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fail to see or hear. The title "Perfect" is given to Israel much in the same way that it has
been adopted by the follower of Mahomet, who is called a "Musselman" or "Moslem",
that is, one who is "complete". It was Israel's boast that they were Meshullam, but it was
Paul's accusation that, while he conceded the claim to superior understanding, it revealed
the utter darkness of their hearts.
"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God,
and knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed
out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide to the blind, a light of them
that are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form
of knowledge and of the truth in the law" (Rom. 2: 17-20).
Here Paul recognizes the right that Israel has to the title "Meshullam" but he
continues:--
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? . . . . . thou that
makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written"
(Rom. 2: 21-24).
It is evident that though Israel is Meshullam, or Perfect, yet in deed and in attitude
they were they very reverse, thus the paradox of Isa. 42: 18-20 finds its solution in
them. Israel dishonoured their God by their disobedience to the law,
"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness sake; He will magnify the law and
make it honourable" (Isa. 42: 21).
What Israel failed to accomplish, Christ has done. The blindness and deafness which
is here charged against Israel is a frequently recurring indictment. As a result of their
blindness and deafness Israel had become the prey and spoil of other nations, yet they do
not seem to have "considered" this matter (Isa. 1: 3).
"Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, He against
Whom we have sinned?" (Isa. 42: 24).
So blind were they that "none saith, Restore" (Isa. 42: 22). Consequently upon this
people came the fury and anger of the Lord, manifested in "the strength of battle", but
though the nation was "set on fire round about, yet he knew it not; and it burned him, yet
he laid it not to heart" (Isa. 42: 25). Under the law, Israel failed, and failed utterly.
Restoration was impossible. Blind, dear, blunted, hardened, they laid not these things to
heart. The structure of this dark section is as follows. Its central note is, "No
restoration", which indeed is the doleful prospect of all under law.