Or the lawful captive delivered?— Or the captive company of the rigorous or terrible one be delivered? [read עריצ orits for צדיק zadik, with St. Jerome.] Isaiah 49:25. Yea, thus saith the Lord, &c. God had promised very great and excellent things to his church; but to a person seriously considering the state of that church, and comparing it with the power and strength of its enemies, and particularly its chief enemy, Satan, who held the nations in ignorance and darkness, a doubt naturally arose, whether it could possibly be, that this prey, so long possessed by Satan, could be extorted from him, so that he might be driven from his strong fort, and the rulers of the world held in subjection by him might be delivered from their servitude. Isaiah resolves this doubt of the church, and teaches, that it should certainly come to pass that Satan, this mighty one, should be driven from his fort, his captives delivered, Isaiah 49:25 and the adversaries of the church perish by their mutual slaughter of each other; Isaiah 49:26 which is to be understood metaphorically, and refers to the intestine wars by which princes and people, armed to their mutual destruction, plunge their destroying swords in each other's bowels, and as it were feed upon each other's flesh and blood. See chap. Isaiah 9:19-20. Zechariah 11:9 and Revelation 16:6. Nothing can be more remarkably fulfilled than this prophesy was in the time of Dioclesian, to which it may in its primary sense refer; though certainly it has reference to the universal spread of the Gospel in the latter days.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The former chapter related chiefly to the salvation of the Jews; this looks much farther, even to the salvation of Gentiles as well as Jews, through the preaching of the Gospel.
1. The isles are summoned to attend the word of their God and Saviour, which should go forth into all lands; and distant realms are called to hear the glad tidings of salvation through a Redeemer.
2. His mission and authority are set forth. The Lord hath called me from the womb, from eternity, to be a prophet, priest, and king to his faithful people; from, or before, the bowels of my mother hath made mention of my name, his name Jesus being given him by the angel before his conception. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; so piercing and powerful his word, that the powers of darkness fell down before it, and deep conviction seized the sinners' hearts; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, during the days of infancy, when Herod sought to destroy him; and made me a polished shaft, or choice arrow, bright and sharp. In his quiver hath he hid me, till the fulness of time came that he should be manifested in the flesh; and said unto me, Thou art my servant, (for in this form he consented to appear,) O Israel, in whom I will be glorified, God's perfections being never so eminently displayed, as in the salvation wrought out by his incarnate Son.
3. He complains of the little effect that his preaching produced on the Jewish people: he laboured in vain, and spent his strength for nought. They paid no attention to his miracles, nor were convinced by his word; yet God knew the fidelity with which he discharged his trust, and his word was approved, and would be rewarded by him. Note; (1.) It is no uncommon complaint for ministers to make, that to the most of their congregations they labour in vain. (2.) We must not be discouraged if we see not all the success that we hoped for: when we are conscious of our own simplicity, we may quietly leave the matter in the hands of God. (3.) It is not always lost labour, where the effects are not immediately seen: the seed which Christ sowed in his life grew most plentifully after his death. (4.) Our success enters not so much into our reward, as our fidelity.
4. With two encouraging promises God answers his complaints. He had formed him to be his servant, and appointed him to seek and save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But though the people in general rejected his Gospel, yet, [1.] He should be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and God would be his strength, to carry him through all the difficulties of his arduous work. Thus we see him attended by angels at his birth, ministered to by then in his agony, transfigured on the mount, ascending from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on high. [2.] He should not merely be a Saviour to the faithful Israelites; but on the Gentiles his light should arise, and his salvation be spread to the ends of the earth; whence converts would be gathered into the church, unspeakably more numerous than those of his own nation, who should reject him: and this we see in part fulfilled, and fulfilling daily, till the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. Note; (1.) The soul is in utter darkness till Christ in his Gospel enlightens the eyes of our minds, and guides us into paths of peace. (2.) Christ is the only salvation for lost man; out of him there is no hope.
2nd, We have,
1. The humiliation and exaltation of the Lord Jesus. God the Father, the Redeemer of Israel, encourages his dear Son under his abasement: in the days of his flesh he would be despised of men, abhorred of his own nation, and crucified; a servant of rulers, insulted by the Jewish and Roman chiefs: yet great was the glory to which he should be advanced: the kings of the earth should do him homage, and princes bow down to him; as was the case when the Roman empire under Constantine embraced the profession of Christianity, and will be more abundantly fulfilled when all nations shall come and worship before him.
