ISAIAH’S RHAPSODY NO. | “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”—Isaiah 40:1. HE prophecy of Isaiah is unique from several standpoints. One thing which makes it of special interest to the Lord’s people is the fact that it is more frequently quoted by our Lord and the apostles than all of the other prophecies combined. The generally exalted character of the prophet’s language and the clearness of { vision granted him as a seer is another item of deep interest. And, thirdly, the physical Structure of the prophecy is such as to demand special attention, because of the elaborate division and subdivision of its subject matter. We offer a brief outline of the prophecy which confirms this remark. When divisions and subdivisions are indicated, it does not mean that these are made arbitrarily, but that the subject matter itself is divided, a fact which is easily demonstrated by anyone who cares to take the trouble to examine into it. It will be noted that the third division contains by far the major portion of the book and that the third subdivision of that division contains probably a half of the prophecy, viewed as to bulk. This third subdivision is specially Messianic in its character and begins with the fortieth chapter. At this time we offer some comments on the first eleven verses of the fortieth chapter. But first is inserted the general outline of the book: Division I: Chapter 1, which acts as a preface for the whole work; contains a brief outline of the subject matter to be discussed. Division II: Chapters 2 to 27, dealing, historically, with the testing of King Ahaz. SUBDIVISION 1, Chapters 2 to 12 SUBDIVISION 2, Chapters 13 to 23 Suppivision 3, Chapters 24 to 27 Sone 1, Chapter 25 Sona 2, Chapter 26 Sone 3, Chapter 27 Division III: Chapters 28 to 66, dealing, in so far as history is involved, with the testing of King Hezekiah. Suspiviston 1, Chapters 28 to 35 Suspivision 2, Chapters 36 to 39 Suspivision 3, Chapters 40 to 66, MEsstaNic: Portion 1, Chapters 40-48: Treating on the Messiah (here called “the servant of the Lord’) in his evangelistic activities, or in the work of heralding the good tidings of Messiah's oncoming kingdom— the work of this Gospel age. SecTION 1, Chapters 40 to 42. SECTION 2, Chapters 438 to 45. SeEcTion 3, Chapters 46 to 4%. Portion 2, Chapters 49 to 57: Dealing with Messiah in his official capacity in the Millennial age. Section 1, Chapters 49-52:12, as Prophet. Section 2, Chapters 52:13 to 54, as Priest. SEcTION 3, Chapters 55 to 57, as King. Kingly work No. 1, Chapter 55. Kingly work No. 2, Chapter 56:8, Kingly work No. 3, Chapter 56:9 to 57. Portion 3, Chapters 58 to 66: Dealing with the Messiah in his paternal relationship toward mankind during the Millennium. Section 1, Chapters 5S to 60. Section 2, Chapters 61 to 64. First work, Chapters 61, 62. Second work, Chapters 63. Third work, Chapter 64. SEcTION 3, Chapters 65, 66. FRAGMENTARY THREEFOLD INTERPRETATION These elaborate divisions and subdivisions can hardly have been by accident. They were doubtless intended of the Lord, under whose influence or power Isaiah was directed to speak and write. (2 Peter 1:21) This three-fold system of its structure suggests to us the possibility of a three-fold application of the prophet’s utterances; but no effort should be made to strain any passage. On examination we do find that there are many passages of the prophecy which have an application (1) to fleshly Israel in connection with the Babylonian captivity, either oncoming or experienced; (2) to fleshly Israel after the time of her long period of disfavor; (3) to spiritual Israel, especially after the time of her captivity in antitypical Babylon. There are other passages which are plainly applicable to two of these classes. Still other parts of the prophecy seem to apply only to spiritual Israel, while occasionally are found remarks apparently intended only for natural Israel. The fortieth chapter is one freighted with special interest, because parts of it stretch over a long period of time—from about the time of the Babylonian captivity to the present day. Isaiah’s prophecy was delivered about 150 years prior to the captivity, and this fact must be borne in mind in thinking of any of its historical aspects. In these first eleven verses of the fortieth chapter we have three pictures of Jehovah given to us: first, he is depicted as a Comforter after protracted suffering; second, he is represented as being the True One, whose word abides though all else fail; third, as the Shepherd who leads his people with paternal care. The first two verses announce comfort. The follewing nine verses contain three voices, or messages, each composed of three verses. The chapter opens with the familiar words: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God”. Three imperatives or commands are given: (1) “Comfort ye”; (2) “speak ye”; (3) “cry”. It will be noted also that the thing to be cried, or proclaimed, is three-fold in its nature: (1) “that her warfare is accomplished”; (2) “that her iniquity is pardoned”; (3) “that she hath received of the Lord’s hand dcuble for all her sins’. Our King James version gives this last clause, “for she hath received,” but the grammatical structure in all three cases is the same, and the rendering should be the same in each instance. ONLY HEART CLASS COMFORTED The Hebrew word here translated “comfortably” is rendered in the margin “to the heart of”. God’s message of comfort did come to the heart of Jerusalem as soon as the seventy years of Jerusalem’s captivity had expired. The great mass of Jews who had been carried away captive into Babylon had become very comfortably situated there. They doubtless had social and commercial ties which they did not care to break. The homes, friends, and pleasant associations seemed very real and desirable to them; whereas Jerusaiem seemed distant and as a thing belonging to the past. Doubtless they argued that a return to rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem and to rehabilitate Judea was foolish, impractical, visionary. But about 50,000 souls so much appreciated the promises which God had given them through the prophets, were so keen in discerning the fact that those promises were associated 343
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