Isaiah 49:6

THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S GREAT GIFT

Isaiah 49:6. And He said, It is a light thing, &c.

The chapter refers to gospel days; and the meaning of the text in particular seems to be fixed by good old Simeon, who, when Jesus was presented to the Lord, hailed Him as God’s “light,” and His “salvation” (Luke 2:28). We regard this passage, therefore, as an epitome of the scheme of redemption; and recognise in it God’s gift to man, and His intention in that gift.

I. GOD’S GIFT TO MANKIND. “I will give thee,” &c. As this gift is bestowed for moral purposes, the subject is calculated to lead our thoughts to the Giver, as our Supreme Lord and moral Governor. It shows in Him an infinite condescension to interest Himself about us, for, Isaiah 40:15. Two things here invite our notice—

1. The person given (Matthew 12:15). His dignity (John 1:1; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31; John 14:10; 1 John 5:7). Hence it follows that this is a great, an incomparable gift. He is God’s “only-begotten Son,” &c. (Romans 8:32). Yet this, great as it is, is a free gift; not conceded to the powerful, but granted to the impotent, the needy, the perishing; not conferred on the deserving as a reward of merit, but bestowed on the rebellious; not yielded to importunity, but given to “the evil and unthankful,” unasked and undesired.

2. The office or undertaking to which He is appointed. This office of “servant” may be one of honour, but is always one of subordination (Philippians 2:6).

II. GOD’S INTENTION RESPECTING MANKIND.

1. “To raise up the tribes of Jacob,” which are fallen from their religious honours and pre-eminence, and from national independence into dispersion and disgrace and contempt (Deuteronomy 28:37); and to restore “the preserved of Israel”—wherever scattered, or howsoever persecuted, still preserved from extermination, and still preserved a distinct people; to restore them to the favour of God, and to His spiritual service; and perhaps to their country and independence (Luke 1:69; Romans 11:26; Isaiah 49:13; Jeremiah 23:5).

2. But seeing that the Jews are but a small part of the whole family of man, their restoration “is a light thing,” in comparison with the enlightenment of the Gentiles, and the salvation of the ends of the earth. The Gentile world was enveloped in the darkness of ignorance, error, and superstition, of misery, guilt, and condemnation (Isaiah 49:9; Luke 1:77; Luke 4:18). To them Jesus was, by His doctrine, a light—concerning the invisible world, teaching the unity and perfections of God, &c.; concerning the future world; teaching the immortality of the soul, which even their wise men doubted, and a resurrection of the body, which they reckoned impossible. Besides this He may be considered as affording light on most important subjects, by His holy life, His vicarious death, &c. He enlightens still by His Spirit, &c. (2 Corinthians 4:6; Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15). But further, He is God’s salvation, and therefore, in all respects, a salvation suited to man’s necessities. He finds us guilty, &c., and He saves us by bearing our punishment for us (1 Peter 2:24). He finds us enslaved, defiled, and unfit for heaven; and He saves us from thraldom and pollution by His Spirit working in us (Romans 8:2; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4). He finds all men, everywhere, poor and helpless, and He saves to the end of the earth, fully, freely, &c. (Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 22:17).

IMPROVEMENT.—

1. We ought very highly to value our souls: God does. If we lose them, we lose all.

2. We should accept the salvation which God has so kindly sent to us (Isaiah 55:1).

3. We should love Him who has manifested such love to us, and give proof of our love, by submitting to Him who submitted to shame, &c., in our stead (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).

4. We may confidently expect “all things necessary for life and godliness” (Romans 8:32, et seq.)

5. We should employ both our example and our influence to open the eyes of our fellow-men to behold God’s light, and their hearts to receive His salvation (Isaiah 60:1; Isaiah 62:1).—Zeta: Sketches of 400 Sermons, vol. ii. p. 84–88.

CHRIST OUR LIGHT

Isaiah 49:6. I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles.

Not here only, but elsewhere, in many places, our Lord Jesus is held forth under the notion of a light. Show—
I. WHAT KIND OF A LIGHT JESUS CHRIST IS. There are several kinds of light” There is glow-worm light, &c. But there is one light that is far beyond them all, and that is sun-light, between which and the former there is no comparison; and that light Jesus Christ is—sun-light (Malachi 4:2; Psalms 84:11; Luke 1:78). Now sunlight hath these properties; it is—

1. Glorious light (1 Corinthians 15:41; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 17:2). And is not Jesus Christ of all others the most glorious? (Song of Solomon 5:10; Colossians 1:8). Let this advance your esteem of Him more and more.

2. General light. It shines everywhere (Psalms 19:6). One sun serves all the world, &c. There is but one Christ, but that one is a universal Saviour to all the world (1 John 2:2; Luke 16:15; Romans 10:18; John 12:36).

3. Fountain-light. What light the moon and the planets have, they derive it all from the sun. So Jesus Christ is the spring-head and fountain from whence every good and perfect gift comes. Gifts of nature do all flow from Him (John 1:2). So also gifts of grace (John 1:16; Hebrews 12:2). And therefore, in all our wants we must have recourse to Him; and in all our receivings we must give Him the praise.

4. Free light. It costs us nothing. What is more free than the light, and what is more free than grace? (John 4:10; Romans 5:15; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17). Therefore ye are inexcusable, if you go without it.

5. Enlightening light. The sun hath not its light for itself, but for the world, and it communicates it accordingly. It rises every morning, and dispels the darkness of the night, and shines all day; and very sweet and useful it is. So Christ (Luke 2:32; Revelation 3:1). He opens blind eyes (Isaiah 42:6; Malachi 4:2; Revelation 3:18). Pray as the blind man that came to Christ for eyesight.

6. Increasing light. By degrees, as the sun gets up, mists, &c. vanish, and noonday comes. So it is with the souls that Christ enlightens (Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 30:26).

II. WHAT INFERENCES ARE TO BE DRAWN FROM THIS SUBJECT?

1. What a miserable condition is a sinful Christless condition! Those who are out of Christ are out of the light (2 Corinthians 4:6; John 3:19; Job 24:13; Job 21:14). But wherein lies the misery of a blind and dark condition?

(1.) It is very uncomfortable (Ecclesiastes 11:7; Proverbs 2:10).

(2.) It is very unsafe. Thou hast a journey to go, that will not be gone without light. There are many by-ways, &c. (John 12:35.) Thou hast work to do that will not be done without light, nay, not without sun-light (Luke 10:42).

(3.) It is miserable here (Ephesians 6:12; Isaiah 42:7; Acts 26:18). It will be miserable hereafter. Make the application to yourselves: Is not this my condition? (John 9:25; John 9:40).

2. What an unspeakable mercy then was the giving of Christ to save us from all this misery; to be a light to lighten the world! What a dungeon were the world without it! Therefore thank God for this unspeakable gift (Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:12).

3. Of what concernment it is to come to Christ to be enlightened by Him! Only by coming can we have the true light (Revelation 3:18). Delay no longer; away quickly to the throne of grace, and beg for this eye-salve;—to the means of grace, and seek it there.

4. What is to be done by those on whom this light is risen? As Christ is the light of the world, so ye also are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Then

(1.) let your light shine before men (Ephesians 5:8; Romans 12:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:5)

(2.) Let your light be increasing more and more—especially concerning the evil of sin, the weakness of self, the excellency of Christ, &c.—Philip Henry: Christ All in All, pp. 81–90.