1579. VI. The Lord God of Israel Reigneth
VI. The Lord God of Israel Reigneth
"That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isa_52:7).
1. Is Christ Israel's covenant Lord? In Isa_52:3 we read, "Thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."
Who is this Lord? He is the One of Whom Peter writes:
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, * * but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
Unto this day the children of Israel pay for their redemption with coins of silver, but money cannot buy this priceless gift of God. They must be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.
Why does the orthodox Jewish father sever the jugular vein of a black rooster? Why does he swing it around his head and say, "This is my exchange, this rooster goes to death and I go free"? Surely Jewish traditions have made void the Word of God. A black rooster is not a Scriptural type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Redemption comes through the Blood of Christ and the slain Jewish passover lamb types that redemption. Christ is the sinner's only "exchange."
2. Whose name is Israel yet to know? Isaiah said, "Therefore My people shall know My name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak: behold, it is I."
It is not difficult to remember how God told Moses that His name was "I am." That name was His sufficient authority to demand audience with Pharaoh. The Lord Jesus said: "Before Abraham was, I am." This name, this Jehovah title, therefore was claimed by Christ; and if He spake truly He is the One Who sent Moses.
Did not Christ claim to be the great "I am"? Hear His Words:
"I am the Resurrection and the Life."
"I am the Bread which came down from Heaven."
"I am the Door."
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
"I am the Good Shepherd."
Christ said, "If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins."
What then, of Isaiah's other title "Behold, it is I"?
When the disciples were on storm-tossed Galilee, Christ came walking upon the waves, saying: "It is I, be not afraid." Christ then claimed Isaiah's "It is I."
When Israel is storm-tossed, and the days of Jacob's trouble have come, then the Lord Jesus Christ will come unto her rescue, saying: "I am He that doth speak: behold it is I," in that day His people shall know His name.
3. Who is the Lord God that reigneth? The forty-fifth Psalm says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy Kingdom is a right sceptre."
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, we read that the God of Psalms 45, is none other than Jesus Christ. It is not unto the angels that God so speaks, but unto the Son, when He brings Him again into the inhabited earth. To the Son He saith:
"Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom" (Heb_1:8).
Surely the God Who reigneth in Isaiah's prophecy will be none other than the Christ Whom the Jews crucified.
Why did the Jews request that a superscription, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews," be placed over the head of the dying Christ?
The superscription was meant to voice Christ's false claim, and the Jews' loyalty to Caesar. In both claims the Jews were false to truth. Christ was Israel's destined King (although she knew it not) and Israel at heart was not loyal to Caesar. (History proved that fact.)
When the Jewish Passover is observed by the orthodox Jews of today, a vacant chair is placed in the midst, significant of the fact that they are awaiting the advent of Elijah.
Why do the Jews of today look for Elijah to come? The answer is plain, Elijah is to be the forerunner of their Messiah. Orthodox Israel, then, is still waiting for their King.
The Gentile Christians also look for Elijah to come–the New Testament Scriptures proclaim this quite as truly as the Old.
The Gentile Christians also believe that Elijah will be forerunner of Israel's Messiah and King.
Who is this King? He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
The question the Jew must answer is this: "What think ye of Christ whose Son is He?"
The answer, truly given, in Peter's language is this: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
The greatest lie of all lies is, that Jesus is not the Christ.
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
The Jews of today need to remember that he who "denieth the Son the same hath not the Father."
There is no approach unto the Father today, just as there was no approach in the days of old, save through Jesus Christ the Son of God.
In closing, we wish to ask three questions.
1. Who is willing to acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ?
2. Who is willing to accept Him as a Saviour from their sins?
3. Who will crown Him and confess Him as Lord?
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR