Isaiah 41:25-29

W hat a blessed view is here again given of Christ, and the glorious events of his coming! It seems as if our God and Father delighted to be forever calling upon the Church to notice him. The north is perhaps an allusion to our Lord's being called out of Nazareth; for this lay north of Canaan. Some have thought that Cyrus, as a type of Christ, was alluded to; and it is true, indeed, that in a subsequent part of Isaiah's prophecy, things are spoken of Cyrus by name, and many of them are, no doubt, typical of Christ. But we lose the beauty and glory of Scripture in all instances, wherein we make use of persons or things, which are typical, any farther than the mere type becomes necessary. When they are useful as mediums to convey to the mind the great objects to which they minister, I would very thankfully use them, as I would a carriage to convey me to a friend I longed to see, when, without this means I could not well, in my own strength, perform the journey. But when I arrived at the spot where my friend was, and I saw him, and embraced him, I would spring at once from the carriage, and leave it forever to fly into his arms. Reader! if you and I behold Christ in this and other scriptures, let us do by types as we would by carriages, and make Christ what the Father hath made him, so to love him, as to give all things into his hands: John 3:35. I do not detain you to remark how much of Christ and his gospel are contained in this short but sweet passage, for the gospel is full of nothing else, but to show his person and righteousness, and the vanity of all beside. It is Jesus who first speaks to Zion, and bringeth good tidings to Jerusalem; and God the Spirit confirms the message in the hearts of his redeemed, that God is true; Isaiah 65:1; John 1:36.