The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 86

I. Joyless souls, ,vho have no gladness in God, and no happiness in his service, who walk even in the "path of lire" with uo brightness in their countenance and no elasticity in their step. But they include also: 2. Half-hearted souls, whose devoted- ness to Christ is seriously def<:'ctive, who cannot say, "With my whole heart have I 11ervcd thee," who seem to think that a very large amount of selfishness is consistent with loyalty to the Lord, and who are often falling "out of rank" when they should be walking on in the march or actively engaged in the battle. 3. Faint-hearted souls, who have no courage to attempt anything for their Master and their fellow-men, and who consequently allow their life to pass on and away without achieving anything iu the field of sacred usefulness. 4. Souls open to temptation; those who have gained such an imperfect control over themselves that they lie exposed to the gusts of tempta- tion, and their best friends are continually solicitous lest they should dishonour them- selves and the Name they bear. II. TBE INSUFFICIENCY OF BUMAN STRENGTH. There were those in Israel from whom, in the natural course of things, strength, vigour, fort-itude, might have been expected. But in vain: "E"en the youths shall faint," etc. 'l'here are those in the Uhnrch of Christ whose physical constitution, or whose natural temperament, or whose intellectual capacity or acquisition might give them the appearance of strength; it would not be expected of them that they would become" weary," still less that they would" utterly fall." But no reliance can be placed on such natural supports, such unspiritual resources. These sonls are not strong in the deeper sense in which the Church needs strength. They are suhject to the inroads of pride; they are liable to fall under the assaults of passion; they are tempted to withhold from God the glory which is due to his holy Name; they may do nothing to commend the Divine Saviour himself and bis glorious gospel to the hearts of men; and, "not gathering with" Christ, they only "scatter abroad" the seeds of error and of wrong. Ill. THE GIFT OF DIVINE POWER. "He giveth power . . . he increaseth strength." God has access to our human souls-direct and immediate access. He can" lay his hand upon us," and tonch the secret springs of our nature, calling forth all that is best and worthiest, " strengthening us with strength in our soul." He can communicate to us so much of "the exceeding greatness of his power n that we can, through him and in him, become strong indeed ; can attain to strength of: 1. Resistance ; so that we shall be able to stand in the evil hour of temptation. 2. Endurance; that we can be calm, peaceful, acquiescent, even under the severest and the most lasting trials. 3. Steadfast piety; that we become "living epistles of Christ," etc. 4. Sacred joy. 6. Faithful utterance. 6. Perseverance in every good work. God gives us of the refreshing, renew- ing, invigorating influences of his Holy Spirit, and we run without weariness, we walk without fainting. IV. Tm: CONDITION oN WHICH IT IB OONFERRED. This includes (1) a patient waiting for the exercise of God'n power on our behalf; and also (2) an earnest appeal to him in believing prayer that he would fulfil his word. The truly reverent spirit will devoutly seek the Di\'ine blessing, and confidently look for its bestowal. 'l'o expect without seeking is presumption; to seek without expecting is unbelief; to do the one and not to leave the other undone is obedience and faith in happy union.-O. Ver. 1.-17ie comfort of Gor£B restored favour. 'l'he question of the authorship of the latter half of lBaiah resolves itself into a discussion of its claim to be prophetical. If it is descriptive, it must have been written by some "great unknown." If it is prophetical, and a vision of historical events covering Jong centuries, but grouped for effective representation, then it may have been written by Isaiah, and it fittingly com- pletes a work which, revealing Divine judgments, also reveals "mercy rejoicing over judgment." Isaiah seems to be among the wearied, burdened, disheartened exiles in Babylon, towards the close of the Captivity. 'l'hey are "hanging their harps 011 the willows," and refusing to sing. They have waited so long, that it seems quite plain " God has forgotten to be gracio111." To them Isaiah has a message from Go~. He is to "comfort them· " and this is to be the comforting-God's time of judgmen t 1s almost over, God's restori~g mercies are close at hand. "Where sin e,bounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. v. 20). "Having, in eh, xxxix. 6, 7, predicted the Captivity, Isaiah, with a view to console hie nation, delivers the prophetio discoveries whioh, w llll, XL, 1-31.) 'l'lIE BOOK OF THE! PROPlIET ISAIAH. 89