The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-11-17


biographical. His history can only
be idealized. He is believed to have
been of royal blood, nephew of King
Uzziah, and much at the royal court.
From the fact that he describes him
self as in the temple court exclusively
for priests, he is believed to have been
OF the priestlySorder. Some say his
father was a prophet who trained his
son to succeed him. His education
was evidently grounded upon the sa-
cred books of his country, and they
affected his style. His description of
his call, the celebrated temple scene
of the sixth chapter, has never been
surpassed in reverence and spirituali-
ty. His ministry was long, running
through the the reign of five kings
some say forty, some sixty, some ev-
en- eighty years. His very garment
was a silent sermon. 1t was of sack
cloth. His mothers character is in
ferred by his references to women xix,
IS; Xvi, 10, 10, and by contrast iii, 16-
25). His own name is significant
Jehovah saves" He was contem-
porary with Jonah, Amos, and Hosea,
but younger. The story that he suf-
fered martyrdom under Manasseh by
being sawn asunder is, of course,
without support.
Over against this faint and uncer-
tain personal notation, the definite
ness and power of the message is all
the stronger by contrast. Prophetic
authorship eliminates in Isaiah. For
the number and greatness of his ideas
he is unapproached. Yet symmetry
is maintained in manifoldness En-
ergy and liveliness are not wanting
yet calm spirit of self-restraint
breathes through it all. The vocabu-
larry is rich and the diction pure His
images are striking his representa-
lions dramatic, his antithesis pointed
Other prophets have an excellence.
Isaiah had eXcellencies. He is q fire
tipped tongue sublime;" his nature
glowing, intellect lucid, will imperi-
Gus, imagination brilliant.
Amos is the only prophet who APP
proaches Isaiah III the high polish of
his style. Yet the prophets style is
just as certainly subordinate to the
substance of his message as his per
sonal history :. 1t is a fearful and
fearless, and at the same time highly
patriotic arraignment of his native
land. King, mobiles, priests, people
are ineXorably called to Judgment.
Charge, specifications, evidence. ar
gument, verdict, sentence-all are
here. The call to confession, contri-
ton, and reformation; the profTer of
forgiveness and cleansing; the assur-
ance of peace and joy; the promise of
personal and national security and
peritY-these, too, are all here.
We seem to have stumbled upon the
heart of the New Testament in the
center of the Old. No wonder Isaiah
is called the Fifth Evangelist.
CALVIN thinks Isaiah may have
affixed a synopsis of his message to
the temple-door, much as Martin Lu-
ther nailed his ninety-fve theses to
the church door in Wittenberg. If
so, the greatest possible publicity
would have been given to it ana au-
thetic copies readily made of it, But
whether so or not, this was a light
which could not be hid under any
bushel. 1t was noble, courageous,
patriotic contribution to the making
of better State. Nothing is kept back
for the sake of court favor. set
thine house in order. for thou shalt
die and not live is his fearless mes
sage to the king.
Each bold utterance is provoked by
some impending national peril
threatened inYasions of Syria, Israel,
Edom, Philistia, and Assryia He
deals not so much with the past or
future as with the present He is
pre-eminently the prophet of the pres
ent tense. His message has to do
with current events. He does not
deal with his ancestors or with pos
terity, but with his contemporaries.
He convicts of sin, directs in duty.
consoles in trouble. There is nothing
tenatiye in his judgment, nothing
equiyocal in his demands. He is i'm
perious and masterful, but at the
same time statesman-like. 1t has
been APPLY said that perhaps there
has never been another prophet like
Isaiah, who stood with his head in
the clouds and his feet on the solid
earth, with his heart in the things Of
eternity and with mouth and hand il
the things of time, with his spirit il.
the eternal counsel of God and his
body in a very definite moment of
history.
The suggestion of this particular
paragraph for special study is exceed
ingly happy, for it is practically the
the whole prophecy in epitome.
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