Vers. 15-19.-Tlie (Jhurch's prayer. One of extreme" spiritual beauty" (Cheyne). I. THE MAJESTY OF Goo. He is contemplated as in heaven, upon" a. height of holi- ness nnd splendour;" and here, as in Ps. lxxx. 14, is besought to "luuk down and behold" as if "be had given up caring for his people, and withdrawn into his heave □ ly palace." It expresses the thought that he, to interpose for them, must ever condesand. The vastness of the distance between God and the creature is expressed-in other words, the sense of the creature's lowliness and unworthiness. Yet elsewhere, "He is nigh unto all that ca.11 upon him." The chasm then presented in the imagination may be, and is, bridged over. How? By prayer-by calling upon him. "A sigh may bring the blessing down." II. 'l'HE SEEMING INDIFFERENOE OF Goo. Nevertheless, there are times when the "heavens are as brass," and when the God believed to be "living" stirs not, speaks not, gives no sign that he hearkens. As if callous to bis people's need, his "jealousy" slumbers, and needs to be "stirred." Then comes the "pain of finite heart~ that yearn," for the sympathy (the "sounding of the bowels," eh. xvi. 11; Jer. xxxi. 20; xlviii. 36) and the compassion which seem withheld and as if deliberately kept back. Such is the tragedy of religious experience-the old conflict between the intellect which absolutely affirms the goodness of God, the heart which is denied the present sense of it. III. FAITH IN THE FATHERHOOD OF Goo. "Thou art our Father" is the cry, the confession, and the appeal of the Church. In eh. !xiv. 8 the image is associated with that of the "Potter." In I Chron. xxix. 10 it is "Lord God of Israel, our Father." And with this image again is associated the Maker and Purchaser, or Redeemer (Deut, xxxii. 6). The nation is to him as the primitive family is to the father, the head, who enjoys the peculiar patria potestas. 'l'he people is "his son, even bis firstborn" (Exod. iv. 22); "beloved, called out of Egypt" (Hos. xi. 1); "nourished ant.! brought up" by Jehovah (eh. i. I!); as the Guide of its youth (Jer. iii. 4); who will not disown the tie nor the title (Jer. iii. 19); Father of Israel, to whom Ephraim is firstborn (Jer. xxxi. 9); a Father whose heart is sore troubled for his children's sake, and who is full of mercy and compassion to them (Jer. xxxi. 20); who demands the honour and reverence due to a father (Mai. i. 6 ; ii. 10). And here the name is associated with that of the goel, the avenger and deliverer; for the people's history was a series of deliverances. If God is a Father, a childlike way of speech is not misbecoming in prayers. And here they ask why Jehovah "makes them to stray," as if they would throw the blame of their aberrations upon him, and he '17as the Cause of the hardening of their hearts. "They speak as if it is not they who need to return to Jehovah, but Jehovah who is reluctant to return to them; as if, iustead of feeding bis flock like a Shepherd (eh. xl. 11), he bas driven it out of the safe fold into the howling wilderness" (Cheyne). Yet the confidence of the child beats passionately below such language. God looks not at the mere words, but at the heart in the words. And it is true, again, that from the difficult problems of thought, this way of thinking seems a better relief than the dualism of the Orientals. It is better to leave the problem with the confession," God knows best" (cf. Rom. ix. 17-22). Jehovah is also King. The other peoples have ki □ gs as their gods; but he is the incomparable One. The calling on his Name signifies the union of him with his people-the eternal covenant (eh. xliii. 7; !xv. l; Deut. xxviii. 10; Jer. xiv. 9). The spiritual life moves between opposite poles. It has been said that in the highest mood of faith there lurks some doubt. So in extreme despondency there is still living the germ of faith and hope. And prayer brings that germ into life and powor.--J.
Ver. 1.-The coming Saviour. "Mighty to save." The question is asked, Who is this?" and the answer is given in Eastern figures of speech, which represent Christ's character and work. JSAIAH-ll, 2 G 450 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. ten. LXIII. 1-19.
I. TnE SA YIOtTR ooMEs WITH A GREAT BACRIFI0E. With "dyed garments • " for the crv8s lies e.t the foundation of the world's recovery. We are weary of all ti,eo1'iea of atonement from Anselm's day downwards, but the atonement t·emains as the central truth of our religion. It rests on our Lord's own authority as well as upon St. Paul's• for he so.id himself, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for yo~ for the remission of sins." II. THE SAVIOUR COMES IN THE IMAGE OF Gon. He is the express Image of the Father._ "Glorious in ~is apparel," so that through all the ages men may see truth turned mto life: Once in all history we see One who was holy, harmless, undeliled, and separate from smners." Christ was "clothed with light as with a garment." lII. THE SALVATION rs ATTESTED IN EVERY AGE. 1. Mighty-in his own revealed grace and power. 2. Mighty-in that every degree of guilt and sin is reached by his infinite arm. 3. Mighty-in that he saves right through, which is the meaning of the word" to the uttermost."-W. M. S.