The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 307

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vers. 1-17.-The/u.ture of the Church. "The person addressed is the ideal Zion, who is practically identical with the ideal or spiritue.1 Israel." I. HER FRUITFULNESS. Nothing to an Israelitish mind can suggest more forcibly the idea of desolation and sorrow in a nation or spiritual community than the childless woman. Historically, the restored exiles may be referred to; physically and to some extent spiritually Israelites, but, while on a foreign soil, and un baptized with the Spirit, their union was not complete. In a wider spiritual application, the Church of God, in the Old Testament, confined within the narrow limits of the Jewish nation, and still more so in respect to the very small number of true believers, and which seemed sometimes deserted of Go<l her Husband (Lowth). (For the relation of the Church to God under the figure of marriage, cf. eh. lxii. 5; Rev. n:i. 2--9; xxii. 17; Ezek. xvi.) The conversion of the Gentiles is the accession of a vast progeny tu the spiritual Israel-a vast extension of the Church of God (eh. xlix. 20-22). II. HER ENLARGEMENT. The figure of a tent is employed. The canopy or coverings of the tent are to be widened, its cords lengthened, and the tent-pins made strong. The wandering is to be exchanged for the perManent habitation. (l<'or the image, cf. Jer. x. 20.) The boundaries of the Church are to be enlarge,! to accommodate the vast BCCl!Ssion from the pa~an world. On all hands she is to break forth, even as it had been promised to Jacob (Gen. xxviii. H), to take possession of the nations, and inhabit desolate cities. The period of reproach, figured by maidenhood or widowhood, is to come to an end. III. HER INTIMATE RELATION TO GoD. 1. He is Maker and Goel, Mediator and Redeemer, of her family rights. (For the Christian application, see Eph. ii. 19," Fellow- citizens of the saints, and members of the family of God.") As the nearest kinsman i.~ bound to interpose for the defence of members of his family, so the Almighty is bound to avenge and succour his chosen. lu his Name, Jehovah of hosts, is found a further guarantee of his saving mercy for the future. It means that he is God of the whole earth, that his glory fills ihe creatioQ. (For the applicatio11 to the Christi&ll Cburch,  318 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET IS.A.I.AH. [oH. LIV, 1-li,