The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 225

and "afflioted" lernel is "comforted" e.nd metaphor which ho uses is no do1;1bt ~wn consoled through tho reme.inder of the from the practice, common both 1n nne1ent ohapter (vers. 15-26). e.nd in modem days, of burning or punctur- ing figures e.nd other mementos upon the Ver. 13.-Sing, 0 hee.vens (comp. eh. xliv. hand, the e.rm, or some other p1trt of the 23). He11.ven an<l ee.rth a.re c,dle<l upon to Lody, and then rewleriug the figures in- rejoice e.nd "breuk forth into singing" (1) delible by ruLbing in hennu, indigo, gun• because of the glory the.t awaits the Re- powder, or some other coloured substance deemer (vers. 5-12); and (2) bccauae of Pilgrims in the East have almost always the gracious intentions of God with respect such marks put npou them when they have to Israel (vers. 16-26). 0 mountains. The accomplished their pilgrime.ge. English majesty of mountains scorns to have deeply se.ilol"ll are fond of them, and few are with- impressed Isaiah. Throughout bis writings out some such mark on their breast or they are continually introduced as the limbs. The meaning here is that God has grandest of the works of God ( comp. eh. ii. the thought of Zion as constantly present 2, 14; v. 25; xiii. 4; xiv. 25; xxii. 5; x~. with him as if her image were indelibly 25; xxxiv. 3; xxxvii. 24; xl. 4, 9, 12; xh. marked on the palms of his hands. (On the 15; xiii. 11, 15, etc.). He expects them to anthropomorphic representation of God us be especially ready to sympathize with man. having ~, arwe" and "hands," see the com- Such e. feeling would be natural to one accus- ment on eh. xl. 10.) Thy walls. It is the tomed to the hill-country of Palestine and city, Zion, the emblem of the people, that the lofty heights of Hermon and Lebanon, can alone be "graven" or "portrayed." but could scarcely have been developed in This city has, of course, walls. God bears an exile of the time of Cyrus, horn and them in mind perpetually, since he is ubout brought up in the dea~ level of Babylonia. to cause them to be built up (Neh. iii., iv.). Rath comforted . . . will he.ve meroy. Both Ver. 17.-Thy children sh.e.ll make he.ste; verbs desimate the same action, which is i.e. "thy exiled children shall hasten, when really fut~e, but in God's counsels is the appointed time comes, to return to Zion, already accomplished. Tho perfect is thus, and rebuild its temple and towers and once more, that of prophetic certitude. walls." At the same time, thy destroyers Ver. 14.-But Zion said. ''Zion" is here and they that ha.ve me.de thee wa.ste, who the "daughter of Zion," or tho people of e.re regarded o.s still carrying on their ls1·ael, as in ob. Ii. 16. The meaning is a deva.stutions, shall leave thee and go forth rure one. The Lord he.th forsaken me of thee. ( comp. eh. xl. 27). It is not surprising that Ver. 18.-Lift up thine eyes round a.bout Israel-even faithful Israel-sometimes de- a.nd behold (comp. eh. Ix. 4, where the same sponded, or perhaps despaired, during the phro.se occurs in connection with the con- long and wenry time of the Captivity. version of the Gentiles). All these gather Even the "Serve.ut of the Lord" knew themselves together (comp. vcr. 12). Thou moments of despondency (see above, ver. 4, she.It surely olothe thee with them e.11, as with the comment). with a.n oma.ment (comp. Zech. ix. 16). 'fhe Ver. 15.-Ce.n a wome.n forget 1 . . . yea., restored Church, receiving adhesions from they me.y forget. In the siege of Se.maria the notions on all sides, will be like e. bride by Benhaclud, King of Syria, e. mother, we are who puts on her ornaments, und is thereby tol<l (2 Kings vi. 28, 29), boiled her son for made glorious to look upon (eh. lxi. 10, food. In the last siege of J eruso.lem similar ad fin.). The entire Churrh, not uny one horrors are reported (Joseph., • Bell. Jud.,' vi. p,ut, is dcsignl\ted ns the "Bride" of Christ 8, 4). Mothers have even beon known in Eng- in the New Testament (2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. land who huve forced their tender 1md inno- v. 29, 32; Rev. xxi. 2, 9; xxii. 17). cent daughters to commit deadly sin. Yet Ver. 19.-The la.nd of thy destruotion; or, will I not forget. The Jove of God surpasses of thy overthrow-Le. where thou wert over- the.t of either lhther or mother. "When thrown by Nebuolie.dnezzur-she.11 even my father e.ud my mother forsake me," says now be too narrow, etc. This must not be D,\vid, "then the Lord will tako me up" understood literally. Po.Jestine, l\fter the (Ps.xxvii.10). "Godislove"(l Johniv.8) return from the Captivity, was at no time in his very essence; e.nd bis infinite love is over-popul11.ted; and when the conversion of deeper, tonderer, truer, than finito love ce.n the Gentiles took phice it co.used no influx ever be. Still, that which is nee.rest to it of fresh settlers into the Holy Land. The upon ee.rth is, doubtless, the love of e. mothar objoot of the prophet is simply to murk the for her chihlren (see oh. !xvi. 13). vust growth of the Church, which would Ver.16.-Behold, I he.ve gre.ven thee upon necessarily spreucl itsolf for beyond the the pe.lms of my hands. 'l'he prophet ho.a limits of Pe.lestino, und would ultimately passed here from the living Zion, Israel, require the whole earth for its ho.hitation. &o theil material home, Jerusalem. The Ver. 20.-The ohildren whioh thou aha.It  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' ISAIAH. [oa, XLtx. 1-26.