The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 334

elight, electricity, magnetism, chemical affinity, etc., are modes of motion, and, as suoh, mutually interchangeable. And we are also taught that there is no evidence of any at-0m of matt-er having ever been annihilated. Disintegration is not annihilation." I. GoD's WORD IS <;:APABLE OF ENDLESS TRANSFORMATIONS. God's truth, coming down like rain or snow from heaven, does not return to him void, but is transfigured iut-0 Christian character. Truth, like force, undergoes metamorphosis. For instance, the motion of enterprise glides int-0 the heat of enthusiasm; the heat of enthusiasm into the light of influence; the light of influence into the magnetism of Jove, and so on. The hist-Ory of Christianity it.self, what is it but the history of the grace of God metamorphosed into various virtues? II. GoD's WoRD IS INDESTRUCTIBLE. "What though rain falls on barren ledges? Not a drop is lost; for the rain trickles down into rills, the ri\ls grow into brooks, the brooks swell ii,to rivers, the rivers broaden into the sea., and the sea forms the international exchange of the world's commodities. What though snow mantles deso- late deserts? Not a flake is a failure; for the snow melts, percolates the sands, feeds unseen sprin5:s, re-emerges as the bearded wheat of autumn." We may hopefully engage in the teaching and preaching of God's Word ; for not one lesson can be really Jost. -R. T. EXPOSITION. Ver. 2.-That doeth this , , . that layeth CHAPTER LVI. hold on it; i.e. that doeth according to the Vers. 1--8.-AN Ex.HOBTATION TO OBSERVE exhortation in ver. I. That keepeth the THE LAW, ESPECIALLY TIIE LAW OF THE sabbath. The prominent place assigned to this duty by the evangelical prophet is SABBATH, COMBINED WITH PROMISES. There remarkable. We may observe, however, (I) was mnch of the Law which it was impos- that the spirit of obedience is better tested sible to observe during the Captivity. Sacri- by a positive than by a moral ordinance ; fice had ceased, the temple was destroyed, and (2) that as, probably, there could be al.most all the ceremonial law must have little outward keeping of the sabhath by the captives, it would hav~ had to be kept been suspended; even the command to do inwardly by spiritual exercises, by silent no work on the sabbath day cannot have prayer and praise, together with prolonged been kept by a nation of slaves, whose mo.sters meditation upon holy things. In the ab- would certainly not have permitted them to sence of all the ordinary aids to devotion, be idle one day in seven. Still, the epiri t the religious condition of the people must have depended very much on their keeping of the ordinance might be kept by devoting up the recollection of the sabbath, and hal- the day, so far as was possible, to religious lowing it so far as was possible; e.g. doing observance, as to prayer and to meditation no work for themselves, neither buying no1 upon holy things. This is now enjoined on selling, making their devotions longer, and the captive Jews, with the promise of a keeping God in their thoughts throughout the day. blessing-a blessing in which even the most Ver. 3.-The son of the stranger; i.e. the despised parL of the nation, the proselytes foreigner, who has become a proselyte. and the ennuchs, might participate. Duriug the depression of the Captivity these Ver. 1.-Keep ye judgment, and do jnstioe ; are not likely to have been many. Still, rather, keep ye Law, and obser~e righteousness. there were doubtless some ; and these, who The exhortation is general,and has no special had embraced Judaism under such unfavour- bearing on trials or law-courts. It is a call able circumstances, were entitled to speoial on ihe J ewe, in their captivity, to keep, so consideration. As Messianic hopes prevailed, far as was possible, the whole Law given on and the time of restoration to Palestine drew Sinai. JIIy salvation is near to come. The near (ver. I), they might naturally be afraid nearer the time of deliverance approaches, that they would not be looked upon as the more faithful and exact ought Israel to equals by the native Israelites, but would bo be in life and conduct. God's ''salvation" made into a lower grade, if not even excluded. and his "righteousness" go hand-in-hand. The Lord hath utterly separated me ; rather, It is as his righteous people, "a holy seed " the Lord will utteTly separate me. They do (eh. vi. 10), that he is about to vindicate and not suppose it done, but think it will be rescue them. If they are no holier than done. The eunuch. Isniah had prophesied others, why Hhould he do more for them than to Hezekiah that a certain number of his ~r thoiie othen? seed should 1erve a.a eunuoha in the royal ClH. LVL 1-12.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPRET ISAIAH. 34-5