The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 328

Ver. 7.-Di,stance--return-weloome. Few more gracious words than these can be found in Scripture: they are of those which the world would not willingly let die; whole libraries coulu. be better spared from human literature than this single verse. Vve may l·xprcss the thoughts it offers to us by four simple propositions. I. Sm MEANS SEPARATION-the separation of the soul from its Creator. The distance we can calculate in miles or in degrees is nothing to that which divides one spirit from another; it is- nothing to that which separates the erring, guilty soul of man from the Holy Spirit of the living God. We may be in the same room with another of our race or e.cn of our family, and yet feel further apart than if many leagues of ocean came between us. We are always near to him who is everywhere, and yet our inl!"ratitude, our unworthiness, our guilt, may compel us to feel terribly far off from him. ll. REPE~TANCE MEANS RETURN-the abandonment by the sinful soul of its evil way, and its returp to the righteous God whom it has forsaken. It signifies much more than a change of creed and of profession; or than a passing emotion of sorrow, however violent the feeling may be; or than an alteration in outward habit. It signifies: 1. The aversion of the heart from the thought and love of evil. "Let the unrighteous man forsake bis [ evil] thoughts." 2. The oonsequent change of the habit of life. "Let the wicked for- s:ike his way." 3. The return of the soul to God. The man who has neglected, forsaken, disregarded, and disobeyed God, coming back in penitent thought and with the language of confession on his lips to the Father from whom he has wandered. Ill THE WAY BACK IS OPEN. Can the sinner be forgiven? Is the way clear? Are there not insuperable obstacles in the way-grievous transgressions of Law, accumulated guilt, darkening and deepening iniquity? How can all this be removed from the path of reconciliation? The answer is in the gospel statement: " Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins." "He is the Propitiation for . . . the sins of the whole world." IV. THE WELCOME HOME IS SUBE. There is an assurance, here as elsewhere, which is "doubly sure." The mercy of God is not only enough for our necessities, it is far more than enough. It is not only a lake, it is a deep and wide sea; it is not merely a hill, it is an overtowering mountain ; there are not only riches, there are exceeding riches, unsearchable riches of grace; on the repentant and believing sinner God will not only have mercy, he will abundantly pardon him; the returning prodigal will not merely be taken in when he arrives; the Father will run to meet him, and lavish upon him all possible proofs of his parental love.-C. V ers. 8, 9.-The human and the Divine. Man was made in the image of God, and once bore his likeness; then hie spirit was like that of the Spirit of God. Under the debasing influences of sin he has become utterly unlike his Maker, and, instead of being compared with him, he is placed in sad and painful contrast with his heavenly Father. "My thoughts are not your thoughts," etc. • I. THE sPmIT OF THE HUMAN. I. The spirit of man is selfish. Not that he id iucapable of generosity, but the prevailing and penetrating spirit which runs through his acts and his institutions is that of seli~love, self-interest. What will it profit me, What shall I gain by it? How will it affect my interests? 'l'hese are the questions which come up from the depths of the human heart, and are perpetually recurring. 2. The spirit of man 1s vindictive. Men hate their enemies; they wish ill to those who have in any way done them an injury. Men are secretly if not openly glad when any harm happens to those who have successfully opposed them, or to those who havo outstripped them in the race, or to those whose material interests clash with theirs, or to those who have rebuked and shamed them, or to those whom they have wronged and thus made their enemies. '!'heir thoughts are vindictive and malignant, and their ways answer to their thoughts. By pronounced hostility, or by artful intrigue, or by a criminal silence and inaction, they further the end for which they look,-the discom- fiture of their fellows. II. THE SPIRIT OF THE DIVINE. 1. The Spirit of God ie beneficent, God lives to bless-to communicate life, love, beauty, joy, throughout his universe. That Son of OH, LV, 1-13.) THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 33,)