The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-25

tho AHairS OF judah moro than century aftOr
they were FIRST proclaimed. Indeed. the whole
subsequent history OF the Hebrew people bears
the impress OF Isaiah e activity. II was through
him that the word OF prophecy despised and
rejected when 1t was spoken by Amos and
Hosea, became practical power, not only in
the State, but In the whoe life Of the nation.
We can readily understand that 30 large results
could not have been effected by an isolated
mission like that Of Amos or OF Hosea, and the
truth ia that Isaiah, in his latter years became
the acknowledged head OF q great religious up
heaval.
Even TO tho political historian, Isaiah Is the
most notable figure after David. in the whole
history Of Israel. He was the man of Il su-
preme crisis. and he proved himself worthy by
guiding his nation through the crisis with no
other strength than his commanding character
and prophetic eloquence. Isaiah knew that
Judah had no martial strength that could avail
for moment against the power Of Assyria.
He therefore did not aim at national in
dependence. but was content to accept
the inevitable. and mark out for judah
course Of patient Submission to the
foreign yoke in order that the nation might
concentrate itself on the task OF internal ref
ormation. When, toward the close of his
life the counsellors OF Hezekiah determined
to refuse tribute to Assyria and enter into
an alliance with Egypt the negotiations were
carefully hidden from Isaiah until the nation
was too deeply committed to draw back. The
result OF the blunder justified the foresight OF
Isaiah. for large part Of the inhabitants OF
Judna were carried away prisoners by Sem
acherib and very hard conditions were i'm
posed upon Hc2ckah in return for the Assyran
Kings agreement to spare Jerusalem. AZ to
the sudden calamity which. according to the
tIa
army Of Sennachcrib. this. ms DR.. Smith points
out, probably took place on the borders Of
Egypt, and not. as has been hastily assumed
before Jerusalem The disaster did not break
the power OF the great King but il permanently
modified the imperial policy. for to the end OF
tack on Judah.
The lectures in which Dr. Smith deals with
Isaiahs so-ealled Mcssianic pred ttions will
be read with peculiar interest. He concurs
with the foremost Biblical scholars oil Germany
and Holland in affirming that Isaiah in these
mttcrnnces had in view, not Jesus Christ. but
Hczekiah. in whose reign he hoped that
Judah would be delivered from it's internal
corruption, and from the danger of ruin at the
hands OF Assyrln 1t IL pointed out that the
naino Messiah IL never used in the Old Testa-
mont in the special sense which we are accus-
the article, and no other word in appositonl is
not m Old Testament phrase at all. and the
logical term, but an ordinary title Of the
human, king, whom, for the time being,
Jehovah has set over Israel Thus
dicted time OF Israers redemption and
final glory is called the Messianic time is ncor-
kingdom lasted every King. vas "Jehovqh's
nnointed. and 1t was only after the Jews lost
their independence that the future restoration
could be spoken ot in contrast to the present as
the days OF the Messiah. To Isaiah the restora-
ton of Israel is not the commencement but the
Jehovah over his people Of which the Davidc
king was the recognized representative. The
ter DAYS with the fall of Assyra and spoke OF it
nsnd,snse Sf the land Of Judah + enough
king are not Identical with the image, of
the, New Testament Christ That the Mes
kiah is also manifest from the fact that in his
later utteranees the prophet ceases to speak
vi f dc g nr kGE I "oE M
cossor was still in the hands OF corrupt no.
bility, the contrast Of the present and future
sized but when there was promise Of better
days. when "a yizier like Shcbna had e. give
Eliakin and the King himself began to. rule
on soundnr principles the sharpness OF the
contrast Disappeared, and the prophet spoke
above and through the earthly sovereign, was
the true Judge, lawgiyer king. md saviour Of
had in mini wat not Il universal Kingdom. but
a revival Of David sovereignty less than which
the peace and security Of the Hebrews. who.
in every generation had been harIssed by
the ennlity Of Philstia aud Elom OF Amlnon-
ties and Moabtes. II is true that the names of
the child. who, according 10 Isaiah carrier pre-
dictions. was TO bc born 10 Israel. seem to won
dcrfully foreshadow New Testament ideas. but
DR., Smith can see no reason 10 think that they
denote anything metaphysical. Tho King OF
Israel was always Supposed to reign in Jeho-
vahs name. and the prophet docs not say that
the future king will bo the mighty God, but
that his name is divine and eternal. that is that
the divine might and everlasting iatherhood OF
Jehovah will DO displayed in his rule. To the
question, then, whether Isaiah looked forward
To- n time when an immortal Goldman should
sit on the earthly Zion and use his divine
strength and wisdom to make the Hebrew race
happy and victorious over their nciShbors. DR..
smith does not hesitate to return an answer in
the negative.
1t is certain that these lectures will be very
widely read and the weight attaching TO the
authors conclusions and suggestions will be
not II littlo enhanced by his studious avoidance
of the tone Of theological controversy. He has
manifestly been actuated by sincere desire
to assist students of the Bible TO read every
part of the sacred volume. not with dogmatic
prcposseSsions, but in its original and natural
sense. lie frankly makes known 10 the reader
from the outset the critical views which un-
deriie his exposition; but we can detect no
ground for think ing that those views have
been allowed to give undue bias to his trcat-
mcnt OF historic facts. NJ w. ii.