We have already had the last half of the prophet Isaiah, and during the present month will devote our attention to the first half of the same book. In many respects, it is the most remarkable of the prophets, as it is also the introductory one. Answering to its place at the head of the prophetic books, from the diversity of its subjects and the wide reach of the prophet's vision, it is appropriately a Genesis in the prophetic pentateuch. Its main theme, we might say, is the sovereignty of God. Things are looked at from a divine point of view, quite the reverse of the prophet Jeremiah, who takes his place in the midst of the people and largely gives us the human side even of the divine witness.
Our portion in Isaiah for the present month is chaps, 1:-39:These form the first four divisions of the book, as the last half of the prophecy gives us the remaining three. As has been frequently said, the theme of any prophet must be largely a reminder of the people's sin. As a matter of fact, the- prophetic office was instituted after the failure of the priest, and when the people were in a condition of departure from God which required a special ministry if His mercy was to abide with them. Morally, the character of the whole book of Isaiah and of all the prophets is the same as that of Samuel, the first of them. Indeed, when Moses takes the prophetic place, it is largely in foretelling the people's failure to meet their responsibilities.
But if the failure of the people is the dark background of all prophetic writing, it brings out into striking relief the glorious picture of future blessing through Christ:thus, parallel with the faithfulness which leaves no secret places where the people can hide themselves, no evils unreproved, are the promises of future recovery after their enemies have been judged, and they purged from their sins. The latter part of the prophet shows how this purgation was to be effected by the giving up of their Messiah to judgment, who thus made atonement for their sins.
Thus the two great themes of prophecy are, the sin of the people, and future glory. Along with these we have the character of the enemy, who constantly oppresses, ever ready to assail when the wickedness of the people necessitates God's permitting his oppression. The enemy, however, with all his malignity, is, after all, but the instrument in the hands of God; and when he has accomplished God's work in chastening the people, he himself will be broken and judged for the malignity shown and for his own deeper wickedness. Thus judgment upon the nations forms a salient feature of our prophet.
Having said thus much of prophecy in general, which applies in a marked way to the one we are considering, we will now look briefly at the four divisions of this portion of the book.
Div. 1:(Chaps, 1:-12:) The whole state of the people is gone into nationally, in relation to Christ and to their enemy used of God for their chastening. This last is the Assyrian.
The first four chapters of the book are more general, and of an introductory character.
Chap. 1:speaks largely of the sinful condition of the people, in spite of all their profession. The Lord was weary of their new moons and feast days, which had no effect upon their moral condition. He likens them to Sodom and Gomorrah, as we remember our Lord declares that it will be more tolerable for those cities in the day of judgment than for the Jews of His day. Along with this, in ver. 18, we have the most precious assurance of forgiveness, would they but turn to God in repentance. However, this is scarcely looked for, and the purgation of the people is to be effected by judgment.
Chap. 2:looks forward to this recovery (vers. 1-5), but the remainder of the chapter is devoted to declaring the people's sins and foretelling the awful judgments of the day of the Lord. In view of that, how paltry and worthless is man!
Chap. 3:continues the same general subject of sin and the judgment on it, while Chap. 4:, when evil seems to have reached its climax, dwells upon the coming of the Branch of the Lord-Christ,-beautiful and glorious, whose fruit shall be excellent and comely for the remnant of Israel.
Chap. 5:, in parabolic form, much after the manner of our Lord's parable of the vineyard, narrates the privileges enjoyed by Israel, and the judgment upon them because of failure. The six woes of this chapter (vers. 8, n, 18, 20, 21, 22) are very striking when taken in connection with the seventh, found in Chap. 6:, where not individual sins are spoken of, but the whole man.
Chap. 6:narrates the wondrous vision of the glory of the Lord by the prophet; his conviction, as the representative of the people, of sin, and the grace which has put it away.
Chaps, 7:and 8:are historical, and are introductory to the subject of the Assyrian, dwelt upon in chaps, 9:and 10:We have here the apostasy of king Ahaz associated with the even more apostate ten tribes. How beautifully God's grace comes out when the wicked king refuses the invitation of the prophet to seek a sign of the Lord, and the Lord Himself gives His own sign, the Son of the virgin, through whom indeed full blessing and deliverance will be brought to the people! .
