The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 444

De.vid, "the earth ehook e.nd trembled; the Delitzsoh renders, "Alree.dy we have been foundations also of the hills movl'd and were long in this state (of sin), and shall we be l!lhaken " (Ps. xviii. 7). When he was seen saved?" Grotius and Ste.rck, " If we had of Elijah, '· a gree.t and strong wind rent reme.ined in them (i.e. thy ways) continu• the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks ally, we should he.ve been saved." before the Lord ; and after the wind was an Ver. 6.-But we are all e.s an nnolee.n eRrlhquake" (1 Kings xix. 11). MicRh saw thing; rather, we a,-e all become a• one ,aho the Lord "coming forth out of his plRce," is unclean (comp. eh. xxxv. 8: lii, 1). A e.nd " the mountains were molten under him, moral leprosy is upon us. We are like the and the valleys cleft" (Micah i. 3, 4), The leprous man, who has to rend his olothes, mountni11s represent that which is most firm and to go about crying " Tame I t,1me I " and s<'li<l and strong upon the face of the " Unclean ! unclean!" that those who hear earth. lf even they "melt nnd flow e.nd me.y get out of his way. All our rightsous- tremble" at the presence of God, what nesses are as filthy rags ; or, as a menstruoua might must his be I And who me.y abide garnuJnt (see Lam. i. 17). In the best deeds him? of the best men thel'e is some taint of evil. , er. 2. -As when the melting fire bnmeth, As Hooker says, "Our very repentances etc. ; rather, as when fire kindles brushwood, require to be repented of." We e.ll do fade and make~ water to boil. Connect the as a lee.f ( comp. oh. i. 30, " Ye shall be as similes with the last clause of ver. 1. The an oak whose leaf fodeth ; " see also eh. monn tains shall be as powerless to rllSist xxxiv. 4). Our iniquities .. , have taken us Jehovah, as brushwood or water to resist away; or, carried us away; i.e. taken us fire. To m&.ke thy Na.me known (comp. eh. far from God, ce.rried us into a region where !xiii. 12). Such an "epiphany" as the God is not, or where at any rate "his pre- Church prays for would make the Name of sence is not felt" (Cheyne). Jehovah l."Ilown far and wide, exalting him Ver. 7.-There is none that callethon thy high above all gods, and causing " the na- Name. A hyperbole, like Ps. xix. 1, 3, tions "-i.e. the whole heathen world - to " There is none that doeth good, no, not " trcm ble at bis presence " e.nd refrain from one." A general lethargy and apathy had injuring his people. oome over the people, so that they could Ver. 3.-When thou didst tern1ile things with difficulty rouse themselves to faith (comp. Dent. x. 21; 2 Sam. vii. 23; Ps. and calling upon God. But this general xlix. 4; cvi. 22). The phrase, as Mr. Cheyne lethargy was not universal ; there was a remarks, is a "standing" one for the won- "remnant" which " prayed and did not ders of the Exodus. Which we looked not faint." That stirreth up himself to take hold for; i.e. which transcended our utmost ex- of thee. This expresses more than mere pectations. Thon cam.est down (see Exod. prayer; it is earnest, intense, "effectual fer- xix. 11, 20). vent" prayer. Perhaps none among the Ver. 4.-Neither bath the eye seen, 0 God, exiles may have been capable of such sup- beside thee, what he bath prepared, etc. ; plication as this, especially as God had bid rather, as in the margin, neither hath the eye bis faoe from them, and no longer looked on 11een a God, beside thee, which worketh for them with favour. And hast oonsumed us, him that waiteth upon ltim. The only because of our iniquities; rather, and hast "living God" who really works for his vo- delivered us into the power (literally, hand) tarie;;, and does them good service, is of our iniquities. Men's sins are their Jehovah (comp.eh. xii. 23, 24; xliv. 9, etc.). masters, and exercise a tyrannical control Ver. 5.-Thon meetest him that rejoiceth. over them, which they e.re often quite un- God " meets" with gracious welcome and able to resist (comp. Ezek. x:u:iii. 10, "If ready aid whoever rejoices in doing right- our tranBgressions and our sins be upon us, eousness and serving him, whoever "remem- and we pine away in them, how should we bers him in his ways." But this, alas! is then live?"). God at times judicially de- not the present rele.tionship between God livers the wicked into the power of their sins and Israel. God is "angry " with them- (see Rom. i. 24, 26, 28). they nrnst, therefore," have sinned;" and so Ver. 8.-Bnt now, 0 Lord, thou art our they proceed to confess their sin. In those Father (see the comment on eh. lxiii. 16). is continuanoe, and we shall be se.ved. This We are the clay, and thou our Potter (comp. i;; a very difficult passage. Mr. Cheyne eh. xxiL 16; xiv. 9). 'fhy he.nds have regards it as hopelessly corrupt. Bishop me.de us and fashioned us, both as indi- Lowtb and Ewald attempt emendations. Of viduals and as a nation, Thou hast lavished tl,ose who uccept the present text, some thy labour and thy skill upon us. Surely un,k,rstand •· in those" of God's ways, thou wilt not " forsake the work of thine otb.Pro of the " sins" implied in the confes- own handa" (Ps. cxxxviii. 8). sion, " We have sinned;" some make the Ver. 9.-Be not wroth very sore. At the last claW:le an e.flirme.tion, others a queation. time of the Ce.ptivity God wu wroth very OJI, LXIV. 1-12.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 461