The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 394

material luminaries, shall enlighten it ( eh. xxx. 26; cf. Rev, xxi. 23; xxii. 6). All the wonders of the natur&l world must pale and turn lustreless before the effulgence of moral beauty. The glory of the Church is its great Head-his Name, attributes, laws, and protecting care. Not eo much wealth, talent, numbers, iufluenoe, but the character of her sovereign Lord, is her boast. The Church shall enjoy a perpetual existence, living through all changes and surviving all revolutions. Discipline anu sorrow shall one day have done their work, and the people shall "all be righteous." They will possess the land, will inherit all that God has done for its welfare, will enter into all bis plans and purposes, enjoy the fruit of his agelong spiritual husbandry. And from this state of things fresh lustre will ever be reflected upon his holy Name. There would be immense increase by accessions from the Gentile world. Nor will there be unnecessary delay. The lesson is to wait, pray, and toil until the day dawn-till, "Crowned with light, im:eerial Salem rise, Exalt her t.owering head, and lift her eyes I" "He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb. x. 37). These inspired visions have deep relation to the truth; if they be not translated into fact in our time, we may be translated to the sphere where they are realities.--J. Ver. 1.-The olessed dawn. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." The original reads, "Be enlightened ; for thy light cometh." For it does not follow that all are enlightened to whom the light comes. There must be a receptive and a reflecting power in us, I. OPPORTUNITIES ABE NOT ENOUGH, These come to nations and to men j but we must arise, and shake ourselves from slumber and indifference. Israel is to live as a witness for God. We are not to be as the vorte:JJ swallowing up all heavenly privileges; but a fountain, to send them abroad. .A lighthouse is not for our own vessels, but for the merchandise of the world. The light shines there in Israel that the Gentiles may come to the brightness of its rising. Light is come. What an advent I How value- less is all else in creation without light! 1. The light of a new morning of national life. 2. The light of an evangelical prophet, like Isaiah, who sees not only Israel's rwin, but Israel's remedy too. IL Hm.uN EJ>'DEAVOUBB ABE NOT ENOUGH, Isaiah does not say, "I have come." He does not point to the medium, but to the light itself. "The glory of the Lord." This is seen to be such: 1. By its unique character. There is no light like the light of inspiration. 2. By its glorious influenr:e. It brings safe guidance, sure prosperity, and spiritual peace.-W. M. S. Ver. 15.-.A promise to Israel. "I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of rnany generations." God's estimate of honour is the only real and permanent one. Nations have sought other excellences. The Egyptians excelled in architecture; the Greeks in art and beauty; the Romans in government and military prowess. 'l'he Jew was to excel in righteousness and religion. L Gou's IDEAL IS Ill140BTAL. '' .An eternal excellency." 1. Military empire passes from lcingdom to kfr1gdom. 2. Taste changes alike in art and architecture. But the morn.l law is eternal. IL THE OONTRABT IS COMPLETE. The "forsaken" shall have arise among them One who shall fulfil the words of the sixteenth verse, "Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." The "hated" shall :find and feel the tender love of God ; for (ver. 10) "In my favour have I had mercy on thee." Scorn and contumely, what are they when the heart glows with the love of God, and the character wine his everlasting favour ?-W. M. S. Ver. 20.-Eternal day. "Thy sun shall no more go down," etc. We are told in the preceding verse who this sun is. It is Uod. .As the Light of the soul, he shall live for ever. We speak of sun and moon, not only as they exist in nature, but figuratively, as ~ymbolic of joy and gladness to the human heart. Many things are in this sense lights to us here, but their glory is often dim'Tl'ld, often eclipsed in darkness; but here- &fter "the Lord aha.II be Ullto thee an everlasting Light, and thy God thy Glory." Night OH, LX., 1-22.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH.