The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 340

Ver. 1.-The attitude of holy expectation. God evidently requires of us that when ,..e are anticipating any special manifestation on his part, there should be special 'purity on our part. \Ve look at- • I. OuR C0!\'DITION. 'l'his is one of complete dependence on God. We need the action of the Divine power to give efficacy to all our labour; nothin" that we do of any kind wbatel'er, is effectual without the energizing touch of his hand. We n~ed also the manifestation of this Divine power for deliverance from danger and trouble. Sall'ation from any evil, temporal or spiritual, can come only from God. "All our springs are in him." II. Oun EXPECTATION. We hope for great things of God. He has taught us to hope from the beginning (Ps. xxii. 9). It is with a true instinct that the farmer looks up to God for his annual harvest; that the soldier trusts for victory in the favour and the aid of the God of battles; that the sailor cries to Heaven for help when his ship is tossing on the waves in the overwhelming storm; that the faithful witness of Jesus Christ appeals to his Divine Lord when the persecutor is on his track or has him in his cruel grasp. We hope in God, for we know (1) the benignity of his Spirit, his desire to bless his children, and his compassion for them in their distresses; (2) the faithfulness of his word, and that be has said, "Call upon me in the day of trouble : I will deliver thee" (Ps. I. 15). III. 'THE RIGHT .ATTITUDE OF EXPECTATION, Jt is that of spech1! purity or righteous- ness; separating ourselves from all that is offensive in the sight of God. To expect any unusual manifestation of Divine power or grace when we are holding any iniquity to our heart, is only to delude ourselves, and to be the heirs of disillusion and dis- appointment. 1. When God manifested himself at Sinai he required that the people should be sanctified in readiness for his coming (Exod. xix. 10). 2. When the Lord of hosts would give victory to the armies of Israel he required that they sanctifie.i themselves, not only by religious rite, but by cleansing themselves of their sin (Josh. iii. 5; v.; vii). 3. When the children of Israel were delivered from the land of captivity they fasted and prayed that the hand of God might be upon them (Ezra viii. 21-23). 4. When the kingdom of God was announced there was a solemn summons to repent (Matt. iii 2; iv. 17). 5. When we seek Divine mercy and eternal life in Jesus Christ we must put away evil from our heart and life; repentance never has been and never can be dissociated from a living and saving faith (Acts xx. 21). 6. When we draw near to God in worship we must come to him with clean bands and a pure heart (Ps. xv. 24; !xvi. 18; eh. xxxiii. 15, 16; Matt. v. 8; Heb. xii. 14; 1 Tim. ii. 8). 7. When we look for a manifestation of God's power in thP- renewal of n. Church, or the regeneration of a community, we must appear before him in purity of heart and integrity of life; or bis "salvation" will not "come," his" righteousness" will not" be re\·ealed."--C. Vers. 3-8.-77ui open gate. The temple or house of God (ver. 7) stands for his kingdom of righteousness; and in exalted vision the prophet foresees the time when it shall stand open to every man-to the stranger or heathen, and even to those physically debarred. It is to be called "a house of prayer for all people." It is worthy of note that it should be called a house of prayer; the truth is intimated that, in the kingdom of God, sacrifice performed by the few on behalf of the many will yield to the spiritual OH. LVI, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 351