Jerusalem refused God’s invitation to return to him and rest; they preferred to trust in Egyptian cavalry. Their almighty friend knew that this would end in disappointment, but he said that he would wait till they had exhausted every expedient and

returned to him. Then would he be gracious and have mercy. The results of repentance and forgiveness are set forth with singular beauty: no more tears; great. grace; answered prayer; divine teaching; guidance in the right way; no more idols; good harvests and rich pasture-lands; the dumb creation benefiting by man’s repentance; and thus, in v. 26, we come to the light of the millennial dawn.

In ys. 27-33 Jehovah is represented as coming to avenge his people and to judge their enemies. Their welcoming gladness is compared in v. 29 to the songs of the Hebrew festivals. What a magnificent description in vs. 30 and 31 of Jehovah as a man of war! Every stroke he inflicted on the foe would awaken the music of tabrets and harps in the temple at Zion. Tophet, near Jerusalem, was the place where refuse was burnt. The spiritual counterpart of its fire is ever burning up the waste-products of men and nations.

Tsaiah 31:1—82:8. Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the help of their fathers’ God. Yet was he not so wise as the Egyptians, and equally as strong! And were they not running a fearful risk in rejecting One who would not recall his words of threatened punishment to those who refused his help? At best, the Egyptians were men, and not God, and their cavalry, flesh. If only they would trust him, God would defy their foes, as a lion defies a company of unarmed shepherds, yv. 4. The mother-bird hovers over her brood to protect it from the kestrel; so would he spread his covering wing over Jerusalem, v. 5. We may have deeply revolted, yet we may turn back to God with the certainty that he will receive and rescue us, v. 6.

Sennacherib fell by the sword of his sons. Compare v. 8 with 2 Kings 19:36, 37. How different is our glorious King, whose many-sided nature meets all our

needs! 32:2. Before him all men are unveiled in their true characters. Only those who are royal in heart shall stand before him, v. 8.