Isaiah 42:5-7

DISCOURSE: 928
CHRIST’S COMMISSION

Isaiah 42:5. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, end give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

“HEAR, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! for the Lord speaketh.” In the preceding verses he speaks to us, and calls our attention to “his elect servant,” whom he had appointed to the office of saving man, and qualified to execute it in a manner honourable to himself, and effectual for that end [Note: Compare Matthew 12:15. which shews that the whole of this passage relates to Christ.]. But, in the words of our text, we overhear the almighty Jehovah, the eternal Father, addressing his co-equal, co-eternal Son. Ineffable mystery! And what a stupendous privilege to be admitted thus into the council chamber of the Most High! Surely if Moses was commanded to put off his shoes because the place where he stood was sanctified by the Divine presence, it becomes us to express the profoundest reverence, while we listen to the God of heaven giving his commission to his only dear Son respecting the redemption of a ruined world.

In this address to Jesus we see,

I. The commission given him—

Though Christ in his own nature is God equal with the Father, yet as man, and as Mediator, he acts as the Father’s servant. In this capacity he received a commission,

1. To undertake the work of our salvation—

[The first covenant which was made with Adam, being broken, it pleased God to make a new covenant; not so much with man, as with his own Son in man’s behalf [Note: Galatians 3:17; Titus 1:2.Ephesians 1:4.].

The terms of this covenant were, that Christ should make his soul an offering for sin, and that he should have the souls of men for his reward [Note: Isaiah 53:10.].

Christ was not only a party in this covenant, but also the Mediator and Surety of it [Note: Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 7:22.]. He mediated between God and man; and became a surety, both for God to man, and for man to God. He engaged on man’s part, that he should be renewed after the Divine image, and be made obedient to the Divine will; and on God’s part he engaged, that his mercy should be extended to every believing penitent.

In this view Christ is said to be given “for a covenant;” because he alone fulfils the conditions of it, and because we, in laying hold on him, become partakers of all its benefits.]

2. To perform it effectually in our behalf—

[Man being blinded by Satan and enslaved by sin, it was necessary that he should be enlightened with divine truth, and liberated from the dominion of his lusts. Accordingly Christ undertook to bring him forth into light, and liberty. In execution of his office he illuminated the Jewish Church by the revelations made to Moses and the prophets; and since that period he has been “a light to the Gentiles” also, even to the very ends of the earth. Nor is it only by the outward manifestation of his truth that he instructs the world: he teaches men by his Spirit also: he “opens the eyes of the blind,” and causes them to “see out of obscurity and out of darkness.” By the same Spirit also he enables them to burst the chains with which they are bound, and to come forth from their dungeons in which they are immured. As in delivering Peter from his prison, where he lay sleeping on the night preceding his intended execution, he caused the light to shine in upon him, and his chains to fall off, and the prison doors to fly open of their own accord [Note: Acts 12:1.]; so now he delivers the souls of men, “turning them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God [Note: Acts 26:18.].”

All this is Christ’s covenanted work: he performs it to consequence of his own engagements: and he will perform it as long as there shall continue one on whose behalf the mighty working of his power shall be necessary.]
In the text we notice,

II.

His ability to execute it—

We cannot doubt of this, when we are informed,

1. By whom he was called to it—

[The Father gives in this place a glorious description of his own majesty, as the Creator of heaven and earth, yea of man also, with his animal life, his rational faculties, and his immortal soul. Nor is this description without a very important meaning, as introductory to the commission given to his Son; because it shews us by what high authority his Son acted, and how certainly his undertaking shall be effectual for the end designed.
“Christ glorified not himself to become an high priest, but was called of God, as was Aaron.” The Father “called him in righteousness.” In execution of his own righteous purpose, and in accomplishment of his righteous promises, he gave him this commission. He called him when first he entered into covenant with him; and again, when he provided him a body for the discharge of his office; and again, when by an audible voice from heaven he testified, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
From these repeated calls we are assured, that Christ was fully authorized to undertake our cause, and that in all that he did and suffered for us he was accepted of his heavenly Father.]

2. By whom he was assisted in it—

[The trials which Jesus met with from man, though exceeding great, might have been borne: but when he conflicted with all the powers of darkness, and sustained all the weight of his Fathers wrath, he must have sunk under the load, had not his almighty Father supported him. But never did he want effectual aid. He complained of dereliction indeed in his most trying hour: but this dereliction related only to the sensible presence of his Father, whereby he might have been comforted: that which was necessary for his support, was never withdrawn: the Father had said to him, “I will hold thine hand, and will keep thee;” and never for one moment was he forgetful of his promise.
But this promise was not confined to the period of Christ’s existence upon earth: it includes also a concurrence with him in his work, even to the end of the world. What then can be wanting, when the Father and the Son are ever combining their efforts for the salvation of men? None, however blind, need to despair of beholding the light; none, however rivetted in bonds, need despair of attaining liberty.]

We cannot close this subject without suggesting some obvious reflections—
1.

How deeply are we interested in the covenant of grace!

[It is generally imagined, that the mysterious engagements between the Father and the Son are merely speculative points, in which mankind are little interested. But what can be conceived more interesting than the offices of Christ, or his ability to fulfil them? Would persons destitute of vision, or imprisoned and under sentence of death, feel no interest in the inquiry, whether they could find relief, or whether one professing to offer it were able to fulfil his word? On the covenant of redemption rests all our hope. If Christ be not authorized to save us, his good-will towards us will be to little purpose: if he be not qualified, his endeavours will be all in vain.
Let us then acquaint ourselves with the proper grounds of our hope. Let us consider the parties contracting, and the engagements which they have respectively entered into; and let us lay hold on that “covenant as all our salvation and all our desire [Note: 2 Samuel 23:5.].”]

2. What encouragement have all to embrace that covenant!

[Are any persons ready to apprehend that they are excluded from it as unworthy? Behold the provisions of the covenant itself! See for whose benefit it is particularly designed! Are we not only in darkness, but blind also? Are we enslaved, and so fast bound in prison that we cannot come forth? We then are the very persons for whose sake the Son of God became incarnate, and for whose relief both his and his Father’s honour are mutually pledged.
Let none then listen to such unfounded apprehensions; but rather let every one remember, that Christ is given for a covenant to the whole Gentile world; and that the more desperate our condition be, the more will God be glorified in our acceptance of his proffered mercy.]