WHO? ... I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (ii) (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] To the Lord's help I will again direct your attention to the prophecy of Isaiah, the 63rd chapter and the first verse. The prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 63, verse 1.

[0:15] Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Basra? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength.

[0:32] I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Basra?

[0:46] This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength. I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

[1:01] We dealt this morning principally with the questions presented to us in the earlier part of this verse. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Basra?

[1:18] We notice the meaning of Edom and Basra, Basra being a city of Edom, setting forth desolation and destruction and waste and wilderness conditions.

[1:32] And yet, it was through such conditions that the Lord Jesus Christ himself had to come, in order that the salvation of the Church of God might be secured and assured.

[1:50] In looking further at this, we noticed, first of all, that he walked through the path of temptation. In the wilderness, forty days and forty nights.

[2:05] And in some more detail went into those temptations. Then, following that, we came to consider further temptations of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he said, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

[2:27] Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Then, this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength.

[2:41] Observing that precious word in the 52nd chapter of this prophecy, his visage was more marred than any man.

[2:53] We may well consider, who is this? Who is this? Who can it be? Yet one glorious in his apparel, glorious in his unstained righteousness, glorious in his own strength and wisdom, travelling in the greatness of his strength.

[3:17] Though he was tempted in all points, like as we are, it was yet without sin. The greatness of his strength, we may well consider, to be the sinlessness of his nature, his human nature.

[3:38] Indeed, indeed, what does weaken us? Is it not sin? And what is the ultimate result? When sin hath conceived, it bringeth forth death.

[3:51] If it were not for sin, we should be strong. But, here we see the glory of Emmanuel, coming and travelling in the greatness of his strength.

[4:05] Such a high priest became us, who was holy, harmly, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. All the greatness of his strength.

[4:17] When we consider the Lord Jesus Christ, in the work that he came to do, not only to do, but to finish, and that work, to be sustained, in his office, of, the apostle, of our profession, the apostle and high priest, of our profession, even, even, even, even, even, even, Jesus Christ.

[4:43] Now, we may indeed, consider, this, further, if it was the Lord's will. We would link up, as we mentioned this morning, the attachment of this verse, to the fourth verse, of the preceding chapter.

[5:03] Thou shalt no more be turned forsaken, neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate. Here, we see, the reason for it.

[5:14] When the Lord Jesus came, when he entered upon his divine engagements, it was, in order, that the church, the poor, people of God, may be delivered from a, a forsaken condition, from the desolation, which truly seemed to be the inscription, upon their very being.

[5:36] Thou shalt be called Hepzibah, and thy land, Beulah, for the Lord delighted in thee, and thy land shall be married. What an astonishment, though some of the words of God are to us, when applied to our souls, how is it possible, that this word, can have its application, to a poor, wretched person, feeling, that they are, all over sin.

[6:08] For the Lord delighted in thee, and thy land shall be married. We have the answer, in the text before us, it is, by reason of him, who, cometh from Eden, cometh as a conqueror, cometh in his bloodstained garments, but nevertheless, coming in the strength of his blood, a portion, that we refer to, in our concluding remarks, traveling in the greatness of his strength, oh, the blood of Christ, so rich and free, fixed on his own, eternally.

[6:53] The blood of Christ, the love of Christ, but the blood of Christ, and the love of Christ, although they are different in one sense, they are united together, in another.

[7:06] But with the help of God this evening, we would now address ourselves to the answer. I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

[7:20] Does the Lord ask a question? Does he set up before you, his, himself, and then, does he say, who is this, that cometh from Eden, with dyed garments from Basra, this, that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?

[7:43] Do we have to say, like, John did, on the Isle of Patmos, when he said, Lord, thou knowest, thou knowest, and the answer was given to John, equally, it is given to the Church of God, in these words, I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

[8:09] Mighty to save. And yet, the Almighty God that speaks in righteousness. By contrast, it may be said, that there are many that speak in unrighteousness.

[8:25] Do we not have to come in guilty, in respect to that sometimes? But, how distinguishing a feature, is this, that the Lord himself, is that one, that speaks in righteousness, only in righteousness.

[8:47] I, the Lord, speak right things, and only right things. Now, the greatness of this, which he speaks here, is contained, in these last few words, mighty to save.

[9:07] Many may speak about being saved, and yet, find no, heartwarming, from these words, mighty to save.

[9:21] But the lost, the wretched, the undone, the base backslider, the prodigal, such, will rejoice, in this gospel word, I, that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

[9:43] Because, they need, a mighty salvation. I believe, that, everyone, that, comes to glory, will be, taught, to know this, in their measure, that they need, a mighty, saviour.

