Isaiah 49:2

THE SHARP SWORD

Isaiah 49:2. And He hath made My mouth like a sharp sword.

The prophet having, in the foregoing Chapter s, comforted the Church by promises of deliverance from captivity, goes on, in this and the following Chapter s, to comfort it with promises of its restoration by Christ, of which all outward deliverances were but as types. The text brings before us the furnishing of Christ for the work to which He is separated, together with God’s protecting of Him in it. Christ’s fitness for the work is set out metaphorically by a double resemblance. In considering the first part of it, let us inquire—

I. What resemblance is there between Christ’s mouth and a sword? By Christ’s mouth we are to understand here the words or doctrine of His mouth. It is frequent in Scripture for the mouth to be put for the doctrine or words of the mouth (Genesis 45:21; Leviticus 24:12; Numbers 3:16). In the vision of Christ which the evangelist saw in Patmos, it is said, that “out of His mouth went a sharp sword” (so Revelation 19:15); the word of God in the mouths of ministers is compared to a “two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12); much more is it so in the mouth of Christ.

1. A sword is a killing weapon. And the mouth of Christ has a killing power; by it is sin killed in the hearts of His people; by it is the head of pride cut off, and the heart-blood of unbelief let out; by it are all the noisome lusts which fight against the soul put to death (Hosea 6:5; Isaiah 11:4). There is a twofold killing of men about which the sword of Christ’s mouth is employed; the one is a killing of sin in them,—this killing is a making of the soul alive; the other is a killing of them for sin,—to the wicked, it becomes a soul-destroying sword.

2. A sword is a conquering weapon. By the power of the sword did Alexander conquer the world. Christ did not use the material weapon; but “from conquering to conquer” He used, and uses, the sword of His mouth (Psalms 110:2; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Revelation 6:2). The sinner yields himself up when this sword reaches his conscience; it subdues him, and reveals to him Christ’s right to exercise dominion, to dethrone usurpers, and to introduce men to the delights of His kingdom.

3. A sword is a weapon of defence. It is offensive to the enemy, defensive to him who has skill to manage it (Proverbs 6:22).

(1.) In case of sin. By it is the soul preserved from falling into sin (Psalms 17:4).

(2.) In case of temptation (Ephesians 6:17). As Christ did, so Christians may preserve themselves by the word of Christ’s mouth (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 4:7; Matthew 4:10).

II. In what respects does this sword differ from others?

1. It reaches not only to the outward, but to the inward man. No sword can prick the heart but the sword of Christ’s mouth (Hebrews 4:12; Acts 2:37).

2. There is no defence against it. There is hardly any harness but is sword-proof. What is said of the behemoth and the leviathan may be said of the unconverted hearts of men (Job 40:18; Job 41:24); and yet also, “He that made them can make His sword approach to them” (Job 40:19).

3. It is a healing as well as a wounding sword. What the prophet says of God, “He hath smitten, and He will heal,” may be said of the sword of Christ’s mouth. When the 3000 were pricked in their hearts, nothing but the sword of Christ’s mouth could cure them again.

4. It can do execution on many at once. It can as easily pierce a thousand as one man (John 8:30; Acts 2:37).

5. It is never the worse for the using. It contracts no rust, it never loses its edge (Isaiah 40:6).

6. It is all edge (Revelation 2:12). His precepts have a sharpness to direct, inform, command the conscience; His promises are acute to revive, comfort, raise up; His threatenings are sharp to affright, terrify, cast down, and wound the guilty.

7. It has no dross in it. The purest metal is not without some coarse mixture; but this sword is all pure metal (Proverbs 8:8). A pure heart sees nothing but purity in the word of Christ (Proverbs 30:5).

8. It is of God’s own framing. God has made the sword of the word for Christ’s mouth, and filled His mouth to manage it for our good.—Ralph Robinson: Sermons, pp. 429–436.

THE POLISHED SHAFT

Isaiah 49:2. And He hath made me a polished shaft.

The mouth of Jesus Christ is like a polished shaft. A shaft or arrow is a military weapon used to wound the enemy; formerly it was held in high esteem. As great victories have been obtained by the bow and shaft as by the sword. The old Latin and the Greek read a “choice shaft,” and the word sometimes signifies chief or choice (Song of Solomon 5:10). Others read a “bright shaft,” which our translators have well rendered a “polished shaft.” We find in Scripture the word of Christ’s mouth compared to the shaft, as well as to the sword (Psalms 45:5); and Jesus Christ, as He manages the Gospel, is said to have a bow in His hand (Revelation 6:2). Let us inquire—

I. Why is the word of Christ’s mouth compared to a shaft?

1. The shaft does execution at a farther distance than the sword. When the enemy is fled from the reach of the sword, the shaft can follow him. There is no heart at such a distance from Christ but His word can easily reach it; though men be far off in place, or in state and condition, yet they are not out of the command of the polished shaft (Ephesians 2:13).

2. The arrow comes with greater force than the sword. The word of Christ’s mouth pierceth, like the shaft, into the very bowels of the soul (Hebrews 4:12).

3. The shaft is not so discernible as the sword. It goes so silently and swiftly to its mark, that it is often lodged in the heart before it is perceived. So with the word of Christ’s mouth; the heart is pierced often before it is aware (John 8:30).

4. The arrow can enter where the sword cannot. The shaft can screw itself in at the least hole (1 Kings 22:34). The word of Christ’s mouth is compared to light (Psalms 119:105).

II. Why is it called a polished shaft?

1. To show its fitness for the work for which it is designed. A shaft that is untrimmed is unfit for service. When God calls His archers against Babylon, He commands them “to gather the shields and make bright the arrows.” The mouth of Christ is always fit for holy service.

2. To show the constancy with which it is used. Things that are often used are bright and shining. Christ does not keep His arrows in their quiver, but makes daily use of them as the people stand in need.

3. To show the glory of it. The best refined gold is but dark compared with the word of glory (1 Timothy 1:11).

III. In what respects does this shaft differ from others?

1. In the swiftness of its flight (Psalms 147:15). We read of the immediate effects of the word of Christ (Matthew 8:3; Mark 10:52). No sooner does Christ say to the soul, “Be enlightened, be quickened, be comforted,” than the work is done.

2. In the certainty of its execution. This arrow never misses its mark. E.g., the eunuch under the ministry of Philip; Christ and Zacchæus; the Philippian jailer; Saul, when Christ forced him to cry, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”

CONCLUSION.—

1. How dangerous it must be to oppose Jesus Christ! (Acts 9:5).

2. Christ is able by His own power to defend His people against the strength and rage of all their enemies. He hath both sword and shaft which He can use for the defence of His Church.—Ralph Robinson: Sermons, pp. 436–442.