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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 863. Isa 59:16, Isa 59:17. Christ Our Great and Wonderful Saviour
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Isa_59:16, Isa_59:17. Christ Our Great and Wonderful Saviour
"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and as an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak."—Isa_59:16, Isa_59:17.
In the commencement of this chapter there is a fearful description of the moral degradation and misery of the Jewish nation. The prophet denies the surmise that Jehovah could not save them. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that he cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:" Isa_59:1. But he shows how iniquities had separated between them and God. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity:" Isa_59:2-3, and Isa_59:4.
Having shown the character of their natural vices, he then also exhibits the infatuation and vanity arising therefrom (Isa_59:5-6). He then adds the list of their most heinous and aggravated sins (Isa_59:7-8). Then the consequence of this is given in a most fearfully graphic manner (Isa_59:9-13). In the midst of all this moral evil—judgment, and equity, and truth, had apparently failed (Isa_59:14-15). In considering this moral misery, he then introduces one to plead for them, and save them.
It is quite clear that the passage points to the blessed Messiah who came emphatically to save his people from their sins. But the text is equally applicable to Jesus, as the Saviour of mankind in general; and in this extended sense we shall apply it in this discourse.
Observe,
I. Man's miserable and hopeless condition.
"He saw there was no man," Isa_59:16.
(1.) Now here there is something implied, and that is, the moral ruin of the people, and their wretchedness, as the result of their woeful guilt and rebellion against God. This guilt was followed by the most extreme moral debasement, and consequent misery. Now this description applies to all mankind, for all have sinned against God. Not one human being is righteous, no, not one; all have gone astray from God, and his holy commandments; and thus all are guilty and defiled before him.
(2.) Something more also is stated—there was no deliverer—no man; perhaps, literally, no brother to redeem—no mediator to interpose, or advocate to plead for them. Now (his was literally the fact in reference to mankind. In all the millions of our race, there was no suitable one to interpose, to redeem, to deliver us. Now the want of such a Saviour arose partly from the universal depravity of all mankind; for the Redeemer, or Mediator, must not be involved in the guilt or condemnation, or he would not be able to deliver or ransom others. As every man was involved in the common condemnation and misery, there was none to intercede—not one in the whole family of man. Such, then, was the condition of our apostate, perishing world. Such was our ruin, helplessness, and desperate estate, by reason of our transgression against God. But how delightful the consideration, that when thus involved in moral darkness, and apparent hopelessness, God remembered us in our low estate—for his mercy endureth forever!
Observe, then,
II. The divine and gracious provision made on our behalf.
"Therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
Now notice here,
1. Salvation originated with God.
"His arm." Now here, both the skill to devise, and the power to effect our salvation, seem included. God saw the means by which man might yet be delivered; he therefore planned the great achievement—arranged the wondrous scheme. Then he also executed it; for as no created mind could devise, so, no created power could effect it. He therefore undertook the whole, and by his almighty energy he brought salvation. Now our salvation is often represented as a work of Almighty power; hence the poet has said:
"'Twas great to speak a world from naught,
But greater to redeem."
Now in bringing salvation, notice.
2. He did it in connection with our nature.
As "there was no man," he formed himself into a man, for this object and this work. He put on our humanity. He took on him the nature of the culprit to be redeemed. He tabernacled in the flesh—was "made of a woman." Hence he became emphatically "the man"—"the Son of man." And it was in this vestment of our nature, that he put forth his own arm to bring salvation. By the assumption of our nature, he became our brother, on whom devolved the light to redeem back his enslaved kinsmen; so that it behooved him to be made in all things like unto his brethren.
Observe, in effecting our salvation,
3. The various and illustrious characteristics he displayed.
(1.) He was sustained by righteousness. Now, his object was a righteous one. The display of God's unsullied and perfect righteousness. So he put on the holiness which appertained to him, as the only-begotten Son of God, to manifest his Father; and in his pure and sinless nature, and spotless spirit and example, and work, it shone forth.
Besides, it was his object to open a way for the restoration of man to righteousness. For there could not be a salvation which did not include this principal idea, of man being brought again to bear a moral likeness to God.
Now this holy purpose sustained him. It was the energetic element of his being, in all his work. And this perfect righteousness of his own nature, was to him as a breastplate. It protected his heart against the rude and wicked assaults of those who treated him as an impostor, a deceiver, and wicked person. Hence he inquired, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" So when they charged him with being in league with Satan, and the works of darkness—he had inward conscious purity, and a righteous holy spirit; and this he put on as his breastplate.