Chap. 9:is quoted in the Gospel of Matthew, and also refers to the coming of our blessed Lord when darkness is prevailing. The enemy has been coming in like a flood. The people have been afflicted for their sins; but in the midst of it all, " Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given "-the true Son of David, also the mighty God and the Father of eternity. What power of the enemy can prevail when this sign and this Ruler shall bring all things under the sway of peace ?
Chap. 10:shows that after Assyria, who is the rod of God's anger, has effected His whole purpose in humbling His people, he himself shall be broken. The high cedars of Lebanon shall be cut down.
Chap. 11:shows the springing up of a shoot from the stem of Jesse, the Branch of the Lord, who takes the place of all the proud cedars of Lebanon and fills the earth with the blessing of His reign. This is a most lovely chapter, and its pictures of millennial blessing are delightful indeed. The Gentiles shall be gathered to Him, and the entire nation of His beloved people-not only Judah, but the scattered ten tribes as well-shall be brought back to their inheritance, no more to be two kingdoms; the rod which has been broken in twain, taken up by His priestly hand, becomes one again, and the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Chap. 12:is the thanksgiving and worship when they behold this. What a delightful portion! We need not say how richly it will reward diligent, prayerful study.
Div. 2. (Chaps, 13:-27:) This portion is, we might say, an enlargement of the judgment already pronounced upon Assyria. Its general theme is the judgment on the nations; and significantly Babylon, which later on carries Judah into captivity, here has judgment pronounced upon it. In like manner, Moab is judged (chaps, 15:, 16:); Damascus and Syria, also Egypt, the land shadowing with wings (chaps, 18:-20:). The final doom of Babylon is narrated in Chap. 21:, while chap. 22:very strikingly associates Jerusalem with the rest, looked upon here in this way as a Gentile subject to judgment.
Chap. 23:declares the judgment of Tyre, while chap. 24:shows the desolation of the whole land, which may include not merely the land of Israel, but the whole habitable earth. Out of the midst of such desolations as are described in these chapters, the prophet raises his voice in exultation, praising God for these judgments, which have not hurt a single one of His loyal ones who have trusted in Him.
Chap. 26:continues the praise, while Chap. 27:concludes the general subject of judgment and of blessing after the storm.
Div. 3. (Chaps, 28:-35:) This portion is devoted to the moral condition of God's people, with particular reference to their condition in the latter days, and in view of the association of the mass of the people with the antichrist, the refuge of lies which the hail of God's judgment shall sweep away. This is figured under the warning as to seeking shelter in Egypt.
Chap. 32:gives a glimpse of the coming of Christ and the shelter from the coming storm from Him; while chap. 35:closes what would otherwise be a dark picture with the glorious description of the reign of our Lord in the earth when the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose.
Div. 4. (Chaps. 36:-39:). We have the historical account of the threatened Assyrian invasion, which was repulsed through the faith of Hezekiah. Alas for the most faithful of men! When fully tested, the subtle confidence in the arm of flesh is seen, and Hezekiah, who in the time of his weakness repelled the enemy, and when the sentence of death had been passed upon himself, was brought, as it were, from the very gates of the grave, yields to the blandishments of the king of Babylon and is obliged to hear of his people's captivity in that land.
The general theme of 2 Peter, which we also read, is similar to his first epistle, with special reference to the further decline and corruption, which have become more general. In the midst of all this, God's righteousness will maintain His people, bringing them safely through; but on their part they must give all diligence to grow in the truth which is already theirs (chap. 1:).
Chap. 2:speaks of the false prophets who come in with their seducing ways, leading many from the truth. This chapter has very much in common with the epistle to Jude, but with certain striking differences. Jude seems to dwell more upon the apostate condition of profession, while Peter speaks rather of the coming in of false prophets from outside.
Chap. 3:looks forward to the coming of the day of the Lord; yea, even, of the eternal state, the " new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."