p. 3 | SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 44.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

By F. D. Starr

ISAIAH.

BY F. D. STARR.

HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isa. 55: Thus sounds forth the Gospel proclamation from this unique book, written by one who is by some styled the Fifth Evangelist, because his writings so vividly describe the life and sufferings of our blessed Lord, and thus make this book a companion piece to the first four books of the New Testament.

As we come now to the prophetic portion of God's Holy Book, a new interest is aroused in our minds to become better acquainted with the "more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place." 2 Peter 1: 19.

As we attempt to say something concerning the wonderful things that we find in the several books in the Bible, words seem entirely inadequate to express the rapture and delight that the soul experiences in beholding its exhaustless treasures. It seems like the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who found, not only one pearl of great price, but scores of precious pearls of priceless value. Who would not work a mine like this?

Isaiah's prophetic office continued during the reign of four kings of Judah, covering a period of more than threescore years, and commencing back in the eighth century before Christ. His book is divided into sixty-six chapters, or exactly as many chapters as there are books in the Bible; and while each one of the sacred books may be regarded as a pearl of itself, it seems as if, like the gates of the New Jerusalem, each chapter is composed of one several pearl. Any one who will take the time to do so, the youth especially, will find it a most satisfying accomplishment to become so familiar with the various chapters of this book that he can give from memory some account of the contents of each chapter.

With the exception of the book of Psalms, no book of the Old Testament seems to have been so extensively quoted in the New as Isaiah.

If time and space permitted, it would be interesting to notice some points in each chapter. The first chapter calls our attention to the lost condition of fallen man—the whole head sick, the whole heart faint. From this forlorn condition, release is found in verse 18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." The conditions on which this is to be done are stated in the preceding verses: "Wash you, make you clean." "Cease to do evil; learn to do well." We should not fail to see the connection between these statements and the gracious promise of verse 18. As the German version reads, "Then come and let us reason together." The "now" that defines the time when the blood-red stains are to be made white as snow, is when these changes in conduct have been instituted. This is simply the doctrine proclaimed by Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar: "Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a strengthening of thy tranquillity." Dan. 4: 27. It is the same message as that proclaimed by John the Baptist, when he declined to baptize the unrepentant Pharisees: "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." It is the same teaching as that of James, when he tells us that "faith without works is dead." The Lord says to us, Make these necessary changes, then come and your sins shall be thoroughly cleansed.

It is He who gives us the power to make these changes. "He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy." He that forgives shall be forgiven.

The second chapter of Isaiah contains the prediction concerning the popular cry of a temporal millennium and the world's conversion. But none should fail to notice that it is not the Lord that has spoken this word concerning this expected time of universal peace, but the people that give utterance to this sentiment. This being but human speculation, the Lord says to us concerning it: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?" It is the world's destruction, and not its conversion, that is now near at hand.

The fifty-third chapter brings us to the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary. What vivid descriptions of the sufferings of our Lord!

In this chapter we have an instance that shows us how the Septuagint or Greek translation was used by New Testament writers generally, instead of their making each time a new translation from the original Hebrew. Verse 7 says: "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." When the eunuch, as recorded in Acts 8: 27-33, was reading the book of Isaiah, it was this very scripture that took his attention. It is quoted thus: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth." It will be noticed that the terms sheep and lamb are here transposed. The explanation is that the New Testament gives it just as it was found in the Septuagint. The Greek translators got the terms interchanged. There are quite a number of other texts that exhibit this same feature, showing how extensively the Greek version was used in the time the New Testament was written.

The last chapter of the book brings us to the new earth state, and informs us that there the holy Sabbath shall be observed. Indeed, this wonderful book gives us some very important information upon the Sabbath question. From chapter 56 we learn concerning the Sabbath reformation in the last days just before the Lord comes. From chapter 58 we also find the exalted nature of the work those are doing who observe the Sabbath and teach others to observe it. They shall be called repairers of the breach. As the French version says, "they shall raise up the foundations that have lain waste for many generations." The fact that this work is now being done is one of the many infallible proofs of the inspiration of this book. "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; no one of these shall fail." Who can possibly reject the opportunity of enjoying the feast of fat things provided in this book? "Let your soul delight itself in fatness." Forest, Idaho.