The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-26
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

| Dec. G.-1sa., ILLS.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
| indicated above. Il 4
We now pass from the historic book of Kings
II to the first prophetic book, Isaiah. We know
the author. He figured in the life of King
Hezekiah. He was the royal pastor, the regal
chaplain. He is known as the Evangelc
Prophet, from the fact he sets forth such clear
predictions of the Messiah. His prophecy is an
introduction to Christianity. Prof. Bristol, in a
recent talk to the students of Hamilton Col
lege, at Clinton, N. Y, said One professor in
| German university lectured 25 years on the
book of Isaiah" NJ. Victor Hugo in civilian
SHAKESPEARE" says of the Prophet Isaiah,
Whose words are q perpetual thunderbolt of
righteous accusation" We read in Ecclesas-
ticus as 20-25) that Isaiah was great and
faithful in his vision. - In his time the
sun went backward, and he heightened the
| Kings life. He saw by an excellent spirit what
should come to pass at the last, and he COM
forted them that mourn in Sion. He showed
| what should come to pass forever, and secret
things or ever they came"
The first verse of thelesson is a general pre-
face to the entire prophecy. We find Isaiah
! was son of Amoz, and that he lived in the reigns
of Uzziah, lothian. Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings
of Judah, and of Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah,
and Hoshea. Kings of Israel. He was contem-
| porary with Micah, Prophet of Judah, and
with Jonah, Amos, and Hoshea, Prophets in
| Israel.
| The lesson represents the inhabitants of the
Kingdom OF judah brought to trial. God is
| the Judge; the universe is the jury; the
| charges, ingratitude, evil doing abandonment
of God, ". A. revolt from the divine govern
| ment; the sentence, guilty; penalty, Gods re-
| fusal to notice their prayers ". 15) and sacri-
fees V.11.) But justice is not the only attri
| butte of Deity. Provision is made for pardon on
| sincere reformation.
hat o,,1 ~, 70 God
We can reason, ". 49, and hence God can argue
| with us. God is not precipitate in punishment
| lie gives us chance to explain our attitude.
| That is a striking piece of rhetoric in which
the inanimate creations are supposed vested
with life and reasoning powers and summoned
| to hear God justify himself while he condemns
| the wicked Jews. (Cf. Deu., 32:1 Mic, g.: ],
2; Ps., 1913, d.
Let US notice the charges in particular against
judah.
They were not appreciative of Gods goodness
He had been father to them. He had nourished
them into being and on through infancy; had
reared them carefully. VIZ Bad as they
were, be did not allow them to become extinct
as Nation. ". 81 Nevertheless, they rebelled
against Cody. 2)-revolted (V. 81 from his
authority, took up arms against bis Govern
ment. They ignored his laws by not even
studying them. ". 49, Oxen and asses were
better than they, for these brutes recognize
their owners and realize their food comes from
such owners; but the people of udah would not
own God as their possessor, nor consider that all
their blessings came from him. (V.3.) So gen.
eral was this state of things it could be said the
Nation was sinful. VA The entire genera.
tion seed was corrupt so evil as to try to make
others commit iniquity. (V.4o The people were
loaded down with sins. Recall Bunyans Christ
ian with the great burden on his back, strug-
Cling to carry it, and so amazingly relieved when
1t tumbled off soon as he caught sight of the
cr0ss.) They became so wicked that they pro-
voked the Holy One to- Indignation. va
That must be great sin which can stir up anger
in one who is holy.
Such evil was fearful backward step. (v.4.)
They became external in devotion. Their hands
performed the outward acts of worship while
their hearts were depraved. Tvs. 11-14) They
offered sacrifices without particle of real spirit
ual feeling. Such worship is represented as
making even God sick at heart. Such obations
were vain, such incense abominable. The very
tread of the feet of men SO spiritless was a
dissertation of Gods house ". 12.) Even in
religious acts, the people sinned. Such pre-.
tense of piety was hateful to God. ". 14.)
Whenever they gathered, on Sabbaths or holy
days, in the sanctuary, their very presence was
odious to God. When the forms of worship
trouble God, we may be sure the so-caled de-
voices are hypocritic. When God wearies of
mems external acts of worship, we may be GER
tain back of such acts are depraved minds.
". ~ When persons lift up hands to GOO in
prayer, such hands must be white, or such
prayer must be a mere tinkiing of brazen pre-
tenders ". 49, What a fearful picture we
have of the religious condition of the Kingdom
of Judah! No wonder God brought the people
to account. They were unclean and diseased
through and through.
No Nation can sin as did Judah and 90 I'M
punished. The inhabitants had suffered fear
fully by reason of their iniquity. Foreign Ma 1
tiOns again and again attacked them. They
were at rest only at intervals. Their very
Capital more than once was in the clutches of
the heather. 1t would seem they could not
endure greater evils. They were as one who
has been SO often and severely beaten that no
spot can be seen on the body which is not al
ready bruised by the blows. Reduced tc rem
nant, ". 81 further opposition would lead to
extinction. The Nation was supposed body,
the leaders being the head and the common
people the members. Them from head to foot,
the land was diseased--head sick, heart faint,
limbs wounded, trunk bruised, organs in
famed. There were not so long intervals be-
tween sins as to give head and limbs chance to
heal, ". g. and SO the wounds became chronic
ulcers, running sores. The consequences did
not fall only on the individual, but also on the
Nation; the country became desolate; their
cities were burned; their land was devoured as
to products Even the Capital, Jerusalem, was
often in precariouS condition. seemingly no
more permanent than a temporary hut put up
in vineyard at harvest time, or an extempO-
rized shed set up in a garden for tho use of
Waterman to protect for the time being the
fruits (V. 81
But it is not Gods pleasure that we sin, and
so suffer. Hence he exhorts to reformation.
(Vs. l6, ~ He mentions seven steps in the
way of amendment:
l. The people must wash and become clean
Verse ID tells of hands full of blood Reference
is also made to the legal ceremonial washings
CLev., IA: 8. 8, 47)
2. They must stop SHINING. God witnesses
human acts and is offended if such acts be evil.
Verse declares they were evildoers.
I 3. Not only does God issue negative COM
mands, but also positive. Learn to do WELL"
We cannot fall into goodness as we do into sin.
So it is necessary to make effort to be righteous
Hence we must learn to do well.
4. Be honest in judgment Special reference
is made to Judges. Such must accept no brides
1t may require much effort to get at all the
facts in the clients case But seek. Let no
innocent one suffer injustice from your in
dOlence in sitting for the truth.
s. Relieve the oppressed. See that nobody
suffers by your refusal to rectify any mistake
or to reform any corruption. See that no one
is oppressed, wronged or otherwise mstreated |
g. Judge the fatherless. Ps., So 5; Jas, :27)
7. Plead for the widow. See that none such |
are wronged. Often they are not familiar with |
business and great advantage is taken.
The people are urged to reform. They must |
not be DISCOURAGED because SO great sinners |