The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-16

Les l-S, lO-SU-SOluen ASAb1 D lei Aot
17-Memory Verses, 1s-2o-Commen-
tary on the Days Lesson.
! I. The superscription ". ~. l. 1.-THE
vision" A title applying to this entire
book of prophecies, spoken or written dur
ng the reigns herein mentioned. The
word denotes. a supernatural perception,
Inspirations, revelation, prophecy; here
;ssen e9!'ee 6f Sys Tor or; q BODY nyot 81 pr0R p nosi:
lively known beyond what is stated in this
Terse. His name means "The salvation OF
! Jehovah" His home was in Jerusalem.
He exercised the prophetical office about
sixty years. Tradition tells US that he sui
:ered martyrdom, being sawn asunder at
he hands of Manasseh, King of Judah.
The story is that he was placed within a
! lifted cedar tree, and then tree and pro-
phet were sawn in two lengthwise. Heb.
ll:37 may be an %allusion to it. Concern
ing Judah" etc. Other nations are also
! the subjects of his prophecies, but only as
they had a bearing on the Jews. w
liah." Called also Azariah. Isaiah began
10 prophecy near the close of uzziah's
reign (chap. Gil.
II. A rebellious people Tvs. 2, g.. 2.
"Hear," etc. Heaven and earth are APP
pealed to and are asked to listen as wit
~nesses. "The Lord" The Hebrew is Je-
hovah, a name considered SO sacred that
It was never uttered by the Jews, the word
She'd" etc. God had cared for Israel from
their infancy. Notice, l.. The ~Fatherhood
Of God. Q. The wickedness of man: 3.
The purpose of divine chastisement. Have
rebelled." This would include three things:
|. The sin of idolatry. 2. Breaking the
moral law. g.. Rejection of the prophetic
message. 8. COX knoweth," etc. The in
gratitude of Gods people is rebuked by the
fidelity shown by the dumb animals to
not as the most stupid animals, but as the
only thoroughly domesticated animals of
Me Hebrews. They were lodged probably
under the same roof as their owner and
his family. Doth not know" Ny people
have lost their knowledge of Me and do
not recognize Me as their rightful owner.
III. A corrupt people Tvs. 49,. 4.
"Ah." The same as alas! The exclama.
ton denotes sorrow. "Seed of evildoers."
v. The word denotes violence. Have
provoked" etc. The real meaning is
brought out in the Revised Version.
Backward" They had despised and for.
saken God. This conduct is () criminal
and (2) inexcusable, but (3l common.
5. "Why." Il is doubtful whether the
| question in Hebrew is, "For what reason"
or upon what part" will We be stricken?
The sense is, Why permit yourselves to be
smitten more?. Your whole person is al
punishment Of your cyl doings; "Ye will
| revolt" See r. V. "Sick-faint." In this
figure the nation is meant. The moralco on
dition of the people is represented by a
body sorely wounded and sick unto death.
s. ''No s~oundness." Here we see the des-
perate moral state of Gods chosen people.
Priests and prophets, subjects and rulers
were all involved. Not a spot in the church
or body polite was left unsmitten. The
moral is that priests and false prophets did
not turn the people to God, who alone
could heal their maladies, but instead
adopted a worldly policy,
guage is now dropped. "DesoIate." Notice
how nearly every word corresponds to the
curses threatened in Lev. 26 and Deut. %.
strangers devour." In this verse We see
the terrible devastation and oppression
that was to come or had already come upon
them from foreign conQuerors. 8. "Daugh-
ter of Zion" The church-God's people.
Zion was the strong hill of Jerusalem, on
which the kings palace was built. The
term Zion is frequently used fguratively.
sometimes meaning all Jerusalem and
SOLlGllIIICS SOU 3 lSIdSl-luS SllulSIf. il
church was called Daughter OF Zion," de-
noting virgin innocence and youthful prom
Use Of vigor and fruitfulness. There would
be a faithful few in Jerusalem even when
ravages of war would be upon her. These
Isaiah sees are to be left az a desolated,
tumble-down lodge is left after the harvest
OF the country gardens. "Cottage-lodge."
These were erected as a temporary shelter
for those who guarded the vines and Gu
cumbers from robbers and wild animals.
After the harvest these would be left. 9.
means the righteous, in distinction from
the multitude of the ungodly. Had it not
been for the few godly ones the nation
would have been wiped out as were Sodom
and Gomorrah.
w. Reformation demanded Tvs. l0-17).
In verses l0-l5 the prophet shows how ut
terly valueless are their prayers and relig-
ious ceremonies while they still continue
in their ungodly practices. Their sacrifices
would not be accepted and their prayers
would not be heard. l6. Wash ye."
What God desires is a thorough moral
reformation. The allusion here is doubt
less to the injunction on priests, who, on
pain OF death (Exod. 3O:19.2l), were re-
quired to wash their hands and feet before
they ministered at the altar. The symbol,
no doubt, was at once understood by the
wicked men before the prophet.
II. "C~ease-learn." Note the order
here; before We can "do welr' We must
"cease-evil." Seek judgment" Or jus.
tice. Instead of seeking brides and per.
rerting justice, us was the common prSc-
tice, they were to seek to do justly. Re
lieve the oppressed" This verb should be
translated "set right" The condition Of
the oppressed, the one u~njustly dealt with,
must be set right. But the Revised Yer
sion, margin, renders this, "Set right the
oppressor;' that is, "Testrains him within
the bounds of justice" "Fatheriess-
widow" Defend end help the weak-those
who have no natural protectors. See Psa.
lois; E:4; Exod. 22:22-24; James l:27.
V. Gods offer Of mercy Tvs. 1920. lS.
Come now" God is here pleading with
backslidden Israel. Reason together"
Let us discuss the case together. TO Sc
cure their consent to examine the issue is
to secure their own self-conviction. How
wonderful that God should condescead 70
reason with sinful men! "Scarlet-crim-
son." Scarlet and crimson are really syno'
nyrls for enc co!cr, properly crimson;
There is perhaps no other instance of red
used as a general symbol for sin, though
white is the natural emblem of innocence:
10, 70. On condition Cf obedience, land
and city shall be preserved; on continued
disobedicncc the ruthless invader will bring
des Il Ii :tion, as sure az Cod llveth.
Winnipeg to Hudson Bay.