 |  |
followed the footsteps of his father David, a man who sinned grievously, yet who was
nevertheless "A man after God's Own heart".
With these notes we must bring to a close the study of this intensely interesting
history, and look forward to our further studies together in the glorious prophecies which
open with the words, "Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people".
ISAIAH.
#17. An introductory study of Isa. 40: - 66:,
with a note on the prophetic import of
the opening message of "Comfort".
pp. 222 - 227
We have now reached the great prophetic portion of Isaiah's prophecy which speaks
"to the heart" of Jerusalem and looks forward to the day when "the kingdom" shall be
"restored again to Israel" (Acts 1: 6). The reader may welcome a reminder of the
structure of this prophecy, and accordingly once again we set out the seven great heads,
omitting detail. The full structure is given on page 43 of Volume 30:
A | PRE-ASSYRIAN INVASION (1:-35:).
a | 1:-12: THE REMNANT SHALL RETURN.
b | 13:-27: BURDENS AND BLESSINGS.
c | 28:-35: WOES AND GLORIES.
B | ASSYRIAN INVASION AND DELIVERANCE (36:-39:).
A | POST-ASSYRIAN INVASION (40:-66:).
a | 40:-48: COMFORT AND CONTROVERSY.
b | 49:-60: LIGHT AND PEACE.
c | 61:-66: ACCEPTABLE YEAR AND DAY OF VENGEANCE.
At this point we are concerned with the last great member:--
A | Isa. 40: - 66:
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.