The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 151

EXPOSITION. OHAPTER XLIV. blessed Lord took up the comparison, and Vere. 1-5.-A P110PHEOY 0ll' IsRAEJ!s has me.de it familiar to all mou throughout 8PIRIT"l'AL RECOVEIIY AND REGENERATION. the whole Christian world (see John iii. 5; iv. 10, 11, 13-15; vii. 37-39). We may This section is closely connected with eh. note here that the "water" is only poured xliii., of which it ought to form the con- on him who is athirst for it. Thy seed ... clusion. The prophet cannot bee.r to leave thine offspring. Not "Israd after the flesh" Israel under a ban-its spiritual guides only, but also Israel after the ~pirit-the "profaned," e.nd itself given over to "re- true "Israel of God" (Gal. vi. lG). proaches." He must end with e. brighter Ver. 4.-They shall spring up as among the grass. The LXX. have, "As grass prospect. Accordingly, he holds out, in the among the waters;" ancl this reaJing is present passe.ge, the double hope (1) of followed by Bishop Lowth, Ewald, and Mr. the blessing of an abundant outpouring of Cheyne. But there does not seem to be any the Spirit, to take the place of the preceding necessity for departing from tlie existing "curse" (eh. xliii. 28); and (2) of e. press- Hebrew text. As willows. There is some doubt whether the Hebrew worJ used (' ereb) ing of proselytes into the renovated Church, is rightly translated" willo\"l"s." The modern who will hold it in honour, instead of me.king yarab seems certainly not tn be a" willow," it the object of their "reproaches." but rather e. species of Viburnum (see the Ver.1.-Yet nC>whee.r; i.e. "be not dis- long note in Delitzsch's • Commentary on mayed at what bas been said. Listen o. Isaiah,' vol. ii. pp. 203, 204, Eng. trans.). little longer." 0 Jacob my servant, etc. A It is, however, most strictly a water-plant, recurrence to the terms of endearment used growing only "near flowing water." in eh. xli. 8, showing that words of favour Ver. 5.-0ne she.ll say, I am the Lord's, an,I promise a.re a.bout t.o follow. etc. There shall be lln influx of proselytes. Ver. 2.-The Lord that me.de thee, and Insteacl of the heathen nations looking scorn- formed thee from the womb (see eh. xliii. fully on, and uttering gibes nnd jeers (Ps. 1, 7). "From the womb" is added here cxxxvii. 7) at Israel's fall, on seeing Israd"s for increased emphasis. J'es1ll'11D.. The rise they she.II be e.nxious to have a part in Lord's people have their proper names- it, and shall hasten to enrol themselves among J e.cob, Israel, Jesurun, or rutber, Jesburun. the worshippers of Jehovah. " One shall ''Jo.cob" mllrks them simply as descendo.nts suy, I am Jehovllh's,"-while "nnother sho.11 of the pe.triurcb-tbe people to whom the proclo.im the name of Jacob," as that iu which promises were made. "Israel " marks their he glories; e.ud 11 third '' shall write on his militant character-that as" God's soldiers" hand, (I e.m) Jehovah's, nnd tnke 1111 a sur- they fought hie battles and maintained his name the nllIDe or Is111el." It wo.s usu11l co.use in the midst of e. hostile world. The o.moug the heo.then nutions to m,uk the third name, "Jeshurun," which is very re.rely nnme of e. god upou the bodies of persons used (only here and in Deut. xxxii. 15; specially devoted to him (Herod., ii. I 13; xxxiii. 5, 26), designates them as " right- vii. 235); and, though tbc practice was for- eous," being e. derivative from the root bidden to Israelites (Lev. xix. 28), it might yashar (or jashar), equivalent to "upright," naturally continue iu usee.mong semi-heathen and points to tho.t standard of moml excel- proselytes. lence which it was their duty to set forth, and which to some extent they did set forth, Vere. 6-20.-A FURTHER CoNTl!.l.ST 01!' in n. world that "lo.y in wickedness." Hn.d Gon WITII IDOLS. The captive Jews, dwell- they been more worthy of the name, it would ing scattered in o. land the iuhabitants of probably h11ve been oftener applied to them. whid1 were, one and llll, iuolaters, a.nu Ver. 3.-I will pour water upon him that haviug by hereditary trunt an inclination is thirsty, "Water" is, in Isaiah, the com- mon me!.Qphor for Di vine grn.ce. Sometimes, to idolatry, would be eusily tempted, dµring e.s in this ple.ce ( e.ncl oh. xxx v. 6; xliii. 20; the long and weary period of the Captivity, lv. l), the simple maim, "water" or"we.ters," to put 11way the worship and even the is the word used. At other times we have thought of Jehovo.h, who had allowed their insteud, or in addition, "rain" (oh. v. 6; eubjugo.tion, un<i conform to the religion of ux. 2::1; lv. 10), or "dew" (eh. xxvi. 19), their conquerors. Hence the repeated con- or ''rivers" (eh. xxx. 25; xxxii. 2; xxxiii. 21; :r.li. 18; xliii. 19, eto.), or "streums" t.msts in these luter chapters-specially ad- ( eh. xxx. 25 ; xxxv. 6), or " floocls" ( as in dressed to captfre Israel-between Jehovnh this place). At his coming on eurth, our o.nd idols, e.nd the sharp ridicule of this  15G THE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' ISAIAH. [011. utv. 1-28.