The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 190

are often thought to be incompatible. The just man is thought of as likely to punish. The just God is sure to save. I. M~~•s rnEA_ 1s-Ju_sT AND PUNT~HI:'G. O_ur minds are mostly occupied with the work ot .1ust1ce m findmg and pumshmg evil-doers. Consequently, a very limited forensic idea of justice has come to possess men's minds; and this limited and unworthy notion of justice we too readily apply to God; and according to it settle God's relations with men: But j~stice is prope~ly" doing right by men" and "setting men right," and mere pumshment 1s only an accident of the true work of justice; or, we may say, ono •Jf its agencies in doing its higher work. Justice is as truly delivering men out of the hands of the wicked, as it is punishing the evil-doer. This position should be fully illustrn ted, and it will prepare the way for the consideration of the next division. II. Gon's IDEA IS-JUST AND SAVING. With God the "just" means the "right," and that always includes the "kind." This may be opened in several ways. 1. God is just in saving his people from disasters which others have brought on them, 2. God is just in saving them from the consequences of their own infirmities and follies, 3. God is just in saving men from their sins by punishing them for their sins. 4. God is just in saving them from punishment, when the ends of punishment have been secured. 5. God is just in finding a way by which, through the voluntary sacrifice of his Son, his honour can be maintained while his mercy is extended to guilty and helpless sinners. His saving, in Christ Jesus, is the expression of his justice. He is the" Justifier of him who believeth in Jesus."-R. T. Ver. 22.-Salvation by looking. The illustration at once suggested is that of the Israelites, heR!ed from the bite of the serpents by looking at the God-provided brazen serpent, lifted up on high in the middle of the camp. This familiar subject needs only a bare outline of points to unfold and impress. I. Hru TO WHOM WE SHOULD LOOK. "I, if I be lifted up," said Christ, "will draw all men unto me." "That whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting life." II. THE LOOK THAT SAVES. 1. The look of conscious need. 2. The look of persona.I Lelplessucss. 3. The look of humility. 4. The look of faith. Ill. THE SALVATION THAT COMES BY LOOKING. 1. Salvation from the penalty due to sin. 2. From the wrong relations brought about by sin. 3. From the bad inward state induced by sin. " For all within you, Guido, which sighs after a redemption, is Christ come as a Redeemer ; he has redeemed your heart and your reason; he has redeemed your spirit and your body; he has redeemed yourself and nature which surrounds you" (Tholuck).-R. T. Ver. 23.-The Lord's.final triumph. (Comp. Phil. ii. 10.) It should be noticed that "kneeling" and "swearing to" are acts of homage and fealty; and theJ!:._are so used in this passage. Still we " swear" alleginnce to a sovereign. " If the heart bo brought into obedience to Christ, and made willing in the day of his powC'r, the knee will bow to him in humble adoration and addresses, and in cheerful obedit'nce to his commands, submission to his disposals, and compliance with bis w!ll in both ; an~ t~~ tongue '!ill swear to him, will lay a bond upon the soul to ene;age 1t (or eve~ to him. Th~ pomt suggested for illustration is this-Ho~ cau the faith o~ Israel claim to be th? umver_sal religion for mankind? The answer 1s tbat, beneath its forms and ceremomals, which were but illustrations of its truths, it holds all tho> absolute essentials of religion, and these can gain varied expression, to suit the gen:lUI of all races, in all climes and periods. These essentials are- I. THE TRUTH THAT THERE IS ONE GOD, AND H!. lB A SPIRI'l'UAL BEING. JI. THE FACT THAT THIB ONE GOD HAS REVEALED IIIS WILL. III. THE DEMAND THAT THIS ONE GoD BBOOLD DB l<ONOOBED BY XAB'il .i'.AITB .A.ND ~EBVED BI lU.lil'8 Jll8:B'.l'E008NBll8,-B. T, OH, xLVL 1-13.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 195