[10:07] Jesus, is a mighty, saviour. Helpless, souls, have, here, a friend. He, has, borne, our, misbehaviour, and his, mercies, know, no end.

[10:28] Mighty, to save. Well, this, has, brings, brings us, into, a very, extensive, field.

[10:42] The people, of God, need, a salvation, to be applied, in so many, ways. Whilst, salvation, performed, on the cross, at Calvary, was, complete, and finished, and accepted, leaving us, no doubt, that, everyone, of the church, of God, will be saved, in the Lord, with an everlasting, salvation.

[11:22] Yet, there is also, to be considered, what we may call, an, experimental, knowledge, of, the Lord's, might, to save.

[11:35] Do we not, need this, to be communicated, to us? If we are, dead in our sins, if we only, confess our sins, with the lip, then, we shall not, be concerned, about, an application, of, the power, of godliness.

[11:56] we shall be, satisfied, with, merely, accepting, what the scriptures, say. How many, may be in that, sad case, where they say, yes, I'm a sinner, I'm a miserable sinner, and the word of God, says, that the Lord, saves sinners, so therefore, I am saved.

[12:19] The church, of the living God, have a different, line of experience. to see, sin smarts, but slightly, to own, with lip confession, is easier still, but oh, to feel, cuts deep, beyond expression.

[12:38] Now, when, sin cuts, deep, beyond expression, we must, bring us to this, that we have, need, of a mighty, saviour.

[12:54] It's not possible, for me, to judge, how deeply, cuts, sin cuts, into your heart. We find, two different, cases, in the scripture.

[13:10] At the preaching, of Peter, by the power, of the Holy Ghost, we read, of those, that were pricked, in their heart.

[13:21] with the result, that they cried out, and they said, men, and brethren, what must we do, to be saved?

[13:33] brilliant. We also find, another, character, which, at the faithful, preaching, of Stephen, were affected, in this way.

[13:55] When they heard, these things, they were cut, to the heart, and they gnashed, on him, with their teeth. We find, therefore, the heart, is touched, in two ways.

[14:12] You may say, well, surely, surely, if a man, is cut, to the heart, it will have, a deep effect, upon him, than if he is, pricked, in the heart.

[14:25] But the word, of God, tells us, that those, that were pricked, in the heart, by the power, of the love, of God, set before them, cried out, guilt, was fixed, upon their hearts.

[14:42] And they said, what must we do, to be saved? Whilst, those, that were cut, to the heart, were incensed, incensed, at the gospel, which, Stephen, was enabled, to set forth.

[15:04] Now, we may, endeavour, to preach, the gospel, of Jesus Christ, amongst you, and amongst, various congregations. How does it, affect us?

[15:18] Are we pricked, or are we cut? Are we melted? Are we penitent? Or, are we enraged? Are we determined, for the death, of the preacher?

[15:34] Maybe, some of you, might know, such an experience, in times fast, if not now. But then, by the work, of the Holy Ghost, sin is felt.

[15:50] Until sin is felt, we shall, be satisfied, with just the letter, of truth. But, when sin is felt, then, we must have, a feeling, of the reality, of the Lord Jesus, as a mighty saviour.

[16:12] a mighty saviour. a mighty saviour. We may, perhaps say, that, there are, degrees, and experience, there are, such experiences, whereby, we have felt, the necessity, of no less, than a mighty saviour, but, the years, have rolled on.

[16:44] We have been, further instructed, in our depravity. We have been, made aware, of, sin dwelling, in our members, with the result, that today, our view, of a mighty saviour, is much deeper, than it was, a few years ago.

[17:03] Our need, to behold, the Lord Jesus Christ, as depicted, before us, is much more, attractive, because, it is much more, needful, than it was, a few years ago.

[17:26] Now, you see, if we are, being prepared, for heaven, then, surely, we must, have, a warmer feeling too, and a deeper necessity, for, a mighty saviour.

[17:48] Does it appear, to us sometimes, that the lust, of our flesh, and the pride, of our heart, and the lust, of our eyes, will, be our downfall?

[18:06] If we fear this, if we tremble, because of it, if we cry, unto God, as a result, of it, then, we shall be glad, to hear, the gospel, in this verse.

[18:22] Is it possible, that I can be saved? Is it possible, that I should gain, the victory? How well, has one said, I ask them, that is, those that had gone before, I ask them, whence their victory came.

[18:39] They, with united breath, ascribe their conquest, to the Lamb, their triumph, to his death. we therefore, see in this work, this work, and this word, who is this, that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments, from Bozra, this, that is glorious, in his apparel, traveling, in the greatness, of our, his strength, the most gracious, and glorious, and wondrous, person, that ever lived.

