Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength
Our righteousness and strength
It is important to us, in reading the Old Testament, and more particularly its prophetical portions, to take with us as our guide the well-known statement of the angel to the evangelist John: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
” The preceding verse contains one of the most remarkable predictions concerning the kingdom of Christ in the Old Testament, and in this prediction the kingdom of Christ is described as becoming universal and permanent. After such a prediction as that, we might have expected to find the prophet speaking of numbers being brought to acknowledge and to bow the knee to Christ. Instead of that, however, he speaks of one--a single, isolated, unknown individual; and he introduces to us this solitary individual as if the state of his mind, the subjugation of his heart to Christ, were an indication of the complete fulfilment of the most glorious prophecies of the universality of Christ’s kingdom. In looking for the progress of the Redeemer’s kingdom, we are too much disposed to undervalue individual conversions. We may trace the progress of Christ’s kingdom in the subjugation of a single heart to the Saviour.
I. THE STATE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL’S MIND IN RELATION TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. The term “righteousness” is one of those words in the Bible which it is of the first importance that you should thoroughly understand. It includes all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done and suffered for us. Mark three stages in the history of this man’s mind.
1. The first thing a man does when he is awakened to a sense of his need of some righteousness, is to try to find it in himself. But when once brought to see his own righteousness aright, he sees innumerable defects.
2. Look at the second step in this man’s history. We might have expected that the man would have received this righteousness with promptitude; but he sets himself as deliberately against the righteousness of God as against the law of God. Long will he struggle against the friendly hand that would lead him to the Cross of Christ; but when brought there, he will exclaim, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.”
3. Mark the third stage of the human mind in reference to the righteousness of Christ. This man appropriates it.
II. HIS STATE OF FEELING IN REFERENCE TO THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST. This latter word, “strength,” conveys an idea totally distinct from, and additional to, that suggested by the first. By the “righteousness” of Christ we always understand what the Lord Jesus has done for us; by the “strength” of Christ we always understand what the Lord has done in us; and it is the combination of these two that works out, in all its completeness, the salvation of an individual sinner. When he is first awakened to a sense of his own condition, he naturally tries to put forth his own strength, but he soon discovers that this is the wrong order. It is just in this way that the conviction is forced upon his mind that he has no strength in himself, but that there is strength for him in Christ. If you have sought Christ’s strength and are conscious that you possess it, you must arise with vigour in the strength of the new man; and then, and not till then, will you go forth free. Mark the connection between the strength of Christ and the righteousness of Christ. The righteousness of Christ is laid hold of first, the strength of Christ is appropriated next. “Unto Him shall men come.” That is the practical conclusion of the whole matter.
(1) You ought to come.
(2) You may come. (S. Luke.)
Five Divine declarations
God s power over mankind is exerted in a way of grace, although it is also true that His power is put forth in a way of judgment towards those who reject His mercy. I read, with delight, the expressions of my text as the decrees, and determinations, and promises, and declarations of the God of grace, who affirms that men shall say, “In the Lord have we righteousness and strength,” &c. There are five Divine declarations in the text.
I. THERE SHALL BE A PEOPLE WHO SHALL OWN THE TRUTH CONCERNING GOD. Our version says, “Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength”; but there are other readings which appear to be more accurate. “Men shall say, In the Lord is righteousness and strength,” would be quite as correct a rendering, or even more so. It means that there shall be a people who shall confess that in God there is righteousness and strength.
1. They shall see these to be His attributes.
2. They will see that all their righteousness and strength must be found in God.
3. They shall be prepared openly to avow it. “Surely shall one say,” &c.
II. Men will not only own the truth concerning God, but THEY WILL ACT UPON IT. “Even to Him shall men come.”
III. THOSE WHO DO COME SHALL BE ASHAMED OF THEIR FORMER OPPOSITION. “All that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.”
1. There are some who are angry with God’s providence.
2. Some are incensed against God because of His law and its penalty,
3. Others are incensed against God because of the great plan of salvation.
4. Some are even incensed against the Saviour Himself.
IV. The fourth Divine declaration is, that THE LORD’S PEOPLE SHALL ALL BE JUSTIFIED. “In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified.”
V. THOSE WHO COME TO CHRIST, AND ARE JUSTIFIED IN HIM, SHALL GLORY. What does the text mean when it says that they shall glory? Sometimes, when I have been preaching in Wales, or among Methodists, when I have set before them good, rich, Gospel truth, perhaps two or three have shouted, at the same time, “Glory!” And though it has not increased the solemnity of the service, it has added a good deal of vivacity to it. And, really, when we see what Divine grace has done for us, we often feel inclined to cry out, “Glory! Glory be to God!”
1. Have not many of you felt the glory in your soul, even if you have not uttered it with your mouth?
2. But the Lord’s true people will not keep that glory all to themselves. They shall so glory that they shall speak about it to others.
3. Those who truly know Christ will glory in Him alone. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Even to Him shall men come.
Men coming to Christ
The doctrinal truth, deduced from these words, is the certainty of men, as sinners, coming to Christ, and being saved in Him. It is but necessary to direct attention to the meaning and import of the terms, in the text, as seen in their connection with the context.
I. The word “HIM” viewed in its connection, points out several important particulars concerning Christ, His person, office, and work.
1. His person. The word “Him” refers to Jehovah, as its antecedent. Redemption is the work of Jehovah. Christ is Jehovah--our great God and Saviour. But Christ is man, too. This constitutes the glory of Christ’s person. He is a God-man.
2. His office The Mediator between God and man.
3. His work. The law is obeyed, magnified’ and made honourable, its penalty borne, infinite justice satisfied, and everlasting righteousness brought in.
II. They COME to Him. To come to Christ is to believe upon Him.
III. They SHALL come. The language expresses certainty. This certainty depends upon--
1. The purpose of God.
2. The work of Christ
3. The agency of the Holy Spirit.
IV. MEN shall come. No sinner who comes to Christ will be lost. Men do come to Christ and are saved.
