and open their ears, and are reminded that before his people. It is uot tho original all their recent and present sufferings arise giving of the Law at Sinai only that is from their former "blindness " and diso- meRnt, hut e.lso its constant incnlcntion by a long series of prophets. Iarael's ,·xperienco bedience. (ver. 20) had included nil this; bnt they bud Ver. 18.-Hear,yedeaf. The"deaf"are not profited by the instruction addressed to not absolutely without hraring, nor the them. •·blind" absolutely without sight. They Vor. 22.-But this ia e. people, otc. : i.e. can " hear" and " see," if they choose to do yet, notwith,t.'\nding nil thnt has been doue ,o. When they do not sec\ it is bec:iuse for it, see the condition into which this they "wink with their eyes" (Matt. xiii. people has brought itscl f. For their sins, 15); when they do not hear, it is because, here they are in Babylonia., robbed and like the deaf adder, they "stop their ears " spoiled-i.e. suffering oppression o.nd wrong (Ps. !viii. 4). This, at any rate, is the case -sue.red in holes, or taken in their enernie•' with the majority. There may be some who pits (Ps. cxix. 85), and, some of them, hid in hnve deadened their moral vision altogether, prison-houses (see 2 Kings xxv. 27), ex- and have no longer any" ea.rs to hear." God, piating by their punishments the long series however, addresses the mass of Israel as still of their offences. possessed of moral discernment, if they will Ver. 23.-Who among yon will give ear1 but use it, and calls upon them to wake up Surely there are some among you, less out of sleep-to "hear" and" see." hardened than the rest, who will take ad- Ver. 19.-Who is blind, but my servant! vantage of my warning, and repent at this, or deaf, as my messenger 1 God's original the eleventh hour. God's arm was strait- "servant" and "messen.-rer" to the nations ened; the people conk! not bu delivered out was bis people Israel It was only through of captil-ity unless they ceased in large their default that be needed to send nnothcr numbers to be" blind" and" deaf"-unlt:ss :md truer messeuger. He now asks, having they listened to the prophet's words, and regard to their opportunities, who are so profited by them. blind and deaf as they are? The object of Ver. 24.-Je.aob . .. Israel (comp. eh. xl. the question is to wa.ke a feeling of shame 27 ; xii. 8, 14 ; xliii. 1, etc.). He age.inst in the hearts of those who are not shameless whom we have sinned. The prophet identi- among the Israelites. That I sent; rather, fies himself with his people in loving sym- 'll!lzom I will send. Israel's mediatorml office pathy, just as Daniel does in eh. ix. 5-15, was not yet over. They were still, for above and Ezra in eh. ix. 6-15, of their respective five hundred years, to be God's messenger to books (comp. also eh. lix. 9-13). the nations. As be that is perfect; rather, Ver. 25.-Therefore he he.th poured upon as he that receitleB re'IJ!ard from me (see Prov. him , .. the strength of battle; i.e. for xi 3 I ; xiii. 13). The word used is connected this cause, on account of their iniquities, etymologically with the Arabic ,nuslim (our did God bring upon bis people the scourge u Moslem"); but it does not appear to have of foreign war, and allow the Babylonia.us hod the sense of "surrender" or "submis- to waste J udma, to destroy Jerusalem, and to sion" in Hebrew. lead into captivity the entire nation (comp. Ver. 20.--Beei.ng many things, but, etc. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14-17). It bath set hilD Israel had •• seen many things;" i.e. passed on fire; rather, it (i.e. the war) set him 01I through a long experience, but not profited fire. The reference is, perhaps, especially by it-not been " observant," as they should to the burning of Jerusalem by Neb11z:ir-o.d11n have been. They ha.d had their ears open (2 Kings xxv. 9): but the ph1ase will cover in a certain sense, and heard the words tl,at also the general devastation of the Janel both the prophets a.ddrassed to them, but ha.d not before and after this event (Jer. xxxix:.- taken in their true import. (The mixture xlii.). Re knew not; rather, he took no of persons is like that in eh. i. 29 and xiv. notice; he did not change his ways on 30.) eccount of the cha&tisement. The prophet's Ver. 21.-TheLordilwellpleased; rather, view ie the.t Iara.cl, as a whole, was not tM Lord 'll!a.11 pleased, or it plea.aed tM Lord. greatly bettered by the Captivity, at any J'or his righteo11Blle11' sake; " because of his rate up to the time which he tukes for hie own perfect righteousness." lie will mag- standpoint, and at which he supposes him- nify the La.w; rather, t.o magnify the Law- self to be addressillg them. to set il forth in it.Ii great!less av.d it.Ii glory
HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-7.-The i;ervant, of God, and the 011e true Servant. It must.~~ admHt~d by all tha.t the expres~ion "Servant of God," or "Servant of Jehovah, 1s used 1n CH. xLJ..t.J-25.] 'l'HE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISAIAH. 121