The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 393

but a reflection from the Eternal. He is a Sun to enlighten the understanding, open the eyes of the mind, thrill the heart with love. When through the faithlessness of the Ohurch that splendour fades from her, there are no conversions, there is little interest in religion. When it reappears, nations set forth to that light, kings to the brilliance of that dawn. II. THE RETURN J!'BOJII EXILE AND INFLUX OF WEALTH. Here the prophet exults in the contemplation of Arabian wealth flowing into the holy city. Their gifts are viewed as religious, as sacrificial,-consecrated to God. "The wealth of the heathen world shall be consecrated to the service of the Church. In part this has been the case. No small part of the great wealth of the Roman empire flowed into the Christian Church. The time will come when the wealth of India and China, and of Africa, and of the entire world, shall be devoted to the service of God." III. THE NEW JEBUSALElll, 'l'he walls shall be raised by the willing hands of et.rangers, probably the converted heathen, whose kings shall become servants of Zion; an endless stream of caravans shall flow through the open gates. And "eager to minister to Israel, the far-off nations force their reluctant chiefs to join them." For the very existence of these nations must depend on their organic connection with Israel. The Prophet Zechariah significantly declares that the nations who refuse to come up to Jerusalem to worship shall not enjoy the blessing of rain (xiv. 17, 18), which rr.ean11 they must perish, and their land become desolate. Whatever is said of the territory is said of the nation. To Zion, thus effulgent in her revived glory, shall be attracted also the beauty of natural products-the splendour of the trees of Lebanon, that the courts of the temple and the whole city may be decorated in honour of Jehovah. The oppressors, once so hated and feared, will come in the attitude of crouching suppliants, and they will call the city, "City of Jehovah, Zion of the Holy One of Israel." This magnificent picture may be construed: 1. As a picture of the ideal Church in relation to mankind. True, in this imperfect state, the prophecy can be but imperfectly realized. The glorious Church, without spot or blemish, remains the dream of lofty prophets and apostles. But without such dreams religious life must become despondent and dreary, fiat and sad. While we listen to such oracles, translate them into song and set them to music, we purify a.nd uplift our hearts. Sursum corda I We rise a little nearer to heaven, or bring heaven a little nearer to earth. 2. As a picture of heaven. There stands the heavenly temple; thither a vast multitude has congregated; and there a vast fund of spiritual riches has accumulated. Prophecy and religious poetry in general are but illusory enchantments unless they point to a reality in that state unseen ....::....J. Vere. 15-22.-Thefavour of Jehovah to his people. Zion is again imagined as the bride of Jehovah. No more is she to be "hated," i.e. neglected (Gen. xxix. 31; Deut. xxi. 16), like one less beloved. No more are her streets to be deserted of passengers. She is to be made an "everlasting pride, the delight of successive generations." The kings of the earth are to be tender over her, and she is to be enriched by the resources of the nations. I. JEHOVAH THE SAVIOUR AND THE RULER. (Repeated from eh. xlix. 26.) Happy the people whose God is Jehovah, the "Hero of Jacob" I Every image of temporal riches and prosperity, such as the gold or Solomon's palace, or the silver common us stones, and the cedars as sycamores (1 Kings x. 21, 27), may but faintly shadow forth the splendour of the city under the true and eternal King. Better still, the politics will be those of peace. By a figure of speech, peace itself and righteousness are said to govern the city. And so spiritual shall be the sources of its strength, "it shall need no walls nor gates; for Jehovah shall be a constant source of salvation, and of a renown which shall keep all foes at a distance" (eh. xxvi. 1; xxx.iii. 21). Nothing less than righteousness prevailing in every department of Ohurch and state can satisfy that ideal which has been revealed to us, and which our souls thirst to see realized. Violence is to cease, "The pure gospel of the Redeemer has never originated a single war of invasion, nor produced a scene of bloodshed or prompted to strife. Let us look forward to a time when the mad passions of kings and nations will be subdued, and wars only be known among the sad and disgraceful records of the past." ll TWII ETERNAL SPLENDOUR OF THE OlTY OF GoD. Jehovah himself, and DO  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oa. tx. 1-22,