Isai. Iii. 13. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently , he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
IN the writings of Moses, the enjoyment of the land of Canaan was held forth as the great incentive to obedience ; and spiritual blessings were but obscurely intimated. But in the prophetic writings, the greatest of temporal blessings were promised rather as pledges of infinitely richer benefits, which they typically re- presented : and frequently the very language in which they were promised, clearly shewed, that their mys- tical sense was, in fact, the most literal. Sometimes, as in the prophecy before us, the inspired writer en- tirely loses sight of all temporal considerations, and is
wholly wrapt up in the contemplation of that spiri- tual kingdom, which the Messiah was in due season to erect. From the redemption of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, he goes on to speak of a more glorious redemption to be effected for all the nations of the world from the dominion of sin and Satan, of death and hell. The means of its accom- plishment are described at large from this verse to the end of the following chapter. The Messiah, by whom it was to be effected, is set forth in all that variety of character which he was to assume, and in those diver- sified states of humiliation and glory which he was to pass through, in order to fulfil the work assigned him. That a passage so decisive for the establishment of Christianity should be wrested by the Jews, and be applied to any one rather than to Christ, is nothing more than what might be expected. But so harsh and incongruous are their interpretations, that they need only to be stated, and the absurdity of them immediately appears. Besides, the numerous appli- cations of this prophecy to Christ, which occur in the New Testament, leave us no room to doubt respecting its true import. The portion, which now demands our attention, declares to us,
I. The success with which he executed the work as- signed him —
The office which Christ sustained was that of a " servant." He was to do his Father's will, to seek his Father's glory, and to advance the interests of his Father's kingdom. On this account the Scriptures frequently speak of him as a servant : " Behold my servant whom I uphold ; " " by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;" "I will bring forth my servant the Branch8." Our Lord himself also often speaks of himself under this character : " I have not spoken of myself, says he, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak1'." In above thirty other passages in St. John's gospel he represents
a Isai. xlii. 1. and liii. 11. and Zecli. iii. 8. b John xii. 49.