The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 468

EXPOSITION. a house? All these things have been, 118.ith CHAPTER LXVI. the Lord. The sentence seems incomplete. Vers. 1-4.-THE UNGODLY EXILES RE- Mr. Cheyne supplies, "I spoke." Tho BUKED. Israel, being about to retum from sentence will then run, '' I spoke, and all these things came into being, saith J ~hovab;" the Captivity, had the design of rebuilding i.e. heaven and earth, and all things tha.t the temple and re-establishing the temple are therein, came into being at my word worship. God rebukes this design in persons (comp. Gen. i. 1; ii. 1). Bnt to this ma.n devoid of any spirit of holiness, and warns will I look ; i.e. though I have made all them that mere formal outward worship is tliings and all men, I will not equally re- gard all. Him only will I respect who is of an abomination to him (vers. 1----3). In ver. a poor and contrite spirit, etc. (comp. eh. 4 he threatens them with punishment. ]vii. 15). Ver. 1.-Heaven is my throne, and the earth Ver. 3.-He that killeth an ox is as if he is my footstool (comp. Ps. xi. 4; ciii. 19). slew a man; literally, is a manslayer. The The Hebrews, while they earnestly desired to full meaning seems to be, "He that, not have a material emblem of the presence of being of " poor and contrite spirit, would God in their midst, were deeply impressed offer me an ox in sacrifice, is as little pleasing with t.he feeling that no temple could be to me as a murderer." Sacrifice, without worthy of him, or other than most unworthy. the true spirit of sacrifice, is 11n abomination "Will God," said Solomon, "indeed dwell (comp. eh. i. 11, "To what purpose is the on the earth? behold, the heaven and multitude of your sacrifices unto me? suith heavens of heavens cannot contain thee; how the Lord," etc.). There, however, the sacri- much less this house that I have builded?" fices are actually offered; here they are hy- (1 Kings viii. 27). And age.in, " Who is pothetical. The ungodly exiles design to able to build him an house, seeing the offer sacrifice to God in his temple, when heaven and heaven of heavens cannot con- they have rebuilt it (ver. 1). God rejects tain him? Who e.m. I then, that I should their offerings by anticipation. As if he out build him an house, save only to burn sacri- oft' a dog's ueok; i.e. " would no more please fice before him?" (2 Chron. ii. 6). Tb us me by the sacrifice than if be were to make IsaiCLh's note of warning was no novelty, o.nd an offering of the unclean dog." (On the mis,ht find responsive echoes in the hearts uncleanness of the dog, see Deut. xxiii. 18.) of many. Where is the house that ye build He that offereth an oblation; or, a meat unto met rather, what manner of hou,e is it offering (see Lev. ii.1-15). He that burneth that ye I.Dlluld build to me, and what manner o(. incense, With his meat offering, as directed place for my rest f God needs no " house; ' in Lev. ii. 1, 2. Such a one is no better and they caunot build him a house that than ho that blesseth (i.e. worships) an idol. could be in any way worthy of him. They, It may be suspected that the ritual acts moreover, are unworthy to build him any selected for comparison with those of the house, which is the real ground of the refusnl. Levitical law nre practices to which the There was no refusal, when the better pCLrt exiles were given (comp. oh. !xv. 3, 4). Yea, of the exiles, having returned, took the they have ohosen, eto.; rather, as they haTJe building in hand (see Ezra iii. 8-13; vi. chosen. The clause stands over against the 14, 15 ; Hag. i 8-14; Zech. i. 16; iv. 91 first clause of ver. 4, "As they (gam etc.). hemmah) hnve chosen their ways, so I (gam Ver. 2.-All these things-i.e. henven ifni) have chosen their delusions." and earth-hath mine hand made; i.e. have Ver. 4.-Their delusions ; or, the-ir childish I, Jehovah, brought into existence. How, follies (LXX., ,,..,,.c,l-yµ.c,rn). As God sends then, can I need that men should build me on some men •• strong delusion that they  486 THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISAIAH. [on, txvr.1-24