79. The Redeemer Described.

Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. - Isaiah 50:2-6.

THERE was no one to take up the divine challenge: no one to answer for guilty man. To the call of God for one who could save, there was no answer but the echo of his voice. See who it is that comes to rescue man! Jehovah interposes to save; but he appears in a special manner.

The Lord himself draws the portrait. View it with solemn attention.

I. BEHOLD THE MESSIAH AS GOD!

1. He comes in fullness of power. "Is my hand shortened at all?"

2. His power to save is equal to that with which he destroys. Let Egypt be the instance: "I dry up the sea," etc.

3. His power is that which produces the phenomena of nature."I clothe the heavens with blackness."

4. This should excite deep gratitude, that he who rebukes the sea was himself rebuked; he who clothes the heavens with blackness was himself in darkness for our sake.

5. This should excite confidence; for he is evidently Lord of the sea and the sky, the dark and the gloom.

II. BEHOLD HIM AS THE APPOINTED TEACHER!

1. Instructed and endowed: "the Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned." He knows, and he imparts knowledge.

2. Condescending to the needy: "to him that is weary."

3. Watchful of each case: "that I should know how to speak a word in season." This is a rare gift: many speak, and perhaps speak in season, but have not learned the right manner.

4. Constantly in communion with God: "he wakeneth morning by morning.""He that hath sent me is with me."

Should we not be heartily attentive t6 his teachings? "I will hear what God the Lord will speak."

III. BEHOLD HIM AS THE SERVANT OF THE LORD!

1. Prepared by grace:"he wakeneth mine ear to hear." He spoke not his own words, but those which he had heard of his Father.

2. Consecrated in due form: "hath opened mine ear," boring it to the door-post. This was publicly done in his baptism, when in outward symbol he fulfilled all righteousness.

3. Obedient in all things: "I was not rebellious." In no point did Jesus refuse the Father's will, not even in Gethsemane.

4. Persevering through all trials: "neither turned away back." He did not relinquish the hard task, but set his face as a flint to carry it through.

5. Courageous in it all: as we see in the verse following our text. What a model for our service! Consider him, and copy him.

IV. BEHOLD HIM AS THE PEERLESS SUFFERER!

1. His entire submission; his back, his cheeks, his hair, his face.

2. His willing submission:"I gave my back to the smilers." "I hid not my face."

3. His lowly submission, bearing the felon's scourge, and the utmost of scorn: "shame and spitting."

4. His patient submission. Not a word of reproach, or resentment. Grace had taught him effectually, and he suffered perfectly.

It may bring out important truths very vividly if we make combinations of the four subjects which have come before us.

· Place the first and the last together: the God and the Sufferer. What condescension! What ability to save!

· Place the two middle terms together: the Teacher and the Servant, and see how sweetly he serves by teaching, and teaches by serving.

· Put all together, and let the blended characters ensure ardent affection, obedient reverence, and devout delight.