Turr,el wae to be "n lingdom of priests, and what they have suffered. Nny, more-over an holy nation " (Exod. xix. 6). Had they and &hove this, God will give them the risen to the height of their ealling when our blessing of &11 " everlasting covenant" ( comp, Lord and hie disciples offered them salvation eh. lv. 3). before offering it to the Gentiles, they might Ver. 9.-Their seed shall be known; or ha,·e "been in the midst of the heathen shall be illustrious (Lowth), renowned who hnd entered into the congregation of (Uheyne). A halo of renown still, in tl1e Jehornh and be~ome the people of God, eyes of many, attaohes to Jewish desocnt. what the Aaromtes formerly were in the Among the people; rather, among the peoples, midst of Israel itself'' (Delitzsch). Will The seed which the Lord hath blessed; they ever now obtain this position? Ye rather, a seed. The blessing has pa.seed in shall eat the riohes of the Gentiles (comp. 0e main to " the Israel of God" (Gal. eh. lx. 5-9 and 16). The Gentiles, when VI, 16). they came in, wonld freely offer to the Churoh Vere. 10, 11.--JERUSALEM AOOEPTS THIii of their snbstance. Yer. 7.-For your shame ye shall have PROIIIISEB, AND GLORIES IN JEHOVAH. So the double. Instead of the shame and confusion Targum and Rosenmiiller. Others think of face which were the portion of Israel that "the Servnnt '' is still speaking, or that during the Captivity(see eh.Ii. 7,23; liv.4; Isaiah speaks in the name of the people. To Dan. 1x. 7, 8, etc.), they should after their us the exposition of the Targum appears the restoration to Palestine" have double" their most satisfactory. It is in the manner of former glory and double their former terri- tory. An increase of territory had been Isaiah suddenly to introduce a new speaker, already prophesied (eh. xlix. 18-21)-an Ver. 10.-1 will greatly rejoioe in the Lord increase which, however, we.s not so much (comp. Hab. iii. 18). 'l'he promises made an extension of the bounds of Palestine as a were such as naturally to c&ll forth on the spread of the Chnrch over the whole earth part of Israel the most heartfelt joy and re- (comp. Zech. ix. 12). For con.fusion; rather, joicing-inoluding, as they did, restoration, as for disgrace. So far from feeling dis- rule over the Gentiles, a nni versal priesthood, graced, they will rejoice, or exult, in their a wide territory, "everlasting joy," a high portion; i.e. in the territory assigned them. renown, and an "everlasting covenant." He It will be ample; and their life in it will be hath olothed me with the g&rments of sal- one of everlasting joy. The speaker passes v&tion (comp. eh. lix. 17 &nd lxi. 3). The on in Lis thought to the time of the "new metaphor occurs also in the Psalms (lxxi. 6; Leavens and the new earth," which he re- cix. 18). God clothes Israel with "right- gards as continuous with that of Israel's eousness" derived from himself (eh. !iv. 17, return. ad fin.), and then with its natural conse- Ver. 8.-l'or I the Lord love judgment. quence--" salvation." The result is to mnke Either "the Serv&nt" here identifies him.eel f Israel as &bridegroom who deoketh himself with Jehovo.h, or he cites & declaration of with e. priestly crown, and as a bride who Jehovah which Le has anthority to an- adorneth herself with her jewels. That nounce. J ehove.h will restore the Israelites bridegrooms ordinarily wore crowns appears to their land becanse he "loves jndgment" from the Mishna. (equivalent to" justice") and hates injustice. Ver. Jl.-As the garden; rather, a, a The Babylonian conquest, though ajudgment garden. The Hebrew is without the article. sent by him, is, so fe.r as the Babylonia.us a.re Righteousness and praise. The essential concerned, a wrong and a "robbery." I hate result of righteousness is "salvation" (see robbery for burnt offering; rather, I hate ver. 20); its acoidental result ie "praise" or robbery with wickedness (comp. Job v. 16; "renown." Jl,len c&nnot but recognize the Ps. lviii 3; lriv. 7; xcii 16). The trans- benefits which flow to themselves from good- plantation of nations was a gross abuse of ness in others; and a perfectly righteous the rights of conquest. I will direot their nation would attract to itself univers&l work in truth; rather, I to1,1l, gi-oe them their praise (comp. Zeph. iii. 20, '' I will make recumpenBe faithfully. As they have been you & name and & praise among all people wronged, tLey shall be righted; they shall of the earth, when I turn back your captivity be faithfully and exactly compensated for before your eyes, eaith the Lord ").
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-3.-'I'M pwrpose, of Messi.ah's missiO'Tt. We are not to suppose that the prophet unfolds to ue in the present passage the whole purpose of God in eendiP>g his Son into the world. Such logical e;uctnesa is alien to the spirit of prophec;i. and e~pecinlly ou. LXI. 1-11.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 417