'Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double

according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her

double' (Rev. 18:6).

This, however, would be no word of 'comfort' to Jerusalem, but there is

another side to the matter.  The same Isaiah when he looks forward to 'the

acceptable year of the Lord' and the day of Israel's restoration, says:

'For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall

rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess

the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them' (61:7),

and the prophet Zechariah says:

'Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I

declare that I will render double unto thee' (9:12).

In these references we have, however, been dealing with two different

Hebrew words and two different ideas.  The word used in Isaiah 40 means

'full', 'thorough', 'complete', whereas the word used in Isaiah 61:7 refers

rather to the double portion that belongs to the firstborn (Deut. 21:17).

The prophet therefore comforts Israel by announcing that her warfare is

accomplished, that she has received double, or full measure, for her sins,

and that now she is to receive the firstborn's portion, 'possess double', and

that 'everlasting joy' shall be with them.

'Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send

against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want

of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he

have destroyed thee ... the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful ...

the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to

nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land ... the Lord shall

scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto

the other ... And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither

shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee

there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: and

thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and

night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: in the morning thou

shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would

God it were morning!' (Deut 28:48 -67).

The inquisition, the ghetto, the gabardine, the pogrom, the

concentration camp, all are included in the dreadful curse that was

pronounced upon disobedient and gainsaying Israel.

The reader may wonder why we have not elaborated the evangelical

doctrine of the forgiveness of sins, seeing that the very words 'her iniquity

is pardoned' await us, and seem to be the prophet's own added explanation.

Israel are to be pardoned, yea, they are to be justified, their iniquity

being laid upon Him Who bare our sins and carried our sorrows, but, wondrous

as the theme of redeeming love may be, faithfulness prevents us from

introducing the subject here.  We are sensitive of the reader's surprise and

possible displeasure, and for the truth's sake, not for our own, we depart

from our rule, and quote an authority.