The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 397

Is e. Di vine rebuke of our estimates. We look at outward magnitudes; God looks at the.t which has inward extension in itself. I. THIB IB TRUE IIIBTORIOALLY. Israel found it so. The Pilgrim Fathers found it so, And me.ny Churches have found it so, where there has been loving co-operation e.nd personal consecration. Look how the despised mission work in India grew to a mighty force, despite the satirice.l review of Jefferies. Look how the native schools, with their slender beginnings, have grown to millions of disciples. IT. Tms 1s TRUE coNDITIONALLY. God ruU3t be with U3 ! "I the Lord will hasten it." "It is to be in his time." There is no promise to the" little one," whatever skill, energy, or endeavour there may be-only God is with them. When we are on the side of truth, we are on the side of conquest. When we are waiting in dis- appointed moods, God is hastening on the sure foundation, which he is laying. When we are fascinated with the meretricious glory of the world, we see it laid low and Christ's kingdom established on its ruins.-W. M. S. Vers. 1-22.-The Ohurch triu1nphant. With other eyes than ours the Jews must have read these glowing words. They saw in them a fascinating picture of a triumphant people; they saw the Jerusalem of their kuowledge and of their love made strong and glorious in some coming time. Their patriotic hopes were kindled and must have been raised to a white heat of intensity as they dwelt on the gladdening, transporting promise. In the midst of surrounding darkness covering the whole earth (ver. 2), Zion shines forth with a light which proceeds from nothing less than the Divine Presence itself (vers. 1, 2). Attracted by its radiant beams, her exiled sons and daughters return from the strange lands whither they have gone into captivity, while from every quarter the wealth of Gentile nations flows to her feet. She trembles for very joy, her heart expands with the fulness of its emotion, as she welcomes her children to her heart, as she receives these treasures into her gates (vers. 4-----6). The produce of other lands is laid on the altar of Jehovah, and brightens the lustre of that glorious house (ver. 7). Precious tribute is brought from distant coasts (ver. 9), and they who once contemptuously humiliated her, now build up the walls of her strength and find their safety in her service (vers. 10-12, 14). In place of saddest desolation and signs of Divine departure shall be proofs of national supremacy and the recovered favour of the Lord (vers. 15, 16). The excellences of earlier days will be eclipsed by the future splendour; the rude arm of force sball give place to the gentle hand of righteous- ness; the salvation of Jehovah shall surround the city; and songs of praise shall be on the lips of the citizens (vers. 17, 18). The light of noon in all its radiance is but a picture of the glory which will rest upon her in the abiding presence of Jehovah; and joy, rectitude, and enlargement will be her blessed portion ( vers. 20-22). There may be intervening days before this is realized; but when the hour is reached for it to come, the Lord will hasten its arrival. But "God fulfils himself in many ways;" be redeems his promises to us otherwise than we hope and even confidently expect. Jeru- salem has never attained, and is not likely to realize, the prosperity and power here depicted; in some other way than that of national glory must we look for the fulfil- ment of this brilliant vision. We shall fin~ it in the triumph of the Church of Christ, of the "Israel of God," which the Diviue Redeemer has lived and died to establish. The features of this "golden age," as thus realized, are iudicated in the text; they are- I. THE EXALTATION OF THE DIVINE. Its glory will be manifestly the " glory of t.he Lord" (vers. 'l, 2). And everything is to work for the exaltation of Christ (vers. 20, 21). Whatever does not aim at this or make for this is alien, intru,;ivc, harmful. II. THE POSSESSION OF VITAL PRINCIPLES. (Ver. 12.) All that opposes itself to those truths and principles of which the Church of Christ is the exponent a.nu depository will fail and perish. IIL PERFEOT AOOESSIDILITY. (Ver. 11.) Its gates are never to be shut. The Church which is exclusive, the Christian society which is repelling, the minister or messenger of Christ who is forbidding, the message which does not welcome the wandering, bears on the face of it e. decisive condemnation. IV. TBIUMPII OVEB ITR DITTEREST ENEMIES. (Vars, 10, 14, 15,) Those who smote 410 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oH. LX.1-22.