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example, the miraculous blinding of a Jew and the consequent conversion of a Gentile.
So the widening purpose is revealed, Israel shall be restored, the far off Gentiles saved,
"and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God".
No.6.
Sold for nought. Redeemed without money
(49: 13 - 52: 12).
pp. 181 - 186
This section now before us is a long one, and full of problems of interpretation, but it
is an essential link between the earlier promise of `comfort' and the glorious revelation of
Him Whom alone can be His people's comfort, namely the suffering yet victorious
Messiah of Isa. 53:
The second great portion of Isaiah's prophecy (Isa. 40:-46:) opens with the words
"Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God" (Isa. 40: 1). We then wait until we
reach Isa. 49: 13, the opening verse of our present study, before we read that word
`comfort' again. Yet further, it is on this same note that the section ends (Isa. 52: 9).
"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth: and break forth into singing, O mountains:
for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted"
(Isa.xlix.13).
"Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath
comforted His people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem" (Isa. 52: 9).
It is fairly evident that these passages will form the corresponding members in the
structure of the section, and with this commencement, we proceed. We are immediately
met with such a wealth of material, that it is extremely difficult to close our eyes to the
richness of detail, and pursue only the great connecting links in the theme.
As we read and re-read this section, we become conscious of another note that finds
its echo in a corresponding passage:
"Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves" (Isa. 50: 1).
"Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money"
(Isaiah 52: 3).
There follows in Isa. 50: that majestic passage concerning the Messiah, the One Who
gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, and the
thrice uttered call to Israel to "hearken" (Isa. 51: 1, 4, 7); and the thrice uttered call to
"awake" (Isa. 51: 9, 17; 52: 1). As these exhaust the remainder of this section of the
prophecy, they must have some relation with one another, but at first sight that
relationship is not evident. It is there however awaiting the believing and patient seeker.
Before the words `Hearken' (Heb. shamea) and `Awake' (Heb. ur) are used of Israel,
they are used of their Messiah, for in Isa. 50: 4 we read: