Side by side with this view of 'salvation' aa victory in battle, goes the wider conception of it aa deliverance from trouble. J" not only delivers Ilia people from their enemies (2 S 3'*), but from all their calamities and distresses (1 S 10", cf. Ps 107"). He saves the poor man who cries to Him out of all liis troubles (Ps 34«, cf. 37"). His salva- tion brings with it not merely deliverance, but security and prosperity. This close connexion with prosperitj' is clearly brought out in such a passage as Ps 118-* 'Save now, we beseech thee, O J". O J" . . . send now prosperity' (cf. Ps 106*- ' ' O visit me with thy salvation : that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen '). In more than one instance the Hebrew words usually translated 'salvation' are rightly rendered in EV 'welfare' (e.g. Job 30" n^'i?;) or 'safety' (i.e. security, cf. Job 5*- ", Pr 11" VVl). Especially common is thia connotation in connexion with the eschatological use of the word. Cf. Is 61'" ' I will greatly rejoice in J", my soul shall be joyful in my God ; for he hath clothed me with garments of salvation, he liath covered me with the robe of righteousness.' The salvation in which the redeemed Israel is here represented as rejoicin" is the good time of safety and prosperity to be usliered in with the Messianic age. But this is already to anticipate the next meaning.
Thus far we have considered salvation aa deliverance from present evil. The conception is both temporal and material. But with the rise of Messianic prophecy * we note a new develoj>- ment. The conception of salvation is still more
• The word ' Messianic ' is here used in its broadest sense, to Include the doctrine of a future Divine deliverance in all 114 forms, whether or not it involves the belief in a Messianic king of David's line.
SALVATION, SAVKJUE
SALVATION, SAVIOUR
359
or less external. It involves victory in battle, the defeat of enemies, and worldly jjrospeiity. But this victory is not looked for in the present. There is a preceding judgment to take place, in which unfaithful Israel shall receive from J" the just recompense of her sins. Only after this impending judgment, and then only for the faith- ful remnant, will J" show Himself as Saviour. We have thus the be'dnnings of the use of the word in an eschatologicar sense, as one of the features of the Messianic age. The prominence of the con- ception varies greatly in the diflerent prophets. In some it is almost overshadowed by the message of doom. In others it is a hope which burns bright and clear. Often judgment and salvation go hand in hand, as in such a pa.ssage as Is So* ' Your God will come with vengeance ... he will come and save you.' The Messianic salvation is the theme of many of the Psalms (e.g. 53' ' Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion ! Wlien God bringeth back the captivity of his people, then let Jacob rejoice and let Israel be glad.' Cf. 14' 69^- " 106" 133'«). Especially common is the use of the word in the eschato- logical sense in the later portions of Isaiah (e.g. 25' 45"- " 46" 49"- " 51" 56^ 61'" 62"). From the prophets it passes over into the Apocalyptic books (e.g. Ps-Sol 10* and often), and reapiiears in the NT with deepened ethical and spiritual meaning.
Looking more closely at the content of this future salvation, we find that it boa many features in common with the salvation already experienced in the podt. It i» still a time of victory over enemies, of worldly prosperity and joy. But there is a new element which enters into the conception throueh the experiences of the Exile. Whatever else the future salvation may hrin^r with it, it involves restoration from captivity. Thus Jeremiah, looking forward to the day when God 'will raise up unto David a righteous branch,' who 'shall reign as King and deal wisely and shall execute Judgment and justice in the land,* goes on to say that ' in bis days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely. . . . They shall no more say. As J" livetb, which brought up the children of Israel out of Eg>'pt ; but as J" liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the bouse of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither 1 have driven them ; and they shall dwell in their own land ' (Jer 23" ; cf. 30'* '» ' Behold, 1 will turn again the captivity of Jacob's tents,' 31", and esp. 4f>27 ' Fear not thou, O Jacob my serx'ant, neither be dismayed, O Israel. For, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity ; and Jacob shall return, and shall be (guiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid '). So Kzekicl looks for a day when God shall save His distressed flock, and gather them unncr one shepherd, even His serxant Dji\'id (3422. 'it). And Zechariah confidently expects the time wlien God shall save His people * from the East country and from the West country,' and shall 'bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem' (87- f, cf. Is 6620). The return from captivity is the theme of the Psalmist's prayer (\Oti*T, cf. 63") ; and In the little hymn wlii<;li forms the appendix of Is 11 the rtturnwi exiles are rcjiresenlcd as praising God for His deliver- ance, and drawing wat«r with Joy out of the wells of salvation