Isaiah 49:8-10

DISCOURSE: 951
THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST’S SALVATION

Isaiah 49:8. Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

TO the Messiah God had promised, that, after his inconceivable degradation, he should be exalted, insomuch that the Kings and princes of the earth should bow down and worship at his footstool [Note: ver. 7.]. In the passage before us, the same idea is amplified and enlarged. Jehovah had said to him, “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession [Note: Psalms 2:8.].” And in the Epistle to the Hebrews we are informed, that “in the days of his flesh he offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears; and was heard [Note: Hebrews 5:7.].” Whilst he prayed for himself, he interceded also for all his people, to the very end of time [Note: John 17:9; John 17:20; John 17:24.]. For them also was he heard; as we are told in the words which I have just read: “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will give thee for a covenant of the people, that thou mayest cause them to inherit the desolate heritages.”

In these words, together with those which follow them, we may see,

I. The promised diffusion of the Gospel—

To enter properly into the meaning of the passage, we must bear in mind the redemption from Babylon, to which there is a manifest reference. Not that the redemption from Babylon is here predicted: that has been very fully and largely spoken of by the prophet in the foregoing parts of his prophecy. He soars far above that subject in this place; and speaks of the redemption of the whole world by the Lord Jesus Christ, though in terms applicable to the other event. The whole of Judea was desolated by the Chaldean invaders: and, on the proclamation of Cyrus, the people were permitted to resume their former inheritances, and to repair the desolations throughout the land. In like manner, the whole world, which has been desolated by sin and Satan, is here spoken of as to be repaired by the Lord Jesus Christ, at the period foretold in prophecy, even at “the accepted time.”

1. This was begun in the apostolic age—

[The Lord Jesus Christ, after all his sufferings and death, was raised from the dead; and, after all the efforts made by men and devils to suppress his rising cause, “was preserved;” yea, and was “made a covenant-head to all the people of the world;” that, by believing in Him, they might regain all that they had lost in the first Adam, and all of which sin and Satan had despoiled them. Holiness was the possession, and heaven the heritage of man, whilst he retained his innocence: but he lost them; and must be restored to them by the Lord Jesus Christ: and, through the preaching of the Apostles, multitudes, not of Jews only, but of heathens also, were restored, Those who were bound, as it were, in chains, and immured in dungeons, were liberated by the Lord Jesus Christ; and they came forth, even as Lazarus had done, at his bidding, and became visible and living monuments of his power and grace. “Being made free by him, they became free indeed [Note: John 8:36.].” Hence St. Paul, expressly referring to the prophecy in my text, declared that the period spoken of was then arrived: “Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” But,]

2. It is still existing at this present moment—

[To this hour, in despite of all the powers of darkness, yea, and of the weakness and wickedness of man, are the interests of Christ and his Church still “preserved.” Thousands do yet look to him as their Covenant-head, and receive through him all the blessings of salvation. Blessed be God! we yet see, I trust, in the midst of you, those who “have been begotten again to an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away [Note: 1 Peter 1:3.];” and who, by the word and Spirit of God, are “turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God [Note: Acts 26:18.].” “To those, therefore, who are yet in prison I feel myself authorized to say, Come forth; and to those who are in darkness, Shew yourselves.” I declare that this is the accepted time, as truly as that was in the apostolic age; and that “no one, who will come to Christ, shall ever be rejected [Note: John 6:37.].” “To you, Beloved, is the word of this salvation sent:” and without hesitation I declare unto you, that “all who will believe in Christ shall be justified from all things [Note: Acts 13:39.].”]

3. It will be completely and fully arrived in the Millennium—

[However low the cause of Christ may sink (and it has sunk very low at different periods since its first promulgation), it shall be “preserved,” yea, and shall be “established” too, over the face of the whole earth. There is not in the universe a people, however ignorant or enslaved in sin, who shall not be “brought forth into the marvellous light of his Gospel.” Jews and Gentiles shall alike partake of his blessings. For all, beholding Christ as their Covenant-head and Surety, shall obtain an interest in the covenant which he has ratified, oven in the covenant which is “ordered in all things and sure.” A blessed day will that be! Methinks the whole creation is groaning and travelling in pain for its arrival. The deliverance from Babylon was but a very faint emblem of that day: for from Babylon a small remnant only returned to possess their former inheritance; but, at the period of which we are speaking, a redeemed world “shall come with singing unto Zion,” and “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”]
In connexion with the spread of the Gospel, the prophet proceeds to state,

II.

