Isai. lix. 20, 21. The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my icords which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.
THE manner in which the most glorious prophe- cies are introduced, is such as most effectually to display the sovereignty and goodness of God in the
bestowment of the promised blessings. It will be generally found, that the sinfulness or misery of Israel is first set forth, with a considerable measure of en- largement, and then, for the most part, in an abrupt way ; and, when nothing but a denunciation of wrath might reasonably be expected, a blessed promise is given, that a Redeemer shall be sent, to deliver Israel from all their guilt and from all their misery. It is thus that the prophecy before us is introduced. In the whole preceding part of the chapter, the prophet expatiates upon the extreme wickedness of Israel, which the people themselves are constrained to ac- knowledged Then he expresses the astonishment of Jehovah himself, that, amongst all the people, there should be found none to intercede with him in their behalf b; together with his determination to arm him- self in their behalf, and, by the exertion of his own Almighty arm, to gain for them the victory over all their enemies0. Then comes an explicit promise of a " Redeemer," who should not only establish his kingdom among them, but perpetuate his dominion over them to the remotest agesd." And here it is observable, that the temporal deliverance,, which is generally used to shadow forth the blessings of the Gospel salvation, is lost sight of, and nothing is brought forward but what is completely and exclu- sively of spiritual import. The words before us de- clare, in very striking terms, I. The establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom —
The Messiah is promised under the character of a " Redeemer" —
[To Cyrus and the Babylonish captivity there can be no proper reference ; because the redemption from Babylon was vouchsafed indiscriminately to all: whereas the redemption here spoken of, is limited to those only who turn from their transgressions in Jacob. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is here spoken of: and the prophecy declares,]
1. His advent in the flesh, to redeem the world — [Yes; from heaven he comes, even from the bosom of the Father, to redeem mankind, both by price and by power :
a Ver. 2—15. b ver. 16. c ver. 17—10. d ver. 20, 21.
998. J THE PERPETUITY OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. 5ol
by price, even his own most precious blood, from the guilt of all their sins ; and by the power of his Almighty grace to de- liver them from its dominion Yet it is " to those only
who turn from their transgressions" that he comes with effect: it is to save men from their sins, not in them, that he is sent : and it is in reference to that very circumstance that the name Jesus, or Joshua, or Jah Osea, divine Saviour, is given hime. But wherever he sees one who is willing to be delivered from transgression, he will work effectually in his behalf: he will suffer no enemy to lead him captive : he will come to him as the angel did to Peter in prison ; and will cause his chains to fall off, and the prison doors to open before him ; and will thus bring him forth to light and liberty. He did this, in number- less instances, at the first establishment of his kingdom upon earth ; and he has been doing it to the present hour : nor have all the powers of darkness been able to withstand him.]