452
Prophets and Kings
In His life no self-assertion was to be mingled. The homage which
the world gives to position, to wealth, and to talent, was to be foreign to
the Son of God. None of the means that men employ to win allegiance
or to command homage, was the Messiah to use. His utter renunciation
[693]
of self was foreshadowed in the words:
“He shall not cry,
Nor lift up,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed shall He not break,
And the smoking flax shall He not quench.”
Verses 2, 3
.
In marked contrast to the teachers of His day was the Saviour
to conduct Himself among men. In His life no noisy disputation, no
ostentatious worship, no act to gain applause, was ever to be witnessed.
The Messiah was to be hid in God, and God was to be revealed in the
character of His Son. Without a knowledge of God, humanity would
be eternally lost. Without divine help, men and women would sink
lower and lower. Life and power must be imparted by Him who made
the world. Man’s necessities could be met in no other way.
It was further prophesied of the Messiah: “He shall not fail nor be
discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall
wait for His law.” The Son of God was to “magnify the law, and make
it honorable.”
Verses 4, 21
. He was not to lessen its importance and
binding claims; He was rather to exalt it. At the same time He was to
free the divine precepts from those burdensome exactions placed upon
them by man, whereby many were brought to discouragement in their
efforts to serve God acceptably.
Of the mission of the Saviour the word of Jehovah was: “I the Lord
have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will
keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of
[694]
the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from
the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am
the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another,
neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are
come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I
tell you of them.”
Verses 6-9
.
[695]