s Lam. iii. 32.
h The subject of the soul's complaint is the very subject of God's promise. The soul laments ' God will not hear me ; he has utterly forsaken me ; it is absurd for me to cherish a hope ; I might as soon expect to find rivers on a lofty mountain, as to possess grace and peace in my soul.'
1 Here is a particular reference to the promise made to Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 15. which he afterwards pleaded with God, Gen. xxxii. 12. and which is renewed to us, Heb. xiii. 5.
k Though the heart be as a dry and barren wilderness, it shall be refreshed, " I will open rivers in high places."
1 They shall be plenteous as " pools and rivers," and incessant as " springs and fountains."
111 Ps. xxxiv. 6. n Ps. xxx. 8 — 11.
the invitation of our blessed Lord0. Let them take encourage- ment from that gracious offer p.]
2. Those who are fainting for want of them —
[Many, eminently pious, have been in your state, but none ever waited upon God in vain. These promises cannot possibly fail of being accomplished. From them, as " from wells of salvation, you may draw water with joy." They shall certainly be fulfilled to you, both here**, and for ever1.]
0 John vii. 37, 38. p Rev. xxii. 17.
i Ps. xxxvi. 8. r Ps. xvi. 11.
Christ's commission.
Isai. xlii. 5 — 7. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out ; he that spread forth the earth, and that ivhich 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, and 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 enda. 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.
a Compare Matt. xii. 15 — 21. which shews that the whole of this passage relates to Christ.
928.] Christ's commission. 151
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 b.
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 c.
Christ was not only a party in this covenant, but also the Mediator and Surety of itd. 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.