2. God promises him all support in the day of his trouble. He will answer his prayers, and help him in the trying hour, when on the cross he hung, accomplishing the great atonement for sinful man. Note; (1.) Whenever the penitent lifts up his soul in prayer to God, he will find it an acceptable time. (2.) God never forsakes the sincere seeker in his distress, but will succour and save him at his cry.
3. He is assured that he shall see of the travail of his soul in the salvation of his faithful people. I will give thee for a covenant of the people, as their great covenant-head and representative, in whom they would be accepted, and entitled to the blessings of grace and glory, which by his blood and infinite merit he obtained for them; to establish or raise up the earth, and cause to inherit the desolate heritages; by the preaching of his Gospel, replenishing his church from the Gentile world, which before was desolate, and the members of it comparatively few, that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves; the souls of sinners being under the bands of iniquity, shut up in the darkness of ignorance and error, and obnoxious to the justice of God, till Christ by his pardoning word cancels our guilt, by his renewing grace enlightens our minds, and brings us forth into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, to shew forth the change that he hath wrought, and therein to make his glory to appear. And those who are thus brought to him in faith—they shall feed in the ways, in the word and ordinances of God; and their pastures shall be in all high places, where there is plenty of nourishment, and safety from all attacks. They shall not hunger nor thirst, shall want no temporal or spiritual good; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them; God will preserve them from the power of temptation, and cover them from the severity of persecution. For he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, with all the tenderness of a shepherd: even by the springs of water shall he guide them, filling their souls with consolations, and, as they are under divine conduct, making them happy in divine comfort. Every obstacle in their way shall be removed; I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted, that the faithful may see the straight path before them, and walk safely and securely therein: and as, at Cyrus's proclamation, the Jews assembled from all parts of the land of Chaldea to return to Zion; so, in greater numbers, shall converts flock into the church of Christ. Behold! the glorious sight; these shall come from far: and lo! these from the north, and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim; from all quarters of the globe whither his Gospel should go forth, multitudes should join themselves to the Lord, which, in the apostles' days, was eminently verified, and shall be yet more abundantly seen in the latter days. Note; (1.) Christ is our covenant-head; and by faith all the blessings of this new covenant are derived from him. (2.) Miserable is the sinner's state, till Christ comes to set him free; yet how many sleep careless in their chains, and never consider that the darkness of sin must shortly issue in the outer darkness of hell! (3.) True believers are the Saviour's peculiar care, and he will see that they shall want no manner of thing that is good. (4.) The way to glory hath difficulties, but none so great but that Almighty grace can make us more than conquerors. (5.) Were we left to ourselves a moment, how quickly should we like silly sheep go astray? Blessed be God, we are not left to our own keeping, but are under the care of a watchful shepherd!
3rdly, The deliverance of Israel from Babylon was just matter of abundant joy: but how much greater is due for the redemption of Jesus, the desire of all nations?
1. The whole creation is represented as bursting forth into songs of joy on this glorious event. The afflicted are comforted, the miserable find mercy, and heaven and earth unite to celebrate the Saviour's praise. Note; We can never be thankful enough for redeeming love, nor will eternity suffice to speak the praises of our Lord.
2. The state of despondence into which Zion had fallen served to heighten the joy of their deliverance. Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me: in their long captivity they were ready to faint, and despair of relief; and many a time the church of God has been reduced so low, driven by persecution into the desert, that it seemed forsaken of God. And thus it is with too many in seasons of temptation, when under darkness they are ready to despair, and give up all for lost. But hear,
3. God's answer to Zion's complaint: nothing can be conceived more expressive of his love, tenderness, and care, toward his believing people. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Strange as it may appear, such an unnatural monster might perhaps be found; but, with tenderness infinitely surpassing, God never forgets, never ceases to love and protect those simple souls that hang upon him. On his hands they are engraved, and as a signet precious to him. Perhaps some allusion may be had to the prints of the nails in the hands of Jesus, the love-marks which he bears for the sake of his faithful people. Thy children shall make haste, or thy builders; either Gospel-ministers, who should assiduously labour to build up the church, or converts that should flock into it; while thy destroyers, and they that made thee waste, shall go forth of thee; the Babylonians, or rather all the persecutors and corruptors of God's church, such as antichrist and his followers, who shall be destroyed at the coming of Jesus, and cast into outer darkness. Note; (1.) The love of Christ toward his believing people is so surpassing great, that wherever it is truly believed and known, it cannot but powerfully constrain the heart. (2.) When Christ calls, we must make no delay. (3.) The damnation of the wicked is as sure as the salvation of the faithful.
