viii. 16-18.
In Heb. ii. 13 the commencement of verse 18 is quoted as an utterance
of the Messiah. This opens up questions concerning the New Testament
quotations from the Old which cannot be fully discussed in this
commentary. It may suffice to remark that the Spirit inspiring Isaiah
was the Spirit of Christ, and that therefore Isaiah's utterances
generally may be regarded as the utterances of Christ; and further,
this is especially true in those cases in which there is a close
similarity in the position occupied by the great prophet of the
Messiah and the Messiah Himself. At times Isaiah appears to be merely
the spokesman of the Messiah; but in others, while his words had
their ultimate and highest fulfilment in Christ, they were primarily
true of himself, and this appears to be the case here.
There are times when a nation goes utterly wrong, politically,
socially, and, as the root of all the evil, religiously. God is
forgotten, and the people give themselves over to purposes of
ambition or of sensual pleasure. It is a time of formalism and
pharisaism, of infidelity and blasphemy, of luxury and vice. So
strong is this current of evil that it seems a hopeless and foolish
thing for any man or body of men to resist it. What, then, is the
prophet or faithful preacher to do? Prudence counsels compliance with
the prevailing temper (2 Chron. xviii. 12), or at least a temporary
silence. Shall he listen to prudence, and bid principle wait for a
more fitting season? Nay, but--+I. Let him betake himself in prayer
to God+ (ver. 16). Let him pray especially that Divine truth may be
kept in the hearts of the few who have been led to receive it.[1]
+II. Let him wait upon God+ with immovable confidence that His truth
shall yet prevail in the earth (ver. 17). Thus did the Primitive
Christians, the Puritans, and the Covenanters in the evil days in
which they lived. +III. Let him recognise and glory in the position
he occupies+ (ver. 18). He and his spiritual children are God's
witnesses (Isa. xliv. 8); what position could be more honourable? Let
them not shrink from its conspicuousness (Phil. ii. 15); let them not
be disheartened by the singularity it involves (H. E. I. 1032-1045,
3906, 3914; P. D. 1188). Amid all that is depressing and threatening
in the position to which they have been Divinely called, let them
remember their Lord's declarations (Matt. x. 32; Rev. iii. 5).