The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 82

establish them in the land of their fathers. Dut it is o.n incalculably greater instance of Divine power to overcome o.11 ~he h\ndrances i~ t_he way of .o. spiritual redemption of the race, and to secure that glorious issue. This 1s that which the ruling o.nd over- ruling arm of the Almighty is now accomplishing. Well miaht such o. work be published with farthest-reaching voice from tho highest mounta~l God is doina that with which no victories that human monarchs ever won will for one small mgment compare. He is triumphing over the prejudices, the superstitions the vices the selfishness, the individual o.nd the organized iniquities of the world; a'nd on the ~ns of sin and wrong he is rearing the mighty and majestic edifice of universal righteousness and peace. III. Goo's GRACE IN CONFERRING IMMORTAL GLORY. "His rewo.rd is with him." God comes to us in the gospel with a very large reward. On them who seek for honour and glory in bis appointed way, he confers "eternal life;" that is to say, (1) life of the very l,ighest kind-life that is spiritual and Divine, spent in bis near presence and in bis holy service; and (2) life that never fails, but evermore enlarges-life that does not, as does our mortal existence, ascend and then descend till the end is reached but that coutinually and eternally ascends, enlarging and expanding as the centurie~ pass away. Well is it for these, and wise is it of them, to rejoice in his manifested presence, to take a sympathetic and active share in the outworking of his great accomplishment, to have for their chief hope a share in that heavenly heritage.-O. Ver. 11.-" The grace of our Lord Jesus (Jlwist." Of no one can these words be used with such exquisite appropriateness as of that "great Shepherd," that" good Shepherd" of the sheep, "bom we call Lord and Master. They express- I. HIS PRACTICAL KINDNESS. "He shall feed bis flock like o. shepherd." He will be to them, in all kindly service, what the shepherd is to his sheep. 1. He provides with all-nourishing truth. 2. He leads in the pa.the of righteousness. 3. He defends from spiritual perils. II. His TENDEB:NEBB. "He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." He is tender in bis treatment of: 1. The young. They may well sing, "Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me," etc. He who so graciously received the little childreu, who took them up in his arms and blessed them (Mark x.) will regard with truest tenderness the children of his people now. 2. 'l'he sick and suffering. As tenderly as the pitiful mother waits upon her sick child, will he sympathize with those of his disciples who are afflicted in body. 3. The sorrowful. He is the "High Priest touched with a feeling of our infirmities," holding and healing with delicate band the wounded and suffering spirit. III. His CONSIDERATENESS. "And shall gently lead those that are with young." He will suit his step to the pace of those who have to fall behind. No bard iron measure has he in his band; be requires of us only according to the strength we have. The shorter and slenderer service of the unprivileged, of the burdened, of the feeble, of the "little ones" of his flock is quite as acceptable to the considerate and patient Saviour as the longer and larger service of the privileged and the strong.-O. V ers. 12--17.-The greatness of God and the littleness of man. Theso mo~t eloquent words, so impressive as they stand that it seems undesirable to touch them ID. the way of analyziug them, may speak to us of- I. THE IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS OF GoD. 1. His Divine majesty. All that is most vast and powerful in the universe-the sea, the heavens, the land, the mountains, et.c. -is small and slight indeed when compared with him; bis surroundings, his possessions, all bespeak his unapproachable majesty. 2. His Divine power. Such is bis boundless strength that he _can hold ug the waters in the hollow ~f his hand, can." ~ake up the u;les as a very little thing.' What cannot he accumphsh to whom this 1s easy? 3. His Divine lmowled,ge. Power rests on knowledge; God is able to do all things because be knows all things. He can tell what is the measure of" the dust of the earth." Ile cannot be taught anything by any being, for all knowledge is bis already (v~rs.13, 14); greatest thingH and least, the weight of the mountains, the number of tbo _gra!11s of dust, etc., are known to him. 4. His Dill'ine wisdom. "Who hath taught bun ID the path of judgwent?" (ver. l4), ferfec~ wisdom, the ttecret of rigqt actio111 of tqe cllrectio~ c,f CJI, XL, 1-31.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 86