The felicity of those who shall embrace it—

Here, the reference to the redemption from Egypt, which had long; since taken place, and that from Babylon, which was yet future, must be more distinctly noticed. Both the one and the other of those far exceeded all that could have been expected, and all that could have been supposed within the verge of possibility. The obstructions to that from Egypt, especially, appeared utterly insurmountable. For, how should such a multitude be fed? How should they be screened from the heat, which, at seasons, must be too oppressive to be borne? How should they also be conducted through a wilderness which was utterly unexplored? And how should they find refreshment in a land where there were neither rivers nor springs? These difficulties had been overcome through the good providence of God; and whatever may be supposed to correspond with them in the spiritual life shall also be vanquished by all who commit themselves to Christ as “their Leader,” whom they will follow, and “their Commander,” whom they will obey [Note: Isaiah 55:4.].

He here assures to his people,

1. Provision—

[He that gave his people bread from heaven for the space of forty years will be at no loss to “feed” his flocks, however numerous, in this dreary wilderness; or to give them ample “pasturage,” even on the summit of the most barren “mountains.” “A feast of fat things has he provided for us [Note: Isaiah 25:6.]; yea, and has “spread a table for us in the presence of our enemies [Note: Psalms 23:5.].” “The meek therefore may rest assured that they shall eat and be satisfied [Note: Psalms 22:26.]:” “their souls shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness [Note: Psalms 63:5.];” and in the strength of the divine communications they shall be enabled to go forward, finding no labour too arduous, no difficulty too great, for them to surmount [Note: 1 Kings 19:7.]

2. Protection—

[One of the greatest obstacles to the progress of unprovided travellers is the intense heat of the sun, which frequently destroys those who are exposed to its fiery rays. But to his people, when assaulted by persecution or temptation, Christ himself will be a shelter, even “as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land [Note: Isaiah 32:2.].” Neither heat nor sun shall smite them.” True it is, that, in the apostolic age, myriads were persecuted even unto death; and even at the present time there are but few followers of Christ who have not a cross to bear: but still is this prophecy fulfilled; because, if afflictions abound, our consolations much more abound; and, instead of feeling the rays of the sun intolerable, we are enabled to “glory in tribulation,” and to “rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer either shame or death for Christ’s sake [Note: Romans 5:3.Acts 5:41; Acts 20:24.].”]

3. Guidance—

[The cloud, which covered the camp of Israel from the action of the solar rays, was a pillar of fire to light them by night, and went before them in all their journeys. So our blessed Lord will lead his people now, and make their way plain before their face. His word shall mark their path; his Spirit shall shine upon it; his providence shall open it from time to time; and thus “he will guide them by his counsel, till at last he receive them to glory [Note: Psalms 73:24.].”]

4. Refreshment—

[To God’s people in the wilderness the fatigues of travelling were great, notwithstanding all the advantages they enjoyed; insomuch, that “they were greatly discouraged by reason of the way.” And we too, through the weakness of human nature, shall often be ready to faint in our heavenly journey. But God will “lead us by springs of water,” where we can at all times quench our thirst, and refresh our weary souls. Our blessed Lord promises that we shall have his Spirit within us, as “a well of water springing up unto everlasting life [Note: John 4:14; John 7:37.].”

But in this last communication, methinks I see, us it were, a heaven upon earth; for the description given us of heaven itself is conveyed in the very words of my text: “They are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and He that sitteth on the throne dwells among them. And they hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat: for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes [Note: Revelation 7:15.].”]

Such was the blessed state of the Church in the apostolic age — — — And such it is at this very hour — — — And such, only in a far more exalted degree, shall it be in the day when Christ shall take to him his great power, and reign unto the ends of the earth.

Address—

[And now, let me ask, Who amongst you does not need this salvation? Who amongst you, if not already liberated by divine grace, is not at this hour in bondage to sin and Satan, death and hell? — — — But I am happy to declare, that “now is an accepted time, and a day of salvation,” to all who will “lay hold on the covenant” of grace, and embrace Christ as he is offered in the Gospel. And why should it not be an accepted time to you, my Brethren, as well as unto God? Is there any other time better than the present? — — — And are not the advantages which are here proposed to you sufficient for your encouragement? Is it a light matter to be emancipated from your thraldom, and to be brought forth into light and liberty? Is it a small matter to have every thins provided for your journey, and eternal glory at the end? What would you have more in this dreary wilderness than God has here promised you? What, if I should proceed to open to you the richness of the provision, the strength of the protection, the certainty of the guidance, the sweetness of the refreshment; especially if we view in it, as we may, the glory and felicity of heaven? But I trust that more is not necessary. “This is the heritage of all the servants of the Lord.” Let it be yours. Beg of God that you may be begotten to it; and become “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Never forget that Christ has purchased it for you; and offers it to you, as freely as ever he did redemption from Egypt, or from Babylon, to his ancient people. I pray God that not one amongst you may fall short of this inheritance; but that all of you may possess it, by faith in this world, and by actual fruition in the world to come.]