Send Them A Saviour

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 7th May service and hymns are below.

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Our verses are:

Isa 19:16  In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

Isa 19:17  And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

Isa 19:18  In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

Isa 19:19  In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

Isa 19:20  And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Isa 19:21  And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.

Isa 19:22  And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

Isa 19:23  In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

Isa 19:24  In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:

Isa 19:25  Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

 Send Them A Saviour

Today we are in for a pleasant surprise. Egypt, the original ‘auld enemy’ of the Jewish people is next in line for Isaiah’s burdensome prophecy but the end of the matter is not at all what we might expect. True, the Lord’s servant does bring a series of dire warnings of what is about to happen in Egypt but then, unexpectedly, he concludes with a magnificent promise of widespread salvation and gospel blessing, not for Israel only but also for Egypt and Assyria.

The God of all grace

Let us never forget that the Lord delights to show mercy. It pleases God to be gracious to His covenant people and erstwhile enemies. Christ died for our sins while we were yet sinners. Egypt had long been at enmity with God. Pharaoh had hurt God’s people and tortured His elect. As a consequence Egypt’s people, land and wealth had suffered greatly under devastating plagues.

Yet Isaiah has a message of victory for God’s remnant people, a message of surprising grace. Soon the Messiah will come and together with Judah and Israel, the Gentiles also will be gathered into His kingdom. In that gospel-day Egypt shall have a Saviour and Assyria will yield up her people.

The Lord rides swiftly

It is interesting to note how Isaiah gradually intensifies the burden of Egypt’s woes. The prophet depicts the Lord, with beautiful imagery, moving swiftly in judgment with troubles unfolding blow by blow. No aspect of Egyptian life and culture is left untouched; rulers and artisans suffer alike, farming and commerce will fail on land and sea, false religion will be exposed, foolish advisors will be ashamed and the country ruined by civil war. Cruel masters and natural calamity will combine to bring Egypt to its knees.

The city of destruction

Then Isaiah introduces another gradual change with the coming of a Saviour and the glory that should follow. Egypt, humbled and chastened, shall fear the Lord with growing spiritual awareness. A city fit for destruction becomes a city fitted for deliverance. This is conversion. Five cities are said to speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to God. An altar and a pillar is set up in the land indicating a desire to worship the God of Israel who will ‘send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them’.

Smite and heal

Here is a wonderful comfort for all God’s elect. Isaiah tells us in the day of Messiah-Christ, when the Saviour is revealed to His waiting people, ‘the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it’. This smiting and healing is a spiritual work of grace in the heart of God’s elect. It is that work of grace and divine love that refuses to leave men and women dead in their sins but quickens and gathers God’s chosen vessels into His house.

Union in Christ’s kingdom

We see how external trials are used to instigate internal change in God’s elect. Hard hearts are softened and spiritual healing granted where once only conviction and sentence was feared. When we view these descriptions spiritually, with gospel understanding, we see God’s power in the preaching of grace as it breaks down the most obdurate of foes – the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Jews themselves, and binds them together in a trifecta of triumph.

The gospel without borders

Our union in the Lord Jesus Christ with brothers and sisters from all over the world is a lasting testimony to God’s transforming grace. The Lord has fulfilled this prophecy by making Israel a blessing to the whole world. Our Saviour sent forth the apostles and evangelists from Jerusalem and Judea to the ends of the earth carrying the message of forgiveness from sin and everlasting life.

In such a way the prophet’s words were fulfilled, ‘And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3).

Comforting the saints

Once again we learn from Isaiah’s message that these promises of victory were supplied to God’s remnant elect to give them hope in the midst of their own troubles and keep them faithful. They looked forward by faith to the coming of Christ, their Messiah, and the glorious power of His life and death to accomplish salvation and build His kingdom.

Amen

Our hymns are below.

Hymn 1

Gadsby selection 272

“Behold the blood of the covenant.”  Exod. 24. 8

J. Newton                            8.7.

1
Dearest Saviour! we adore thee,
For thy precious life and death;
Melt each stubborn heart before thee;
Give us all the eye of faith.
From the law’s condemning sentence,
To thy mercy we appeal;
Thou alone canst give repentance;
Thou alone our souls canst heal.

Hymn 2

Gadsby selection 208 

Salvation.  Acts 4. 12;  Eph. 3. 17-19;  Deut. 33. 3

J. Adams                                     8.7.4.

1
Jesus, Lover of thy nation;
Saviour of thy people free!
Visit us with thy salvation;
Let us, Lord, thy glory see;
O revive us,
That we may rejoice in thee.

2
Let us find thy love surrounding
Us, thy fickle children, here;
And thy mighty grace abounding,
Leading us in holy fear.
Guide us, Jesus;
To our souls be ever near.

3
May we never more forget thee;
(Base ingratitude indeed!)
Keep us with thy arm almighty,
Us in verdant pastures lead.
Be our Guardian,
Till from this vain world we’re freed.

4
Then, O sweetest, lovely Jesus!
When in heaven we see thy face,
Who from all our bondage freed us,
We will give thee all the praise.
All the glory
Shall redound to thy free grace!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour who was sent to Egypt; what a great Saviour He is! Isaiah’s audience must have been filled with amazement to hear the prophet speak of Egypt’s salvation and Assyria’s deliverance. These are the blessings of gospel days when God’s elect shall be redeemed to God by Christ’s blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

7 May 2023