The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 218

t,han this tendency to nourish th~ insincere in the expressions of religious life. God's reproaches fall on many who thmk themselves very holy, but whose professions are not really matched by heart and life. II. INSINCERITY IS SOMETIMES A SCHEME. Then it is a shame and disgrace and brings us under the overwhelming judgments of God. Illustrate by Judas Iscariot.' For srlfisb ends men determine !o keep _up before_ the world all. the appearances of piety, when they know that the life of piety has died out of their souls. Christ's sternest words were spoken to conscious aud purposed hypocrites, those "whited sepulchres, full of dead _men's bon~." In vie~v, then, of the danger of drift-ing into insincerity, and of the sm of scheming to be insincere, every good man will watch and strive and pray against the evil, lest, in some subtle form, it should assail and overcome him. -R. T. Ver. 4.-0bstinacy. The fignres used are the stiff, unbending neck, that will yield to no persuasions; and the hard brow that can resist, as does the brow of the buttincr animal. The point which may be variously illustrated and enforced is that such obstinacy is a result of previous conduct. The obstinacy that is only a stubbornness of natural disposition can be dealt with efficiently by educational methods. The obstinacy which results from prolonged moral conditions is well-nigh irremediable and brings a man under crnshing Divin<' judgments. ' I. THE BEGIN1'"'IKG OF MORAL OBSTINACY IS A LOS8 OF SPIRITUAL SENSIBILITY. The proper attitude before God is one of openness, humilit.y, and self-distrust. The renewed soul is delicately sensitive to every expression of the Divine will, and to everything that is in harmony with the Divine mind. And the maintaining of that sensitiveness is absolutely essential to the keeping of right relations with God. Piety is closely akin to meekness &nd gentleness. lt loves to obey, to follow, to be led. We have no will bnt God's will for us. To lose this "sensibility" is grave danger. It is to step on a slippery slide. Therefore should we "keep our heart with all diligenc,•," and be most jealous over those various spiritual influences that help to make our hearts more tender. II. SUCH LOST SENSIBILITY MAY BE RECOVERED. At least in the earlier stages of it. But our peril lies preci;;ely in this, that it is a very subtle form of spiritual disease, and, like some forms of bodily disease, it does not plaiuly show itself until it has gained strength, and gripped us with a firm hold. Our best sign of the presence of the evil is fatting pleasure in Christian worship and devotion. We are in danger if we have lost the J°oy out of our religious duties and associations; and we should seek at once for the recovery of tone and fervou:. III. SUCH LOST SENSIBILITY MAY PASS INTO SELF-RF.LIANCE. It certainly will if earnest efforts toward recovery are not made. The man who feels he is getting to be alone will try to stand alone. He who looses the hand that steadied l,im will try to walk steadily by himself. He who refuses to humble himself and recover his lost place will puff himself up with pride and vain confidences. IV. SucH SELF-RELIANCE IS IN DAKGER OF DECOMING HOPELESS OIISTINA0Y. The man who persists in forcing his own way finds that ever fresh strength must be put into the forcing, until, like Pharaoh of old, he becomes hardened to resist even God's judgments.-R. T. Ver. 9.-God'a supreme motive. "lt'or my Name's sake I defer mine anger, and for my praise I am temperate towe.rds thee, not to cut thee off" (Cheyne's translation). It may seem strange that God did not utterly destroy the Jews as a nation, in his just indignation at their unfai1hfulness, hypocrisy, and rebellion. Goll here explains the supreme reason which led him to deal so considerately with them. He was under covenant engagements with them. His Name and honour were pledged to the main- tenance of the covenant. O"erwhelming severities would have produced wrong impressions concerning God amoug the nations around. His Name would be dis- honoured in their view. And it was of the utmost importance that this should not be, because, in good time, these heathen were to become subjects of the one Divine King. Junius very truly says, "Even legal punishments lose all appeamnce of justice when too st.rictly inflicted on men conpelled by the last extremity of distress to incur them.", on. XLVIII, 1-22.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 227