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destruction. This, however, ignores the way in which the Hebrew word shub is
used by the prophet. We have already seen its use in Isaiah 1:27, 'her
converts', and it is also found in Isaiah 6 itself: 'And return, or convert,
and be healed' (6:10). The prophetic name given to Isaiah's firstborn, Shear
-jashub (7:3), or 'the remnant shall return' as Isaiah 10:21 renders it, also
indicates that the words 'shall return' must be given their primitive
meaning.
If the words 'But yet in it shall be a tenth' are put into parenthesis,
we can then read straight on from the end of verse 11 to the second clause of
verse 13:
'And the land be utterly desolate (but yet in it shall be a tenth) and
it shall return, and shall be eaten ...'.
Even though this returning remnant should again be 'eaten', it is
likened to the teil and the oak tree, that in falling, have substance in
them, so that, even though cut down to the ground, they will again send forth
new shoots and in time produce a new tree. The tenth or tithe is the Lord's
portion, a beautiful title for the remnant according to the election of
grace.
So ends this vision of Isaiah. It begins with utter failure, as does
the prophecy itself, but, after desolation and forsaking have done their
work, it at last reaches restoration and blessing. The vision that Isaiah
saw in the year that king Uzziah died is therefore practically an epitome of
his life's ministry.
The reader will readily understand that to attempt a detailed
exposition of the prophecy of Isaiah is entirely beyond the scope of the
present volume, but if he can consult The Berean Expositor volumes 30 to 35
(under 'Fundamentals of Dispensational Truth') he will find a fairly
exhaustive examination of the bulk of the book.
We accordingly acknowledge our limitations, and pass over to the
opening of the great section which commences with chapter 40. A reference
back to the structure of the prophecy given on page 335 will show that we
have headed this section, Isaiah 40 to 66, Post -Assyrian Invasion. It will
be seen that the sub -titles are not only 'Comfort', 'Light' and 'Acceptable
year' (that would be but half the truth, and false to fact); but that
'Comfort' is not divorced from 'Controversy', 'Light' is associated with
'Peace', and 'The acceptable year of the Lord' cannot be fully appreciated or
understood if separated from the concomitant 'Day of vengeance of our God'.
Throughout this prophecy, as throughout the Bible, or throughout any and
every single one of its books, sin is in the background, and the unfolding of
the Divine plan of the ages shows that plan to be occupied with the righteous
removal of sin. This characteristic unites every book of Scripture, and
every phase of the Divine purpose.
The prophet does not speak 'comfortably' to Jerusalem in words of
sentiment or mere pacification, but distinctly associates that part of his
message with the results of redeeming love when he says, 'Her iniquity is
pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins'
(Isa. 40:2). This close association we shall discover throughout the
chapters that await us, so we leave the examination of such terms until we
meet them in the progress of exposition, when we can acquaint ourselves more
intimately with the subject -matter as it comes before us. The section which