1870] PROPHECY IN CRITICAL SCHOOLS 175 



but absorbed and swayed by the one Spirit of all prophecy. 

 He speaks and thinks, not his own thoughts, but the 

 thoughts of Jahveh, the living God, whose eternal purpose 

 flows in ever-varying form, but ever in substantial unity, 

 through all the history of his people. The man who, 

 amid the tumult of the ungodly within, the impotent 

 raging of the heathen without, can hear the voice of 

 Jahveh pealing through history, he is of necessity a 

 prophet : 



The lion hath roared, who will not fear ? 



The Lord Jahveh hath spoken, who can but prophesy ? l 



We return to the work of Isaiah. Very early in life 

 he began to proclaim the judgment of Jahveh against his 

 countrymen, in tones not unlike those of the prophets of 

 Ephraim. But while in the northern kingdom no judg 

 ment could suffice that was not as regarded the present 

 order of things final, in Judah there were still elements 

 of hope. A remnant shall yet return ; Jahveh will still 

 give help to them that call upon Him ; these are the 

 corner-stones of hope on which Isaiah s life-work was 

 built. 2 But the hope is only in Jahveh, only in return to 

 him. Not by chariots and by horsemen &quot; By returning 

 and resting shall ye be saved, in being still and trusting is 

 your strength.&quot; 3 



It was not long ere these principles were put to the test. 

 The united armies of Syria and Ephraim seemed ready to 

 crush the enfeebled kingdom. Ahaz and all his court 

 were filled with panic, and saw no hope except in the 

 oppressive protection of Assyria. Isaiah alone remained 

 calm, and confidently foretold the speedy desolation of 

 the hostile lands. But let Ahaz beware of seeking this 

 deliverance at the hands of man. &quot; If ye will not believe, 

 ye shall not endure.&quot; 4 And when the king did refuse 

 belief, and persisted in his Assyrian policy, the prophet 

 boldly maintained that such a course would indeed end 



1 Amos iii. 8. 2 -Ewald.Propheten, L 274. 



3 Isa. xxx. 15. 4 ifofa vn - g 