4thly, Great and precious promises of the increase and glory of the church are here revealed. A glimpse of this appeared when the Jews returned from their captivity; a brighter, display of it was made when the Gospel was first preached; but the full blaze seems yet reserved for the times to come, when all nations shall be called to the obedience of the faith.
1. A vast increase shall be made to the church. Lift up thine eyes; behold the numerous converts assembling from every quarter, ornaments to their profession by the holiness of their lives, as the jewels which adorn a bride. Thy waste and thy desolate places, the countries before destitute of true religion shall be filled with faithful souls, and all their enemies confounded shall perish. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, cut off by the persecuting powers of the earth, shall spring up as a plenteous harvest, from the blood of the slain martyrs; or, the children of thy widowhood, when the church seemed bereft of all her sons and daughters by the prevalence of the man of sin, shall say again, or, shall yet say in thine ears, The place it too strait for me; such a sudden and strange increase of converts shall be made. With pleasing surprise the glad mother shall behold the children that God hath given her, and, wondering, inquire who hath begotten them, and whence they come, so unexpected a comfort to her widowed state; and the answer is, They come from Gentile lands, called by the word of Gospel-grace, and listed under the banners of a crucified Jesus; and so eager are they to have a place in the spiritual Zion, that the weak and feeble are borne upon the shoulders of the strong; or, they will bring their children with them, and enroll them in the visible church: and perhaps it may also refer to the assistance which the Gentiles shall give the Jews, when the Gospel shall be preached to them with power. Note; (1.) However low the church may be reduced, her latter end shall have great increase. (2.) They who have a concern for their own souls, cannot but be solicitous that others, especially their own children, may be brought to the knowledge of Christ and his Gospel.
2. The church shall not only be increased in number, but be highly honoured. Kings shall be nursing-fathers, and queens nursing-mothers to it; such as Cyrus, Ahasuerus, and Esther, were to the Jews; or rather such as Constantine and Helena, and other Christian monarchs, have been; and which will be still farther seen, when all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. They shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, with profoundest submission, and lick up the dust of thy feet; ready to serve the church in the lower offices, and to shew affection and regard to the meanest of Christ's members. And thou shalt know that I am the Lord, by such wondrous exertion of his power to make all nations obedient to the faith; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me; the performance of all his promises shall be seen in their season, and the hopes of his waiting people shall never be disappointed; therefore, my soul, trust thou still in the Lord!
5thly, Deliverance is promised, but great difficulties are in the way.
1. We have an objection, raised either by their proud oppressors, as despising the prophetic word; or by the unbelieving Jews, as distrusting it, Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? such as were the Babylonian monarchs; or the lawful captive be delivered? of which so little probability appeared. And this is applicable to our souls taken captive by the devil, and by our willing servitude surrendered into his hands, who is strong to keep his prisoners; and it is a miracle of mercy if any sinner be rescued from his bands.
2. God, by express promise, assures his people that it shall be done. Mighty as their oppressors are, and terrible, they are not too great for God to cope with. He will espouse their quarrel, overcome their foes, and save their children, plucking them from the power of their enemies. Nay, he will do more; he will utterly consume their enemies, will visit them with the sorest judgments, and make the world acknowledge his power to abase his foes, and his love toward his faithful children. And this is spiritually fulfilled daily in the souls of sinners, by divine grace delivered from the bonds of sin and Satan (that strong man armed), and saved from all their enemies; and will also literally be fulfilled in the destruction of antichrist, and the persecuting powers of Popery, Paganism, and Mahometanism, when Christ shall make his glory to appear, and all the world be forced to own both his power to save and to destroy to the uttermost.