The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 355

of the infinit~ God, and then pictures him to us as resident in a humble human soul- I. THE_ EXCEED_ING ~REATNESS OF Goo. And _this whether we have regard to (1) the dura.tzon of his existence,-tbe fact that be "mhahits eternity" that he is "from everlasting to everlasting;" or to (2) his position in the universe,-'he is the "high and lofty <?ne," King of kings, Lord of lords, immeasurably removed in his majesty and authonty above the highest and mightiest of his creatures· or to (3) his charact~ - " his Name is Holy." This name of holiness is indicative ~f all moral excellence ;nd reminds us _that God is he in whom all goodness of every kind whatsoever bas its' resi- dence and its source. So surpassingly great, in all respects, is he whom we worship with whom we have everything to do. ' II. THE HO~E OF THE 1:(UMBLE IN REGARD TO mM. We naturally ask-What hope is th~~ th9:t fimte and gmlty men can ev_er be brought into a close relationship with t~1s mfimte and holy God? what chance IS there of anything like happy fellowship with him? Our text provides the answer. 1. The conclusion to which our philosophy and our experience point us-this is to a hopeless separation from him. Our human thought (see eh. Iv. 8) would lead, has continually led, to the conclusion that God would dwell apart from man in some remote, select region of illimitable space, not concernincr him- self with creatures so small and insignificant as we are. Our experience of guiltwould lead us to the conclusion that we are hopelessly barred from his presence, and that those who have grieved and wronged him, as we have done, must be content to be banished for ever from his royal presence. But against this reasoning and this instinc- tive dread we have to place: 2. The fact which Divine revelation establishes; "with him also [does God dwell] who is of a contrite and humble spirit." It is a well-estab- lishedfa,·t, built on sure premises, on words which are stronger than the hills and the skies (Matt. xxiv. 35), that God abides with all penitent souls, manifesting himself to them as their Father and their Friend, inviting their trust, their love, their joy in him- self and in his near presence (see text; eh. lxvi. 2; Ps. xxxiv. 18; Ii. 17; cxxxviii. 6; Matt. v. 3; xviii. 4; 1 Pet. v. 5). 3. The explanation of this fact lies in two Divine attributes: (1) His mercy. The merciful Father desires to restore and" to revive" the heart that has been crushed under a wei,ght of sin. He wounds, but it is in order that he may heal. He desires to see, and he promotes both by word and action, the contrition of spirit which appropriately follows a sinful deed or a guilty course; then the gracious and pitiful Lord extends his Divine mercy, and he heals the broken heart, restoring to it "the joy of his salvation," the blessedness of" the man whose transgression is for- given, whose sin is covered." (2) His considerateness. "I will not contend for ever . . . for the spirit should fail before me," etc. We have to do with a considerate Father, who "knows our frame, and who remembers that we are dust;" with a considerate Saviour, who remern hers that the spirit is willing though the flesh be weak; with One who has a gracious forbe.arance in his chidin1;, lest too severe a sentence should crush the spirit he only means to bend and bless. We can hardly take too humble a view of ourselves, of the heinousness of our guilt and of the imperfection of our service ; but our hope is this-we have to deal with a merciful and considerate Lord, and his friendliness toward us may be measured by the lowliness of the view we are taking of ourselves. Well may the proud of heart be afraid, for the heaviest penalties impend above their bead; hut let tbe bum hie-hearted be full of hope, for God is with them, and he will dwell in them, making their hearts his home.-C. Vera. 17-21.-The course of the soul. These words of Isaiah indicate the course which the human spirit often takes in its downward and upward path. We have- r. THE ESSENCE OF IN'IQUITY-THIS 18 SELFISHNESS. "The iniquity of his selfishness," as it may be rendered. Whether it takes the specific form of rapacity, of unholy ambi- tion, of self-indulgence or of any other special sin, you may trace iniquity hoi:ne to the evil spirit of selfishness-the withholding from God, for self, of that which 1s due to him. Those who are transgresBing none of the ten commandments in the letter, but a.re yet living to themselves, are living in iniquity. II. D1v11rn DISPLEASURE AND REDUKE. "I was wroth and smote him: I hid me." Our wilful departure from God and rdusal of our hearts and lives excite his profound displeasure, his sacred grief-ea.II forth bis parental wrath and displeasure. In a OE. LVII. 1-21.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 367