The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 118

Scripture in various senses. All who work out God's purposes, however unconsciously or e"en unwillingly, are co.llc,l by the sacred writers" God's servants," in respect of the service, albeit unconscious or unwilling, which they render him. Thus Jeremiah calls Nebuchadnezzar "God's servant'' (xxv. 9; xxvii. 6, etc.), and Ezekiel speaks of the "wages n due to him because he and his army " served a good service '' on God's behalf against Tyre (xxix. 18). In quite a different sense, the Israelites generally are called God's servants, not as actually rendering him any service at all, but as bound by covenant to be hie servants, engaged in hie service by contract, however they might break the contract, reject hie service, rebel against him, and choose for themselves "other lords" (eh. xxvi. 13). Jn a third sense, different from both of ,h,·se, the faithful Israelites, thofe who earnestly endeavoured to serve God, are called his servants, partly as bound by covenant, like the unfaithful servants, but mainly as consciously and intentionally working for God, and doing him "true and laudable service." Such service, however, must always have been, at the best, imperfect, falling very far short of that entire fidelity and complete obedience which God requires and which man ought to render. Hence, when a servant is spoken of with whom no fault is found- a servant who never "fails" (ver. 4), whom God holds always by the hand (ver. 6), who is to give a law to the nations (ver. 4), and to "hring forth judgment unto truth" (ver. 3), in whom, moreover," God's soul delighteth" (ver. 1),-we may be sure that it is not faithful Israel that is intended. Of faithful Israel-even of the faith[u\lest in Israel, whether prophet, priest, or king-none of these things could be predicated. Isaiah would not speak of any prophet, least of all, of himself, in the terms wherewith he describes" the Servant of Jehovah" in this passage. No; One is proclaimed to us greater than the sons of men-the perfect model of a "servant of God," obedient in all things, unceasingly active in God's service, never fainting, never wearying. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work," said Jesus (John v, 17); "My meat is to do the will of my Father which sent me, and to finish his work" (John iv. 34); "Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathet's business?" (Luke ii 49). Vera. 10-12.-The duty of sympathizin,q with the foys of othe,·s. Compassion for those who suffer is a strong and powerful feeling, well developed in human nature, and widely spread among all classes and conditions of men. A real feeling of glad sympathy with those who are exceptionally prosperous is a far rarer emotion, and seldom attains any great intensity. Yet, in the nature of things, the two duties would seem to be co-ordinate aµd to balance each other. "Rejoiet: with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Rom. xii. 15). In the present passage of Isaiah the whole world seems to be called upon to sympathize with Israel's deliverance from captivity, and its consequences, which were the re-establishment of a visible Church l•f God upon the earth-a Church which would be a perpetual witness for him, anrl out of which, iu a certain sense, would be developed that "Church of Christ," against which the gate~ of hell would not prevail, and which would continue "even to the end of the world." No doubt the whole world was interested in these results, and might thus be regarde,l as having reason to rejoice for their own sake; but the call made upon them is not rested on any such grounds. It bases itself simply on the general duty o[ good will which men owe to their fellows. Here we may note two forms of the rluty. J, As INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD REJOICE IN TUE JOY AND PilOSPElUTY OP OUR NEIGHBOURS. Condolence is common; congratulation is less frequent. Our neighbours' successes and triumphs too often raise in us a certain feeling or jealousy and discontent, which prevents us from offering congratulations, or makes those that we offer insincere. "Why are they so much more favoured than ourselves? What have they <lone tll deserve their advancement?" All such thoughts ou2;ht to be put aside. "It is Go,l that ruleth in Jacob, and uuto the ends of the earth.n All prosperity is from God-at the least, allowed by him. We are bound, by the love that we ought to bear to our fellow-men, to be glad when good befalls them-to put ourselves and our own claims and deservings out of sight, and simply to rrjoice in their joy. IJ. As MEMBERS OF A NATION, WE SHOULD REJOICE IN 1'HE JOY AND PROSPERITY OP NEIGHBOURING NATIONS. The indifferent Bcni-Ketlar, the hostile ldumreans, are required by God to ~ing a song of praise for Israel's restoration to theu: own country. The isles and maritime tracts of the West are to do the same. Nat1olll! are, all or  122 THE BOOK OF 'l'RE PROPH~T ISA.IAR. [ea. n.11.1-26