The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 384

iniquity of the world pained, grieved, distressed, his pure and pitiful heart. And his compassion fonnd fitting utterance in redemption. "His arm brought salvation." The redemption of the world by Jesus Christ was indeed a work wrought; it was a putting forth of Divine power; it was the mighty act of God's righteous "arm." 'l'be work of the strong brute is to carry great weights, of the human giant to deal mighty blows, of the trained intellect to solve subtle problems or make intricate calcu- lations; but the work of the holy and merciful Spirit of God is by self-sacrifice to redeem and to restore. Here is the exercise of the truest, noblest, mosl beneficent power. In comparison with this all other power is weakness itself. III. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE Drvnra REDEEMER. 1. A sense of perfect recti- tude. "His righteousness, it sustained him." It was much, it was everything to the aspersed and incriminated Saviour to know that he was absolutely right in the sight of the holy Father. 2. Oompassim. "The helmet of salvation." 3. Holy i11dignation. "He put on the garments of vengeance." Hatred of sin is quite as indispensable to a Saviour as pity for its victim (vide Matt. xxiii.). 4. Oonsecration. "Clad with zeal as a cloak; " with that utter and entire devotedness which led him to drink quite up that bitter cup which the Father placed in his hands.-O. Ver. 21.-The hope of the race. Wllerein shall we find the true hope of the human race? It would be but a sorry prospect if man had nothing better to build upon than the results of physical science, or political economy, or mental and moral pbilo~ophy. These are helpful handmaids, but they have shown themselves inefficient regenerators of mankind. We build our hope ultimately on- I. T:a:E FULFILMEh'T OF THE Drvnra PROMISE, God has "covenanted" or promised to do great things for us. Our hope is in him: it was in his Divine pity, unpledged, unexpressed. It is in bis promise to befriend, to illumine, to renew. The world went utterly wrong, and in the greatness of hie compassion he interposed with a marvellous redemption. The Church became utterly corrupt, and in the fulnese of his faithfulness he did not desert it, but cleansed and raised it. II. T:a:E PLAl>'TING OF DIVINE TRUTH. We may have a good hope for mankind if " God's words are in the mouth" of men. Not enactments on the statute-book, nor institutions in society, nor the sword in the magistrate's hand, but God's truth in the mind, is the source of strength, the criterion of advancement, and the condition of security. When God's thoughts are precious (Ps. cx.xxix. 17), and God's words are loved, the people are in the way of wisdom and of life. I.II. THE OUTPOURING OF RIB SPIRIT. "My Spirit is upon thee." The indwelling, illuminating, transforming Spirit will make all holy truth effectual and mighty. IV. 'l'RE TBANBMIBSTON OF GODLINESS FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. "Nor out of the mouth of thy seed," etc. The "promise is to us and to our children." Far more than to evangelistic efforts or missionary labours do we look to the upgrowing in godly homes of a devout and holy generation. The future of the world is in the bands of Christian fathers and mothers I Let them be what they should be, and their sons and daughters will strengthen the calll!e of God and fulfil the hope of mankind.-C. Ver. 1.-Misconceptions of the Divine <klay. This is a plea with the murmurers, who doubtingly asked-Where are the signs of the fulfilment of these great Divine promises? Things looked black and hopeless right up to the time of Cyrus. The Lord appeared to be delaying hie coming, and it was easy for unbebevere to say that God delayed because "hie hand was too short to deliver, and hill ear too heavy to bear." Keble renders the text thus- " Wake, arm Divine I awake, Eye of the only Wise I Now for thy glory's sake, Saviour and God, arise, And may thine ear, that sealed seems, In pity mark our mournful themea I "ThUB in her lonely hour Thy Ohuzoh is fain to or, OB. LIL 1-21.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 397