(2.) He had on his head the helmet of salvation. He came to save. He was, so to speak, the great hero of mercy—the Deliverer of the slave—the Friend of the perishing. He was announced as "mighty to save." How he displayed his saving power, in the days of his flesh! He saved persons of all nations, and conditions, and degrees of guilt. The extortionate Zaccheus—the taxcollecting Matthew—the impure woman, denominated "a sinner;" "the dying thief," &c.
He went forth to save; and he met with no case too difficult for his saving energy. However wretched, or humanly hopeless, or deeply possessed by the powers of darkness; his word delivered, his grace redeemed. At his merciful bidding, all manner of diseases, of miseries, and woes, forsook their wretched victims, and fled.
(3.) He wore the "garments of vengeance." By the assumption of these, he seems to be prepared for aggressive movements. Now, his vengeance was displayed against the hypocrisy and soul-destroying practices of the Scribes and Pharisees and Rulers. How he exposed and denounced these! Hear his withering and condemning appeals! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."—Mat_23:14, Mat_23:27, Mat_23:28.
He also exhibited this vengeance against all forms of sin and moral evil. He especially manifested it against the powers of darkness; hence his expulsion of demons, and their trembling, and their confessing and flying before him. He also exerted this vengeance over death and the grave: hence he uttered in majestic effect, the language of the ancient prophecy: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes."—Hos_13:14.
Now his vengeance was displayed against that which had cursed and degraded man; and with this combination of evil he had to do battle, that we might be rescued from a condition of galling bondage and peril.
But observe,
(4.) He "was clad with zeal as with a cloak." An intense, burning spirit of zeal dwelt in him, and encompassed him as he went on to his great work. He was never formal, never supine, nor apathetic; he never wearied, nor turned aside; he never faltered, or hesitated; his zeal covered him all over as a cloak. See him when twelve years of age, in the temple; and hear his reply to his anxious mother: "And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" See him travelling to Jordan, ninety miles, to be baptized! See him toiling and laboring all day, and praying all night. Hear his exclamation—"I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am straitened till it is accomplished!" Behold him in the garden, and hear his exclamation of sorrow and horror: "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."—Mat_26:38, Mat_26:39.
Behold him erect, in conscious dignity, before the Jewish Sanhedrim! Hear how he vindicates his mission and character before Pilate; and he never quailed during that dreary night of suffering and anguish. He makes the cause of the weeping daughters of Israel his own; he instructs and saves the dying malefactor by his side; he commends his heart-pierced mother to John, his beloved disciple; he agonizes amidst the darkness of his apparently deserted spirit; he rallies at the last moment, and shouts with a loud voice, as a dying Redeemer triumphing—"It is finished!"—then gave up the ghost.
Then learn from this subject,
1. The utter inadequacy of human means to save a sinful world. If earthly power had been sufficient, God could have raised up a great hero for the work; he could have given wisdom, as he did to Solomon; meekness and endurance, as to Moses; courage, as to Joshua and David; and physical might, as to Samson; but all would have been mere feebleness, in regard to a work so stupendous as our redemption. No man, nor even angel, could achieve it.
Observe,
2. The fitness and perfect ability of Jesus to save us.
Yes, it is in Christ we see the power needed, the ability required; so that God might well say of him—"In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favor our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people."—Psa_89:16-19.
Consider,
3. The confidence and gratitude he should inspire in our souls.
"Come, let us all unite to praise
The Saviour of mankind;
Our thankful hearts, in solemn lays,
Be with our voices joined.
Worship and honor, thanks and love,
Be to our Jesus given!
By men below, by hosts above,
By all in earth and heaven!"
Notice,—
4. The folly and wickedness of despising the salvation he has brought. Whore shall we look for deliverance if we despise Christ, and reject his gospel? Besides, bow heinous and base the state of heart that can treat his person and wondrous love with neglect, or disdain. How awful will be their condition in the great day of Christ's second advent, and when he shall sit upon his glorious throne of judgment.
"But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold his wrath prevailing;
For they shall rise and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing:
The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling they stand before the throne,
All unprepared to meet him."
Learn,
5. The welcome Jesus waits to give to the vilest transgressor, who penitently and believingly seeks his saving grace. Oh, how marvellous, that despite our guilt, and impenitence, and unbelief, he still stands willing, yea, solicitous to bless us, and to make us the rich partakers of his pardoning and adopting love. How truly it is said even of the vilest—
"Jesus ready stands to save them,
Full of pity, love, and power."