The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 102

Vers. 17-29.-The claims of Jehovah. The thought seems to resume the thread broken off at the beginning of the chapter. Jehovah appeals to what he has done and to what be is. I. HIB MERCIFUL DEALINGS WITH ms PEOPLE. '!'he scene and state of exile is brought before u~. They are dwelling in the "tents of Kedar." They are in the midst of a flourishing commercial empire; yet it is to them as a desert where no water is (cf. Ps. lxiii. 1). The true desert is the soul without the sense of God's presence. But God is not limited by pl.ace; and why, in lands of exile, should not the spiritual be as near as at home? The mind is its own place, and can be made happy if it only possesses God. This higl,est happiness is figured as abundance of streams among the bare hills and the highland plains. In the Orient, water is synonymous with relief from intense suffering, deliverance from death-in a word, with gladness, salvation, life itself; and the sight of lovely Paradises as tbey were called, i.e. parks of trees-the stately cedar, and the brilliant plane and others. Such scenery enters into pictures of the Greek Elysium, and probably of the happiness of the future life among other nations, and doubtless with a correspondence to the truth. Trees and living water: what more beautiful parable can Nature offer of the eternal energy of the living God? what better hint of the future state reserved for his chosen? The design of all these merciful and wonderful deliver- ances is that Jehovah's nature may be unveiled, and that the nations may contemplate it with reverence and joy-" that they may at once see, and acknowledge, and consider, and understand., that Jehovah's hand hath performed this, aud Israel's Holy One hath created it." II. JEHOVAH'& CHALLENGE. Let the gods of the heathen bring forward their cause; let them point out the bulwarks of argument behind which they entrench themselves. The "King of Ja.cob" calls these daimonic patrons and kings of other peoples to con- front him. Have they insight into the future? Can they predict the coming event? Can they "declare the roots of the future in the past, or give a direct forecast of the future? God alone can reveal the secrets of the past. If the idols can do this, they are Jehovah's equals, and may be trusted for their ability to predict the future" (according to wme, this is the meaning). Or let them do some signal deed, whether of good or evil, and prove at least that they are alive. Some wonder should be performed, at whioh on. XLI. 1-29.J 'fHE BOOK O.F THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 10j