The National tribune., 1891-12-31
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

international Sunday-schOoI Lesson APP
pointed for Jan. 10, 1892. Isa., 20; lilo.
| Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures A.
Indicated above-l
SUBJEcT: A SONG OF SALVATION. I. PEE-
LIMINARY HISTORICAL STATEMENTS. IL
| ExEGEsIs OF THE LESSON.
/. PRELIMINARY.
By analysis we find the prophecy of Isaiah
| diVisible into six parts-chspters l TO IL. l3 TO
| %. % to q, So to 20 40 to 40. 50 TO Sc. Tins
Yitringa taught. Two parts are made-pro-
| phetic and historic. The prophetic is all but
chapters 80 to % inclusive. Chapters to ~
inclusive relate to the Jews. Chapters 13 TO
% inclusive forstell the destiny of Babylon,
Phelistia, Moab, Syria. AssyriA. Ethiopia,
Arabia and Tyre. Chapters 2i to b inclusive
point out Judgments pronounced against the
| Jews and their opponents and give glimpses Of
the Messiah. Chapters 40 To 45 inclusive con-
sole the Jews by promises Of the Messiah with
descriptions Of his glorious kingdom. and more
| over declare the Jews shall be Iiberated from
Babylonish captivity. Chapters 40 TO 66 enter
into many particulars ~ to the Messianie reign.
| Chapters 80 to 80 inclusive arc historic.
We can see now where our lesson falls in
place. Chapters 81 to % inclusive are a unit,
and our lesson Is only part thereof LOwth
| NOyes, ROsenmuller. and others so believe. We
therefore look ON the said four chapters as con-
stituting single vision or prophecy. Chapter
| "a reeounts certain calamities; 2S is song Of
gratitude for deliyeranees, with intimations
that "a q result Of such relief the true religion
would be promoted 26 10 a hymn expressive
| Of JOY and praise. adapted to celebrate the tri-
| umphs Of religion; q sets forth the results
favorable to the Jews growing out from the
| spread and bold Of the truth.
AS to the special ealamities referred to In
ahnfn mi Iuau
| thought we are TO understand all the ealsmities
referred TO in chapters I3 to d. His idea was
| that we have in chapter "a a recapitulatiOn.
| IsOwth's view Is similar. Heinclnded the pun
ishments Suffered by the Ten Tribes as we'll as
| By Judah, and called special attention to the
evils inflicted by the Romans. Hensler refers
| the ealsmities to those due TO Sennacherib.
Grotius had in mind Shalmanezer. Yitringa
understood the prosecutions inflicted by An
tioclIus EPiphases. Noyes explains By sayin z
that reference is made to NebuchadRezzar.
| Barnes holds this opinion
Accepting the view Of Noyes we may say
chapter 26 is song of Joy over dsliversnee
from the calamities suffered by the Jews at the
hands OF fNebuchadnezzar. This makes the es-
cape frOm captivity at Babylon Of Jndah, and
their return to the Promised Land. the theme
| Of song. But the prophet Isaiah always saw as
we may say, dodble. Ho connected in mind
| by the law Of association, the emancipation Of
Judah FROM Babylon with cur escape from the
Evil One; the relief from Nebuehadnezzar with
| freedom from Satan the victory Of the Jews
with the triumphs Of Christians; the com
ing Of help at Babylon with the Advent Of the
Messiah.
With this explanation we can now give our
selves moro intelligently to an explanation Of
the particular paragraph which is our present
/ lesson.
Ii has always been customary to express the
| joys Of victory in song. The prophet foFesaw
| the triumphant return of the Jews from their
/ 20 years OF bondage aud furnished them in ad-
/ vance with hymn OF praise. We may sup
! pose it was often on the lips Of the liberated
! eaptiyes.
| We get an idea Of the wide range of prophetic
| vision. We see Isaiah looking out on centuries
| yet TO come. and describing the events to occur
| IS though he were an eyewitness and was
/ writing history. We notice what faith WAS
had ia the realization Of the prophecies uttered.
I Feeling certain the events were to occur.
the prophet goes further, anticipating the joys
Of the eaptiyes redeemed from BabylOnean
bondage. aud actually furnishing them with a
| grand hymn OF triumph.
II. ISAIAH. 26: 1-1O.
I. References.
We give these Bible references verse by verse.
| The figures below are the numbers of the
verses. 1t is we'll to study the Bible with the
Bible. 1t has power TO bring to bear on every
/ paragraph all its combined light. IL goes far
\ to explain itself Each Sunday school should
be furnished Bibles and taught familiarity with
4 the contents. There is no better way than TO
set the pupils finding the references.
! V. 1. In that day. 2 IL. Strong city. Ps..
/ 3l:21. Salvation for walls. 60 l5; Jer., 3:
%; Zec., 2: 5. Bulwarks. Ps. 49: 13.
We. Open gates. 6o:l5; Ps., 81, ITO;
1lS: 10, 90.
VS. Peace. 9:6; A.: 10: 52:7; 57:1s;
st. Mt, $50; 10, l2: Is; Phil. al
VA Ex., 6:3; Ps.. SO: IS; Is. 1872. Ever
lasting strength. As: II. Strength. Ps, 10 IA.
The original for strength (tsur in Hebrew)
means u rock. The expression Everlasting
strength" Is hence, equivalent to Rock OF
| Ages" See Deu.. 81: L. 10, lS 80, 81; Sam,
2:2; 9 Sam, %: -. AZ; %: 81; Ps, Is: 81
2S:1; 1873; 62:2, 6, z, s; I25:1
V.5. Bringeth down them high. %: II
81: 10.
V.6. Foot shall tread il down. NAL, As.
w. Thou (God) most upright. Deu., 30:
4; Ps., % :6; 92: l6. God weighs (Obseryesl
our paths. PA, 81 %; Prov, 4:26; 5:21i
| Eph., 9: 10.
VS.. Waited for thee. 6:4 Thy judge
nents. Ps., So: IL.
70. desired thee Ps., g. l. In the night
| Ps., 63: /, 6; Cant, 3 /.
| V. 10. Favor showed to wicked. Fec, 8 4: 10
The evil not be reformed by the goodness oI
rightuess. Ps., l43: 10. Majesty of the Lord
2:I0.
2. AnalysiS