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sounding title of "The Sovereignty of God" and credits some decree of God with the
results of his own sin.
Quit a number of commentators read the words of Isa. 50: 1 in the light of John 1: 11,
"He came to His own, and His own received Him not", but this does not fit the context of
Isa. 50: well enough, neither does it give room for the testimony of a similar phrase in
other parts of Isaiah in prophecy. This debated passage reads:
"Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to
answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to
deliver?" (Isa. 50: 2).
It will be observed that the argument is not concerned with whether men believed or
did not believe, which is the argument of John 1: 11, but whether there was any lack of
power or ability on the part of the Lord.
Keeping to the second half of Isaiah, we observe that the expression `no man' or `not a
man' occurs as follows:
A | 41: 28. Good tidings. Behold there was no man.
B | 50: 2. Deliverance. No man, none to answer.
Is His arm shortened.
C | 57: 1. Perishing. No man layeth it to heart.
B | 59: 16. Salvation. No man, no intercessor.
His arm brought salvation.
A | 63: 3. Vengeance. Not a man with Me.
If we but quote at length the last two references, we shall have no need to go to
John 1: 11 for light:
"And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:
therefore His arm brought salvation" (Isa. 59: 16).
"I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold:
therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me" (Isa. 63: 5).
Before entering upon the examination of the next section, a blessed anticipation of
Isa. 53:, in that it speaks of the suffering, yet triumphant Saviour, it will be helpful to
have an outline of the general theme.
Isaiah 50: 1 - 52: 3.
B | 50: 1-3. Ye have sold yourselves.
C | 50: 4-9. |
c | Awake.
\ The Messiah.
d | Hear. /
D | 50: 10, 11. The voice of His Servant.
C | 51: 1 - 52: 2. |
d | Hear. \ The Lord and
c | Awake.
/
His people.
B | 52: 3. Ye have sold yourselves.