Isai. xlv. 22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God, and there is none else.
MANY consider the Scriptures merely as a history of past events, and imagine that the declarations con- tained in it are to be confined to those persons, for whose immediate use they were written. But such an idea reduces the sacred volume to a dead letter, calculated indeed to amuse the curious, but not to awaken the secure, or comfort the feeble-minded. But there are numberless passages which, though originally applied to individual persons, are quoted by the Apostles as applicable to mankind in every age. Doubtless then, the invitation before us, though primarily addressed to idolaters, is intended to be
sounded forth throughout all the world. Let us then consider,
I. The invitation —
The person, who is here speaking, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ; since the very words following the text are quoted by an inspired Apostle as issuing from his mouth a. Here,
1. He directs us what means to use in order to sal- vation—
[" Looking to Jesus" is a figurative expression of the same import with many others used in Scripture, such as coming to him, fleeing to him, &c. Its meaning is obvious, especially when connected with salvation as the end to be attained by it. One immediately perceives the state of the cripple's mind, of whom it is said, that he gave heed to Peter and John, ex- pecting to receive something of themb ; nor can we be at any loss to ascertain the meaning of looking to Christ for salvation : it must import an humble sense of our lost estate, an ardent desire after his proffered mercy, and a persuasion that he is able to impart the blessings we stand in need of. Without such views, such desires, and such a faith, we should no more look to him for salvation than a person in health would go to
a physician, or make use of his prescriptions0 If any
thing can clearly exemplify the nature of this duty, it is the state of the wounded Israelites when they looked to the brazen serpent d : they felt their wounds, they knew them to be in- curable by human art, they were convinced that they must quickly perish if they did not use the appointed means, and they turned their eyes towards it in hope of experiencing the promised recovery. And exactly thus must we look to Christ, if we would be made partakers of his salvation e.]
2. He promises that we shall not use those means
in vain —
[His words undoubtedly imply a promise, though they are not delivered in the form of one. They consider all as obnoxious to the wrath of God. They are not addressed to sinners of a peculiarly atrocious character, but to " all the ends of the earth." But while they thus insinuate that none can save themselves, they offer salvation to all without any distinc- tion of character, provided they follow the direction given them. Such shall surely be saved from wrath : their sins, however great and manifold, shall be forgiven them. The infection
a Rom. xiv. 10, 11. b Acts iii. 4, 5. c Mark ii. 17.
d Numb. xxi. 7—9. e John iii. 14, 15.