The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 375

but is applied also to the noise made by 11 over as a prey to those who are less scrupu- dog (Ps. Iii:. 6, 14). Here it represents the lous than himself. deep murmur of discontent, which e.ltem11tes Vere. 15-21.-A PROMISE 0I!' DELIVER- with the mournful tones of Israel's despon- ANCE TO OPPRESSED lsRAEL. The godly in dency-the latter being compared to the melancholy cooing of the dove (see eh. Israel were suffering a double oppre.,sion : xnviii. 14). We look for judgment, but (1) at the hand of their ungodly brethren; there is none, eto. The so.me complaint as (2) at the hand of the heathen. The pro- in ver. 9, clause 1. phet promises II deliverance from both. The Ver. 12.-0ur transgressions are multi- deliverance will be followed by the estab- plied before thee; i.e. they are very nume- rous; and they come "before Goel," so as lishment of Messiah's kingdom, which will to attract his attention and call for his continue for ever. animadversion. Our sins testify against us ; Ver. 15.-And the Lord saw it. The di- i.e. "rise up against us as witnesses, whose vision of the verses here requires alteration. evidence we cannot disprove, and !Jave not The opening clause of ver. 15 behng3 even the face to dispute.'' Our transgres- to what precedes; the second clause to sions a.re with us--i.e. "constantly haunt what follows. "The Lord saw" that con- us "-and as for our iniquities, we know dition of things in Israel which is described them; i.e. we are aware of them, we ac- in vers. 3--15; end it displeased him; lite- knowledge them, we have them continuo.lly rally, it was eml in his eyes, especially in in our memories. It is one of the most that there was no judgment. Justice was certain phenomena. of consciousness that not done between man and man ; no one grievous sins, deadly sins, haunt the mind, thought of pronouncing just jndgments. and cannot in this life be wiped out from The circumstances were such 118 to invite a the memory. Divine interposition. Ver. 13.-An enumeration of special sins. Ver. 16.-He saw that there was no man, First, sins of the heart. Tra.nllgressing and and wondered that there was no intercessor ; lying age.inst the Lord ; or rather, treason i.e. God looked for some champion of the and unfaithfulness to Jehovah (Cheyne); oppressed to arise ; it W118 to be expected followed by departing away from God, or wider the circumstances. But, alas! .. there the secret act of apoijte.sy. Next, sins of was no man." None stood up to resist the the tongue: Speaking oppression and revolt; unrighteous and protect the innocent; much or, oppression and wrong-the "wrong," pro- less did any stand up to deliver Israel from bably, of false accusation (comp. Deut. xill.. its heathen e.d versaries. When it is said 16); and, lastly, oonoeiving and uttering that God "wondered" at no champion ap- . . . words of falsehood generally. pearing, we must understand the expression Ver. 14.-J'udgment is turned away back- as an anthropomorphism. Therefore his ward. In conolusion, the crying sin of per- arm brought salvation llllto him. As there version of justice is admitted with much was no human oh11mpion, it became neces- amplification. (1) Right jndgment is ex- sary that God should a.rise in his own Per- actly inverted-the innocento.re condemned, son, and show himself. "His arm" and the guilty 11Cquitted. (2) Justice etandeth "his righteousness" were enough ; no human afar off-too fo.r off to be o.blo to hear those a.id wns needed, or could have added any- who make appeal to it. (3) Truth is fallen thing to the resistless strength of his might in the street ; i.e. false witness prevails over ( comp. eh. !xiii. 5). true in the courts of justice. (4) Equity Ver. 17.-He put on righteousness as a oe.nnot enter-is not admitted inside the breastplate. The Ise.ian anthropomorphism courts, but waits without. is far less gross than the Homeric. Tbe Ver. 15.-Yea, truth faileth. Truth itself gods in Homer put on aotual armour, and is altogether gone, is missing, not forth- take sword and shield. Jehovah anns him- coming. "'ferras Astrma reliquit." This self for tho battle in a way that is manifestly is the worst of all. For truth is the basis metaphoric. He puts on 11 '' Divine panoply" of the social fabric, the groundwork of all -righteousneSB as his breastplute, salvation morality. Once lot there be no regard for as his helmet, vengeance for garments, and truth in a state, no discredit attaching to zeal, or jealousy, for II cloo.l;:. He takes no lying, and 1111 virtue is undermined, all offensive weapons-" the out-breo.thiug of soundness is vanished-nothing remains but his Spirit (ver. 19) is enough" (Kay). "wounds, and bruises, and pntrifying sores" Ver. 18.-Aooording to their deeds; rather, (oh. i. 6). He that departeth from evil according to their deserts ( comp. Ps. xxviii. maketh himBelf a prey. Evil-doers prosper. 4, ad fin.). He will repay. The ordinary The man who "eschews evil,'' and declines future here, and in the remuinder of the to employ (118 others do) the weapons of prophecy, replaces the "perfeot of prophetio fraud and violence, simply gives himself oertitude," whioh has been employed in 388 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [cu. LIX.1-21.