Israel wit.bin Israel, the spiritnal circumcision, the holy seed, that he acknowledges, vindicat.es, rescues, glorifies" (Cheyne). II. SABBATH-KEEPING AS AN EXPRESSION OF OBEDIENCE. How significant the sabbath in the institutions of Judaism I True, the seventh day belonged also to Babylonian religion, but we know its beauty and its blessing through the Jews. It was a sign of the great standing covenant between God and the nation (Exod. xxxi. 13-17). By this the Jews were mark1>d as a nation. Narrow notions, Puritan superstitions, have gathered about the sabbath; still, the idea of it is very beautiful. Ewald brings it under the idea of sacrifice of time. It is the representative of the duties of the first table (Ezek. xx. 11-21). Dut mere sabbath-keepin" avails not without the honest heart and the upright life-the man must "keep hi~ hand from evil." III. 'l'BE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE nnvERSAL. The prophet would remove & misun<lerstanding. The beatitude is universally applicable to those who keep God's commandments. The foreigner might be anxious about his position in the spiritual commonwealth. For there were exclusive injunctions directed against him (Deut. xxiii. 4-7). During the Captivity probably an exclusive spirit was growing; it may be observed in the restored exiles (Neh. xiii.). They are here assured that they shall be admitted to the spiritual commonwealth on an equal footing with the Jews. Nations.I barriers are broken down before the new expansive spirit of love. There was also a law against eunuchs (Dent. xxiii. 2). But this disability is also to be removed. This class of men may stand for the outcast and degraded in general. They are to be admitted to communion, and are to receive some "trophy and monu- ment" (1 Saw. xv. 12; 2 Sam. xviii. 18) in the temple itself-provided they have been faithful to the commands and covenant of Jehovah. Probably a spiiitual and everlasting memorial is meant (cf. Bev. iii. 12; Matt. xxvi. 13). Then the foreign proselytes who should (1) join them to the Lord, (2) with iutent to serve him, (3) and who should love the Name of the Lord, (4) who should be his servants, (5) who should keep his sabbaths, (6) and take hold of his covenant, were to be admitted to all the privileges of the chosen people. The same terms of salvation were to be applicable to all. In 1 Kings viii 41--43 Solomon prays that God should do "according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for." In Ps. cxxxv. 19, 20 the proselytes are called to bless Jehovah, after the house of Israel, of Aaron, of Levi. IV. THE BLESSINGS OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. All shall be brought to God's holy mountain-shall be admitted to the one sacred fellowship. They shall be made joyful by the revelation of the Shechinah-the presence of the Eternal in his power and mercy. '!'heir offerings (those of the proselytes) shall be accepted on his altar. There should be no invidious distinctions. The house should be a "house of prayer to all peoples" (cf. Matt. xx.i. 13). Moreover, other nations, not now of Israel, would be united to the one spiritual stock. The exiles in distant lands would be gathered; also other Gentiles of whom the proselytes are the firstfruits-" other sheep not of this flock" (John L 16)-and they will become fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God (Eph. ii. 19). The race-" on a level with respect to. moral character, all haTing sinned aud come short of the glory of God-is on a level with respect to redemp• tion • the same Saviour died for all, the same Spirit is ready to sanctify all. The wide world may be saved, and there is not one of the human race so d~graded in human estimation by rank, or colour, or ignorance, who may not be admitted to the same heaven with .A.bra.ham and the prophets, and whose prayers and praises may not be as acceptable to God as those of the most magnificent monarch who ever wore a crown."-J.
Ver. 9-ch. !vii. 2.-The neglectful ahepherda. Here in a series of powerful pictures religious i11difference on the part of pastors is described. • L THE BLIND WATCHMAN. Nothing can be more beautiful than the idea of the shepherd as descriptive of the true teacher and minister to Hou!~; tenderness, watch- fulness, self-denial, all are his. So, on the other hand, nothing can more hold up the faithless pastor to scorn than the character of the faithless shepherd (John x.). .A.s the Bock becomes a prey to the wild beasts when there is no shepherd, or when he neglects his care, so Israel, bereft of her natural defenders, lies at the meres of the OII, LVL 1-12.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 349