Isaiah 55:4-6 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.… 1. He was typified in David. He has been constituted Prince. His name is made great. His throne shall be for ever. His kingdom shall be made sure. For a great while to come His house shall stand. His name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in Him. All nations shall call Him happy (Psalm 72.). The type was spoilt by David's infidelity and sin. But, even though this was so, on God's side there was no vacillation, no swerving from His purpose. His mercies were sure. Much more in the case of Jesus Christ, the eternal purpose cannot miscarry. 2. This title is applied to Christ after His resurrection. Four times only in the New Testament is Christ called Leader or Prince, and always in resurrection. (Acts 3:14, 15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:9, 10; Hebrews 12:2.) However translated, whether by "Author," "Prince," "Captain," or "Leader," it is the same Greek word, and is applied to Christ as risen. 3. The original meaning of the word is very interesting. Etymologically, it means the first of a file of men, and therefore their leader and commanding officer. This conception, therefore, is presented to our mind, that our Lord is the first of a long procession of souls whom He is leading up from the grave, with its darkness and corruption, through the steeps of air, past principalities and powers, to the very throne of God. He is the First-born from the dead, and therefore Ruler of the kings of the earth. He first, by the resurrection from the dead, has obtained the right to proclaim light to the Gentiles. If this thought of Christ being the first of a long procession is carried out, in respect to the passages mentioned above, it yields great results. (1) He leads the dead out of death into life. (2) He leads the vanquished into the victory of the heavenlies. (3) He leads sufferers through suffering to the perfection, which is only possible as the effect of grievous pain, sanctified through the grace of the Holy Ghost. (4) He leads also the ranks of believers. (Hebrews 11., 12:2.)(5) These conclusions suggested by the New Testament are substantiated and confirmed by the expression used here. "Thou shalt call a nation that Thou knowest not." To whom can this refer, save to the Gentiles, who were once far off? "Nations that knew not Thee, shall run unto Thee." Of whom can this be true, save of that vast ingathering suggested to our Lord by the Greeks who came to Him before He died, and concerning whom He said, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me"? (F. B. Meyer, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.WEB: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples. |
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