kindled the indignation of l!.ing, of statesman, e.nd of prie~t, was the "blasphemy" which had been spoken a;ainst the Lord; the earnest solicitude on their part that the Name of Jehovah should not be shamefully dishonoured e.mong men, There are- I. SOLICITUDES WHICH ARE GOOD, BU'l' NOT B!GH. we do well to be solicitous to dischl\l'ge our pecuniary obligations, to take and to hold an honourable posit.ion among our fellows, to enjoy a good reputation among men, to see that which is most beautiful, to hear that which is most harmouious, and to read that which is ruost delightful. But this appeals to those instincts and nmbitions which a.re comruou to a.II but the lowest among men ; they are desires or anxieties which are good but not high. II. SOLICITUDES WHICH AUE IIIGH, DOT NOT THE HIGHEST. It is iu a very high degree desirable, it is indeed urgent, that we should show a pnti, nt, practical solicitude (1) to gain the furgiventss of our sin, and acceptance with God; (~) to maintain our Ohristiau consistency and conformity of conduct to the will of Christ; (3) to attain to the nobler ranges of Christian excellency, to reach the goal which is set before us; (!) to serve our generation to the height of our e.bility and opportunity; (5) to be ready for the last hour of lifo e.nd the first hour of immortality. 'l'hese are higb a.ud worthy 1LSpirations, but they are not.- • III. THE BOLICI'l'UDE WllICR 18 TBE HIGHEST OF ALL. It is that commanding and consuming desire for the glory of God which filled the hearts of Hezekiah and his people, an<l which callod forth such powerful and even pas~ionatc emotion when his Name wn1 blasphemed. 1. The evide,,ce that this is the highest solicitude is found in: (1) The fact that it is our supreme obligation. We are bound, first and most o{ nil 28 TflE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISA.IA.11. [on. nxvtr. 1--88.