The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 114

dience. Whom I uphold. " As the FrLther ii. 32; John i. 4-9), he will bum brightly hnth lire in himself, so hath he given to the e.nd strongly; e.s a Reed, or Rod, he will be Bon to 1,ave life in himself" (John v. 26). firm e.nd uubroken. Till he he.ve set judg- As the fount or origin of Divinity (1r71-y¾, ment in the earth; i.e. till he has succeeded e,6T71To<), the Father supports e.ncl suste.ins in esfahliehing trne religion upon tlie ee.rth even the Bon and the Spirit. Mine Elect (compare the le.et clause of ver. 1). The ( comp. 1 Pet. ii. 6). Christ we.s " chosen" isles; or, the countrie/1 (comp. eh. xii. 1, 5). from all eternity in God's counsels to the She.11 we.it for his Law; or, shall long for great work of m,m's rPdemption, e.nd to be hiB Law. Yakhal is "to wait Iong-ingly." the Medie.tor beween God e.nd man. I have It ia, as Delitzscb observes," an e.ctue.l fa.et put my Spirit upon him (see eh. xi. 2; lxi. that the cry for redemption runs through 1; and for the fulfilment, comp. Luke ii. the whole liume.n race." They a.re possessed 40; iii. 22; iv. 18-21; iii. 3!). He she.11 by" e.n earnest longing, the 11ltimate object bring forth judgment to the Gentiles ; i.e. of which is, however uuconsciously, the Ser- "he she.II publish," or "en use to be pub- vant of Jehovah, a.nrl his instruction from lished, to the Gentiles, the true Le.w of God- Zion"(' Comme11t. on L,a.L,h,' vol. ii. p. li7). religion on its practicn.l side." The pub] ica- Ver. 5.-Thus saith God the Lord; literally, tion of Christianity throughout e.11 the world thus saith the (One) God, Jelwllah. The h88 abundantly fulfilled this promise or pro- entire utterance, vers. 1--4, is the utterance phecy. The ce.11 of the Gen1iles had been of God; but, as that fact is gathered by in- already declared by lse.ie.h in hi• ee.rlier ference, not asserted, the prophet suddenly preaching ( eh. ii. 2; xi. 10; xi..x. 22-25; stops, and m.,kes e. new hegin11ing. It- must :nv. 6; xxvii. 13, etc.). be me.de perfectly clea.r that the announce- Ver. 2.-He she.11 not ory, nor lift up. me11t of the "Servant of the Lord " and his Supply, e.fter "lilt up," "hi~ voi,•e" from mission are from the Almighty; e.nd so we the next clause. His methods shall be quiet he.ve the solemn announcement of the present and genLle. He shall not seek to recom- verse. He the.t oreated the heavens, etc. mend his teaching by cle.mour or noisy (comp. eh. xl. 12, 22). The ee.rth, e.nd that d~monstre.tions. There shall be a marked whioh cometh out of it; i.e. all that the unobtrusiveness in all his doings ( comp. earth produces-gold, and silver, and pre- Matt. viii. 4; ix. 30; xii. 15; xiv. 13; John cious stones, e.nd corn, e.nd wine, o.nd luscious v. 13; vi. 15; vii. 3, 4; viii. 59; x. 40, fruits, and lovely flowers-all that sustains eto.). life, e.nd all that makes life delightful-nl\y Ver. 3.-A bruised reed shall he not break. more, life iLself-the breath and the 1pirit Egypt W88 compared to a "bruised reed" that make men living beings. by Sennacherib (eh. xxxvi. 6), as being Ver. 6.-1 the Lord he.ve called thee in untrustworthy e.nd destitute of physical righteousness. The" Servant of JPhovuh" strength ; but here the image represents is addressed. God he.s "called" him; i.e. the weak and de~ressed in spirit, the lowly appointed him to his merliatorial office and dejected. Christ woul<l deal tenderly "in righteousness," in accordance with the with such, uot Tiolently. Smoking 11.e.x shall righteous purpose which he hns entertained he not quench ; re.ther, the wick which towards his fallen creatures from the be- burns dimly (margin) he shall not quench, ginning of the world. And will give thee for Where the fie.me of devotion burns at all, e. Covenant of the people (comp. cb. xlill:. 8). however feebly and dimly, Messiah will The covenant between God and his people te.ko co.re not to quench it. Rather he will being in Christ, it is quite consistent with tend it, and trim it, and give it fresh oil, Hebrew usage to tro.nsfer the term to Christ and cause it to burn more brightly. He himself, in whom the covene.nt was, 88 it shall bring forth judgment unto truth. But were, embodi~d. So Christ is co.lled "our with ell this tenderness, this '' economy," So.lve.tion" e.nd "our Peace," and e.go.in, this e.llowe.nce for the shortcomings o.nd "our Redemption" and "our Life." 'l'his wee.knesses of iudividue.Is, he will be uncom- is the ordine.ry tone of Hebrew poetry, which promising in his assertiou of absolute justice rejoices in personification and embodiment. and absolute truth. He will sanction nothing A prose writer would ho.ve se.irl that the short of the very highest ste.nde.rd of moral Servo.nt of the Lord would be given e.s the purity and excellence. (For e.n instance of Medintor of a covenant between Jehovah the combination of extreme tenderness with and his people. For a Light of the Gentiles unswerving maintenance of an absolute (comp. eh. xlix. 6; Ii. 4). stnndo.rd, see John viii. 8-11.) Ver. 7.-To open the blind eyes. The Ver. 4.-He she.11 not fe.il nor be dis- Messie.h we.s to cure both physical e.ncl ooure.ged; litere.lly, he will not burn dimly spiritual blindness (see eh. xxix. 18; xxxii. 710T be bruised. He will himself show no 3; xxxv. 5, etc.). Here it is spiritual blind- signs of that weakness which ho will com- ness that is specially intended, as e.ppenrs passionate in others. As e. " Light " (Luke both by the symbolic language of the two  118 TRE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIA.R. [ou. XLII. 1-26.