I. LIBERTY FOR THE CAPTIVES. "I will deal with all them that afflict thee," etc. Those members of the Israelitish community who were soon to be carried off into exile and enslaved in a foreign land were to be eventually (in the day when God rose up to the prey) rescued from their oppressors and set free from the reproach of slavery which pressed upon them like a heavy burden. So were the members of the human race captives of sin and Satan, and bondmen in a far off land of alienation from Cod, when Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that were bound (Isaiah 41:1; Luke 4:18). So are men by nature sin's captives still (John 8:34), and the burden of the gospel message still runs, "If the Son shall make you free, then are ye free indeed" (John 8:36).

II. COMFORT FOR THE SORROWFUL. "I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly." Those about to be exiled in Babylon, especially such among them as should preserve their piety, would regard it as the saddest element in their lot that through banishment they were no longer permitted to take part in the festal assemblies of the nation, in particular in the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyful of all their celebrations (Hosea 12:10). To them, therefore, it would come "like cold water to a thirsty soul," or "like good news from a far country," that they should afterwards, "at that time," be restored to their religious privileges, and the fellowship with Jehovah which these signified. So men "in sin," being far off from him whose favour and fellowship alone is life, when they first awake to this thought, are filled with sorrow, and mouth after God, after that reconciliation and communion with him in which alone true happiness can be found (Psalm 31:16; Psalm 51:8-12; Psalm 85:4, 6; Psalm 143:7, 8). To all such the gospel promises comfort and consolation (Matthew 5:4).

III. GATHERING FOR THE DISPERSED. Many of Israel's sons and daughters should be scattered into far off lands when Jenovah rose to pour his indignation on the nations (ver. 8). But into whatsoever region they should have wandered, Jehovah would recollect them in the day when he turned again Israel's captivity. So bare men by sin been driven away into many different "far countries" - into conditions of existence where their material environments, dispositions of soul, and habits of life have become widely divergent. But up out of all situations and from all characters God by his grace can bring men who have departed from him and separated from each other, and can form them again into a united community, a holy brotherhood, a spiritual household, a redeemed family. To do this is the aim of the gospel (Ephesians 2:17-22).

IV. GLORY FOR THE SHAMED. Whereas the approaching exile would lead to Israel becoming overwhelmed with dishonour, when the Lord turned again her captivity that dishonour would be wiped out, and she should once more acquire a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth. This certainly was true of the Jewish people, who, for all their humiliation, rose to a position of commanding influence because of her relation to Jehovah and the Christian Church, to which no nation on earth has ever attained; while Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome, her great world-rivals, and frequently her oppressors, have passed away into comparative oblivion. So, if sin turns man's glory into shame, the gospel of Jesus Christ promises to reconvert man's shame into glory; and this it does by giving to the Christian Church a position and power possessed by no other human institution, and by conferring on the individual believer the glory

(1) of a good name;

(2) of an influential life;

(3) of a peaceful end; and

(4) of a blessed future.

LESSONS.

1. "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound" (Psalm 89:15).

2. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). - T.W.

1. When does it lie under reproach?(1) When the presence of God is departed from the public ordinances.(2) When a reformation has been intended, and cannot be accomplished, but is stayed and hindered.(3) When the ways of Zion mourn and are unfrequented.(4) When the members are scattered and driven from one another, that they cannot meet together.(5) When its state and condition is such as that no man seeks it, or cares for it.

2. Why doth God suffer it to lie under reproach at any time? That He may roll away the reproach. There is a sinful reproach and a penal reproach of the solemn assembly. Sometimes the members are accessary to the reproach. Sometimes they are exceeding barren and unfruitful under the enjoyment of the solemn assembly. Sometimes the members do bear themselves out in their sins upon their enjoyment of the solemn assembly. There is a bearing of ourselves in opposition to false worshippers.

II. HOW SHOULD THE MEMBERS BE AFFECTED UNDER REPROACH? There are two sorts of members, false and true. They will not be so affected as to be incapable of the teachings of God. Nor so as to be unthankful for what they have. Nor will they be so affected as if it were barely their own concernment. They look upon this as their great affliction. The saints and people of God will search into their own ways, and turn from the evil of those ways which have had a hand in bringing in this reproach, what is there in this reproach that the saints and people of God should be so much affected by it?

1. There is a darkness upon the greatest organ of light.

2. The name of the Lord is dishonoured.The whole generation of the righteous are afflicted. The world is scandalised. The devil gets up again. There is a certain presage of a famine of hearing the Word. And God is departed. When the members are sensible of the reproach and carry it as a burthen, the Lord will turn former sorrow into future comforts. He will cause their after comforts to run parallel with their former trouble.

(W. Bridge, M. A.).