Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

We have in this Chapter and the following, the Prophet comforting his people with comfortable words indeed. Both the Chapters are full of gospel, and of gospel promises, from beginning to end.

Reader! it is your mercy and mine, as well as the Church at large, that the Lord commanded his servant, not simply to preach these glorious things here delivered, but to commit them to writing. And every word is indeed most precious. And do not fail to observe, how the Lord speaks of them: my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord. Oh! precious Jesus! what a sweet thought is it, that thy people in thee are indeed a people, the Lord hath chosen for himself, and who shall show forth his praise, Isaiah 63:19.

I do not presume to decide, but I would humbly propose a subject of enquiry, and in answer to this question, whether a man doth travail with child, I would say, is not the miraculous conception and incarnation of the Lord Jesus referred to? None but Jesus travailed in birth for souls: and his sold agonies were great indeed. To none but Him, could that promise refer, Isaiah 53:11. And that Christ the Messiah, for the David here mentioned is spoken of, is abundantly evident, for David king of Israel had been long gathered to his fathers, and had seen corruption, when the Prophet Jeremiah exercised his ministry in the Church.

The Reader will not fail to remark, without being reminded of it, (for the language of this sweet passage will of itself suggest the thought) what a striking similarity there is in what is here said, to what the Prophet Isaiah delivered before on the same blessed subject, Isaiah 43:1, etc.

I stay not to detain the Reader with any observations upon this blessed passage, though in itself it would invite some of the most delightful. But the gracious things here spoken of, both in a way of judgment and mercy, are so plain and so very obvious that they can need no comment. The Lord points out the awful state of his people by the fall, and their total inability to any recovery in themselves: and thus, from impressing on their minds their undeservings, he heightens the riches of his grace in their redemption!

I cannot forbear desiring the Reader to pause over this short, but most comprehensive passage, so full as it is of Christ, and pointing to him as it doth with a direction so truly blessed. God founds all that is said here in Covenant love, and traces all the blessings bestowed upon his people up to this one source: ye shall be my people, and I will be your God! And, considered in this point, how truly blessed is it to behold Jesus as our governor, in our midst, arising out of his own people, concerning whom he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Him, the Lord God our Father, will cause to draw near to himself. But who but Jesus could engage his heart to this service? Reader: can your mind imagine anything mere blessed, than thus to behold Christ, so plainly foretold, as engaging his heart to approach God for his people, as their Surety and Mediator; and Jehovah putting his blessed hand to the work, in causing him to draw near? Oh! precious, precious truth, of a thrice and tenfold precious God in Christ, reconciling the World to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.

Here is an awful close to the Chapter after such unspeakable mercies as were just before delivered. But then let it be remembered, it is awful only to the enemies of our God and of his Christ. The terrors threatened are said to fall upon the head of the wicked.

REFLECTIONS

READER! amidst very many beauties in this Chapter, let you and I fix our meditation, and pray that God the Holy Ghost will make it profitable to us both, in beholding Him, concerning whom God the Father here speaks of being the Governor from among his people. And while we regard the gracious promise, and behold the Lord Jesus at the call of his Father, coming forth as the Great Head and Surety of his people; let us behold him in every possible point of view, and see how suited he is in that high character, and how suited to us for all the purposes of salvation.

Doth our God and Father demand who this is that engaged his heart to approach unto the Lord for his people? And may we not humbly, yet joyfully answer, it is the Lord our Righteousness. One, and the only one, able to make up the dreadful breach which sin had made, between God and us, and restore perfect order among all the works of God. One who is, and was, and ever will be, mighty to save: one with the Father, over all God blessed forever: and one with us bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. One who is called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace!

Oh precious Lord Jesus! help us to be engaged to thee, as thou hast engaged thyself to God and thy Father for us! Say dearest Lord! how should any of Adam's fallen, ruined, helpless race have ever stood before God, hadst not thou stood up at the call of God for us, and answered in our law room and place, both by doing and by dying. Oh! for grace from henceforth to give up all engagements, to sacrifice all human covenants, all hopes of creature strength, and creature attainments, to be found wholly engaged to Christ, and to follow him in the regeneration. Do thou Lord, who hast undertaken and accomplished salvation for us, accomplish salvation in us, and be in us the hope of glory. Let every faculty, every wish, every thought; be brought into subjection unto thee; that henceforth, we may no longer live to ourselves, but to him that died for us, and rose again. Make us thine, and be thou ours, that being bought with a price, we may glorify thee, both in our bodies and in our spirit, which are thine forever. Amen.