The Wondrous Monarchy
J. Culross, D.D. Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see… I. THE UNIQUE SPECTACLE WHICH CHRIST PRESENTS. All that is great in this spectacle gathers round what this Servant is to be and do. We observe five distinguishing features — 1. Wondrous wisdom. "My Servant shall deal prudently." Jesus was filled with the spirit of Wisdom and understanding; with a keen and piercing glance He saw men through and through. But it was not only in confounding His enemies that His superhuman wisdom was shown; it was also in the means He used for establishing that kingdom which He came to found. Means on which the world would have relied He forbade and abjured. Means never tried before were the only ones He would use. He would have no sword employed either to defend Himself, or. to, extend His sway, but equipped His warriors only with "power from on high" ! 2. Wondrous sorrow (ver. 14). He was "a man of sorrows " 3. Wondrous elevation. "He shall arise, and be lifted up, and be glorified exceedingly." These words exactly indicate the resurrection, the ascension and the exaltation to mediatorial glory. 4. Wondrous redeeming efficacy. "So shall He sprinkle many nations." As His sorrow was intense, so shall His redeeming power be large, as if the one were a recompense for the other. There were (among others) two kinds of sprinkling enjoined by the Mosaic law, to either or to both of which a reference may be intended here. The sprinkling of blood, being towards and on the mercy-seat, was God-wards; the sprinkling of water, as on the Levite or leper, was on the person, manwards. So the work of Christ has this double aspect. The blood-shedding was God's own atoning act in Him, for us; the cleansing grace is God's purifying act, through Him, in us. 5. Wondrous uniting power. "So shall He sprinkle many nations." He would absolve and sanctify, not the Jew only, but also the Greek, "and thus abolish the wall of partition between Israel and the heathen, and gather into one holy Church with Israel, those who had hitherto been pronounced unclean. How vividly is the fulfilment of this portrayed in Acts 10. II. WHAT IS THERE HERE THAT SHOULD LEAD KINGS, IN PARTICULAR, TO DO THIS? Is it that though kings and princes know all that earth has to give of luxury and splendour, they see here a pomp that outshines all beside? That may be so, but we think the mason lies deeper still. It is evidently on account of something before unknown that they are to "shut their mouths," for the text goes on to say, "That which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Around what do the thoughts and associations of kings gather? Do they not gather round the sceptre, crown and empire? Do they not naturally weigh in the balance one monarchy against another? Surely. Well, here is such a monarchy as earth had never known before, and one that will ever stand absolutely alone. 1. In this monarchy alone right and might are entirely equal. 2. This monarchy is based on the King s own self-sacrifice. 3. How did He set up this kingdom? A few poor fishermen undertook to instruct and convert the world. The success was prodigious. 4. This monarchy was based on the King's own priesthood. 5. The power of love is the only power that gathers men round the Cross 6. This monarchy was inaugurated by the issue of a royal pardon offered to the worst of sinners, "beginning at Jerusalem." 7. This is a monarchy that, uniting men under its sceptre, creating a new power of love towards itself, creates also a new power of love for man towards man, as well as of man for Jesus; and, strange as it may seem, in gathering men of every tribe and tongue under its sceptre, it makes them forget their diversity, and brings them to feel their oneness in one common God and Father; and by the pulse-beat of a common life in all the nations, solves the long-vexed problem of the unity of the human race! Nor is this all. 8. Everywhere the one force which holds together the subjects of this Monarch is love! — not fear, not constraint, but love. Is there nothing in such a monarchy as this to give a clue to the meaning of the expression, "Kings shall shut their mouths at Him"? The expression evidently denotes the effect which the report or the sight of such a monarchy should produce upon them. Some take it as meaning that they should shut their mouths in silent fear. Others, that they should withdraw the edicts against Christianity. We rather, with Mr. Urwick, take it as indicating "the awe-inspiring power" of Christ. There may be yet a deeper meaning in the expression, "shall shut their mouths" — a meaning which applies only to Christian kings, and not to them simply as kings, but rather as Christians in common with others. The words may indicate the silence induced by deep emotion. (J. Culross, D.D.). Parallel Verses KJV: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. WEB: so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.