Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-11-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 20.
Subject. Jsaiah's Message to Judah Iss'
t., 1-9; 16-2O-Golden Text, lisa. I.' To-
17-Memory Verses, 1S-2O-Commen'
fory on the DAVIS Lesson.

tary on the Days Lesson.
I. The superscription ". u. l. "The
vision" A title applying to this entire
book of prophecies, spoken or written Dur az
ing the reigns herein mentioned. Inc
, word denotes a supernatural perception,
inspiration, revelation, prophecy, here
taken collectively for body OF prophecies
Isaiah" Of his origin nothing is posi-
lively known beyond what is stated IN this
verse. His name means "The salvation OF
Jehovah" His home was in Jerusa -em.
He exercised the prophetical office about
sixty years. Tradition tells us that ne sui.
fered martyrdom, being sawn asunder at
the hands of Manasseh, King of Judah.
The story is that he was placed within a
rifted cedar tree, and then tree and pro
phet were sawn in two lengthwise. Heb
1887 may be an allusion to it. Concern.
the subjects of his prophecies, but only as
they had bearing on the Jews. "Uz-
ziah" Called also Azariah. Isaiah began
to prophesy near the close of Uzziah's
reign (chap. GID.
II. A rebellious people Tvs. 2, 81. g
Hear etc. Heaven and earth are APP.
pealed to and are asked to listen as wit
nesses. "The Lord" The Hebrew is Je-
hovah, name considered so sacred that
it was never uttered by the Jews, the word
Lord being used in its stead. Have nour-
ished," etc. God had cared for Israel from
their infancy. Notice, l.. The Fatherhood
Of God. 2. The wickedness of man; 8.
The purpose of divine chastisement. "Havt
rebelled.:" This would include three things:
l. The sin of idolatry. 2. Breaking the
moral law. 3. Rejection of the prophetic
message. g. COX knoweth," etc. The in.
gratitude of Gods people is rebuked by the
fidelity shown by the dumb animals to
their keepers. Ok and ass are mentioned
not as the most stupid animals, but as the
only thoroughly dOmesticated animals Of
the Hebrews. They were lodged probably
under the same roof as their owner and
have lost their knowledge of Me and do
not recognize Me as their rightful owner
Ill. A corrupt people Tvs. 4-9). 4.
"Ah" The same as alas! The exclama.
ton denotes sorrow. ''Seed of eviidoers.
Offspring or race of evildoers. Compare
Matt. 81. "That are corrupters." See r.
V. The word denotes violence. "Ha;e
provoked" etc. The real meaning ~
brought out in the Revised Version.
Backward" They had despised and for
saken God. This conduct is O criminal
and ~ 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?
smitten more? Your whole person is a,
ready bruised in every part, as the proper
punishment of your evil doings. aye will
revolt" See r. V. "Sick-faint" In this
figure the nation is meant. The moral con
diton of the people is represented by a
body sorely wounded and sick unto death.
6. mo sOundness." Here we see the DIES
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:
7. Your country" The hgurative lam
guage is now dropped. "Desolate." Notice
how nearly every word corresponds to the
curses threatened in Lev. rs and Deut. %.
strangers devour." In this verse we SEQ
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 Tho
term Zion is frequently used fgurativeiy,
sometimes meaning all Jerusalem and
sometimes Gods Israel-the church. The
church was called Daughter of Zion," de-
noting virgin innocence and youthful prom.
Use of vigor and fruitfulness. There would
be faithful few in Jerusalem even when
ravages of war would be upon her. These
Isaiah sees are to be left as 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.
"Small remnant" By remnant Isaiah
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
". Reformation demanded Tvs. l0l0.
In verses l0l5 the prophet shows how ut
terly valueless are their prayers and reig'
ious ceremonies while they still continue
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:l92D, were re-
quired to wash their hands and feet before
they ministered at the altar. The syrlbo,
no doubt. was at once understood by the
wicked men before the prophet.
IL. "Cease-learn." Note The order
here; before We can "do welP' VIC must
"cease-evil." Seek judgment" Or jus.
tlce. Instead of seeking brides AID per.
vertlng justice, as was the common pfdc.
tlce, 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 rnjustly dealt witt,
must be set right. But the Revised Vcr.
sion, margin, renders this, "Sct right the
oppressor;" that is, "restrains him within
the bounds of justice" ''Fathcrles3-
widow" Defend and help the wcai-thoco
who have no natural protectors. See [ sa.
1918; 12:4; Exod. 22:22-24; James l:27.
". Gods offer of mercy Tvs. 1920. lc.
Come now" God il here pleaCinq with
backslidden Israel. Reason together"
Let us discuss the case together. 70 sc.
cure their consent to examine the Issue is
to secure their own self-conviction. How
wonderful that God should condescerd to
reason with sinful men! "Scarlet-crim.
son." Scarlet and crimson are really syno.
nyms for one color, properly crimson.
There Is perhaps no other instance of rcd
used as a general symbol for Sin, though
white is the natural emblem of innocence
10, 20. On condition of obedience, land
and city shall be preserved; on continued
disobedience the ruthless invader will bring
destruction, as sure as Cod lvctl.
Getting Ready for Winter.