Ver.16.-Good news concerning God. "DoubtlesR thou art our Father." The Jews wero the children of Goel. But they had been for a long time so neglecting him that they had lost all the nearer and clearer thoughts of him; and imaged him to themselves through the bleared and blinded vision of their own indulgences, wickedness, and sin. He became to them only a God to be feared, in the sense of " frightened at." Then the prophet's message of a merciful God, fatherly still, recovering and saving eren the guilty, was indeed good news from heaven to such a people. But that which is true of many Jews in the times of the later monarchy, is, in measure, true also of ns. We have let our practical neglect of God set him far from us, and darken our thoughts concerning him. We think of God as hard, severe, or indifferent, and let the bitterness of orphans enter into our souls. Then it is good news indeed concerning God which is brought to us when it can be said, "Doubtless he is our Father." Two consequences of this assurance about God may be illustrated. I. IIE WANTS us TO BE HIS RESTORED, OBEDIENT CHILDREN. True children, worthy children, of the heavenly Father. But this is a more difficult matter than we at first suppose. For what sort of children are we now? And what changes must we go through before we can become the children we should be? But God's interest follows the prodigals. He can have no rest until they come home. Shepherds never willingly lose their sheep. Mothers cannot bear to lose a child. Our Father's seeking, saving mercy reaches even to the height of the sacrifice on the cross. It restores; it fills with the home-feeling; it prepares us for the eternal home-place. "Now are we the sons of God," etc. II. IIE WANTS US TO LEARN OF HIM HOW TO BE GOOD FATHERS AND MOTHERS TO OUR CHILDREN. Good sons and daughters make the best fathers and mothers. We may learn of the great Father: 1. The power of a sustained example of purity. 2. The influence of the spirit of self-denial. 3. The value of strictness to that which is truthful and righteous. 4. The gracious triumph of long-suffering patience. These are just the things we need for our human fatherhood and motherhood.-R. T.
EXPOSITION. Church," and utters in impassioned langnaga CHAPTER LXIV. the feelings which deeply move them. Vera. 1-12.-IsnAEL's PRAYER CONTINUED Ver. 1.--0h that thou wouldest rend the AND CONCLUDED. Not content with praying heavellS ! God "dwells in the thick dark- God to look upon them once more with ness" (2 Chron. vi. 1). "Thick clouds are favour (eh. !xiii. 15), Isre.el now asks for a a covering to him" as he " walketh in the theophany, or manifestation of the Divine circuit of heaven" (Job xxii. H). The Church would have the covering " rent," Presence, such as they have experienced in and God show himself openly, both to his the times of old, and such as shall suffice to people and to thc,ir enemies. That thou strike terror into the hearts of their enemies wouldest oome down ! God "l'nme down" on (vers. 1-4). With profound humility con- Sinai in the sight. of all the people (Exod. fessing their manifold and grievous inh1ui- xix. 11, 20). David saw him iu vision "bow the heavens und come do1c11; and there was ties, they beseeoh God once more, as their darkness under his feet" (Ps. xviii. 9). It Father and l\foker, to have pity upon them, is such an "epiphany" which the Churcl1 reminding him of the desola.te condition of now desires-a revell\tion of God in nll his Judllla and Jerusalem, and urging him no glory, in his might us against" the nations" longer to "refrain himself" (vers. 5-12). (vcr. 2), in his mercifulness as toWtu,ls them- selves. That the mountains might 11.ow "The manner," as Mr. Cheyne observes, " is down; or, quake. When God dcseonded on that of a liturgical psnlm; tho prophot, as it Sinai, "the whole mount qu11.ked greatly" were, leads the devotions of the O,SBembled (Exod. m. 18). When he appelll'ed to 460 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oa. txrv.1-12.