1. His essential dignity —
[There is frequent occasion to observe that, wherever the word Lord is printed in large characters, it is in the original Jehovah. Now Jehovah denotes the self-existence of the Deity, and is a name incommunicable to any creature : yet is it here assigned to Christ. By comparing similar declarations in the Old Testament with the expositions given of them in the New, we know assuredly that this name belongs to Christ ; and that therefore he is and must be " God over all, blessed for ever a."]
2. His official dignity —
[The title of Jehovah belongs equally to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit ; but the additional title of " Our Righteousness," is peculiar to Christ alone. It imports that Christ has by his own obedience unto death wrought out a righteousness for guilty man ; and that " this righteousness shall be unto all and upon all them that believe in him." It is in this sense that St. Paul speaks of him as " made unto us righteousness1". "
The connexion between the different parts of this compre- hensive name deserves particular notice : for, if He were not Jehovah, he could not be our Righteousness ; seeing that as a creature, he could merit nothing; because he would owe to God all that he could do ; and, " after he had done all, he would be only an unprofitable servant:" but as he is God, all which he does is voluntary ; and his divinity stamps an infinite value upon his work ; so that it may well merit, not for him- self only, but for a ruined world —
Such is the dignity of our blessed Lord : He is Jehovah, one with the Father, in glory equal, in majesty co-eternal : nor is there one ransomed soul in heaven, who does not ascribe his salvation to the blood and righteousness of this our incar- nate God.]
While the prophet thus expatiates on the glory of Christ, he intimates also,
II. The duty of man —
Our duty as sinners, and as redeemed sinners, has especial respect to Christ : and it is summarily comprehended in the ascribing to Christ the honour due unto his name. But this must be done,
1 . In faith —
a Isai. vi. 5. with John xii. 41. or Isai. xlv. 22, 23. with Rom. xiv. 10, 11. or Joel ii. 32. with Rom. x. 13, 14. or Mai. iii. 1. with Luke i. 76. b 1 Cor. i. 30.