Isaiah 40:10-12 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him… These words exhibit to our view some of the most lively characteristics of that illustrious Saviour by whose incarnation our fallen race are become again entitled to that long-lost inheritance which had been forfeited by sin, and by whose redeeming process in their souls they are rendered capable of enjoying it. The illuminated prophet proceeds to point out the personal character of this great Deliverer. 1. "Behold! the LORD GOD shall come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him." The mistaken Israelites vainly ascribed to these words a temporal interpretation, and looked for a deliverer whose conquering arm should effectually rescue them from the earthly powers to which they were tributary. But the true children of faithful Abraham wait for the spiritual accomplishment of this prophecy in their hearts; and see and feel "the strong hand" of their Redeemer in that inward opposition which He raises in their breasts to all the evil desires and corrupt passions of human nature. 2. "Behold! His reward is with Him, and His work before Him." This work is no other than the complete deliverance of man from the captivity of sin and Satan. This reward is no other than the glorious acquisition of those lost or wandering souls, who were originally His by creation, and are now doubly so by redemption. The prophet seems to dwell upon the power and majesty of this Deliverer. He represents Him as coming with a strong hand: and. indeed, such is usually His first appearance in the sinner's heart. David speaks of this first appearance in the most alarming terms: "The arrows of the Almighty stick fast in me, and His hand presseth me sore." The first feelings of an awakened and convicted conscience are agonising indeed; for they are the breaking forth of heaven's majestic light upon the benighted soul, which shakes nature to her very centre, and discloses every hidden recess to which conscious guilt flies from its approach. But when viewed with composure, and received with cheerfulness, it soon becomes as mild and sweet as the radiance of the risen day after a dark and tempestuous night. Hence it is that in the next verse we find the dignity and majesty of this august Personage sweetly tempered with condescension and love, and melting into heavenly meekness, gentleness, and compassion. 3. "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd," etc. (1) "The flock" here mentioned can be no other than our whole fallen race, who by virtue of that "incorruptible seed" that was inspoken into the first Adam, are put into a capacity of regaining eternal life through the redeeming power of Christ, their second Adam. (2) But though the Shepherd's love is thus universal, and all men are the objects of His pastoral care; though they are all His children by redemption, yet all do not alike follow the "Shepherd s voice"; all are not equally willing to be fed with His "bread of life."(3) Let the humble-minded Christian "lift up his head and look up." He need not, as the Psalmist expresses it, "run here and there for food; and grudge, because he is not satisfied": the wants he feels, reason, he well knows, cannot supply; the comforts he aspires after, are such as the world cannot give. Wherever his Shepherd leads, he is content to follow: he is sensible of His presence, in darkness as well as in light. The evils by which he is oppressed he is satisfied to bear. because his Deliverer is ever at his side. (J. Duche, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. |
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