Article January 20, 1906 Issue

Readiness

J. S. B.

In the third chapter of Isaiah we read, "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying. Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people." In studying this passage one can but be struck with the extraordinary force of the message it conveys and the wonderful spiritual insight of the prophet, so far in advance of his age.

In this instance Isaiah was addressing the Jews prior to the captivity. They were at that time a people assiduous in their worship of Jehovah and lavish in their sacrifices, also careful in all points of ritual; but they were at the same time, as this prophet tells us, immoral, grossly neglectful of their civic duties, while they indulged in all kinds of vice. Luxury and oppression of the poor were also rampant. In the midst of all this exaltation of materialism stood Isaiah, almost a solitary figure.

His recognition of God as Spirit, and the necessity for declaring this knowledge in such a way that the truth might be shed abroad in hearts stupefied by low ideals, was absorbing his whole consciousness; and that sin and sensuality bring their own punishment was undoubtedly clear to him.

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