[19:15] And whilst, we are pondering, whilst we are wondering, who is this? These words, may softly, be spoken, into our ears, high, that speak, in righteousness, mighty, to save.

[19:33] Just before, I left home, this evening, the words, of our 950th hymn, came upon my spirit. What objects this, which meets my eyes, without Jerusalem's gate, which fills my mind, with such surprise, as wonder to create?

[19:59] Who can it be, that groans beneath, a cross of massive wood, whose soul was, overwhelmed, in pains of death, and body bathed, in blood?

[20:14] Can we follow, the Lord Jesus Christ, a little further, than we looked at it, this morning, from Gethsemane's garden, to the cross? It's the same man, about who we may say, who is this?

[20:30] And the hymn writer says, is this the man? Can this be he? The prophets have foretold, should with transgressors, numbered be, and for their crimes, be sold?

[20:47] A despised, and crucified man, can this be he? Oh, the inspiration of faith, yes, now I know, tis he, tis he, tis Jesus, God's dear son, wrapped, in humanity, to die for crimes, that I have done, mighty to save, is Christ the Lord, I that speak in righteousness, therefore, I that speak in truth, therefore, God is not a man, that he should lie, or the son of man, that he should repent, I the Lord, speak truth, who is it then?

[21:43] It is none else, but, the son, of God's suffering, in our place and stead, one that is mighty to save, now, what is the result?

[22:00] we cannot come to this place, without grace, and when we speak of grace, you know, we speak of that which is, given, not earned, oh blessed sight, oh lovely form, to sinful souls like me, I'd creep beside him, as a worm, and see him bleed for me, what a breakdown, of the spirit, what a breakdown, of our independence, what a breakdown, of the pride, of our hearts, that we should be made, willing in the day, of God's power, for another, to suffer in our place, instead, and not only another, to suffer in our place, instead, but one that was, capable of suffering, suffering successfully, overcoming sin, overcoming death, overcoming hell, and Satan, overcoming the grave itself,

[23:03] I'd hear him grow, his groans, and view, each wound, until with happy John, I on his breast, a place of found, sweetly to lean upon, I that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, this is the almighty power, of God, we need a saviour, who is mighty, in every aspect, mighty to save, the worst of sinners, mighty to save us, in our darkest hour, mighty to save, when hope is almost gone, mighty to save, when, we may feel, as we have it in Ezekiel, we are cut off, for our parts, or as, has been suggested, it might be interpreted, all is up with us, all is up with us, now,

[24:14] I that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, when we are right, at the end of all things, there is still, the almighty God, concerning him, we read, that he is able, to save, to the uttermost, all that come unto God, even the Father, by and through, Jesus Christ, he is able, to save, hence, we have the encouraging words, the words, of gracious invitation, come ye sinners, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore, Jesus ready, stands to save you, are you at a point, about that this evening, Jesus ready, stands to save you, will your legality, cause you, to look another way, will the hardness, of your heart, say,

[25:17] I shall close my ears, against that, well it doesn't alter, the truth, whatever our feelings, may be, whatever the obstinacy, of our heart, may produce, it doesn't alter, the truth, Jesus ready, stands to save you, full of pity, joined with power, he is able, he is willing, doubt no more, I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save, are we possessed, of twenty thousand doubters, they did so much damage, you know, in the heart of man's soul, twenty thousand doubters, they ravaged, and brought down, to a very low place, poor man's soul, as Bunyan said, before us, but, man's soul, had one, that was mighty to save, and his name, was Emmanuel, and when Emmanuel, came, then, salvation, was there, but then, the inroads, that the twenty thousand doubters, had upon man's soul, was dreadful, they were crippled, they forgot, to send a message, to, their Emmanuel, but the time came, when there was one, set up in their midst,

[26:53] I just forget his name, at the moment, who was, in the means, in God's hand, Mr. Godly Fear, I think it was, whom, caused them, to begin to cry, and they had to cry, to, the mighty God, because, no less, could save them, from these, twenty thousand, Diabolians, that had, penetrated, into their soul, and done, such destruction, but, I that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, you know, when the Lord, comes, in the greatness, of his strength, our fears, remove, and our doubts, are dispelled, and we are, completely, blessed, I venture, to believe, and feel, that some of you, may be, greatly troubled, greatly troubled, because, of a doubting, propensity, because, of an unbelieving, heart, and it is, a situation, from which, we need, to be saved, but who, can save us, from it, one, that speaks, in righteousness, is unbelief, so strong, is doubt, so much, to the fore, that we, find, that we, can't receive, anything, you know, we do find, some of our, dear friends, sometimes, who are, so plagued, with, doubt, and distrust, and fear, that, they're ready, to say, ah, good, indeed, good, but not for me, now, we need, to be saved, from that, because, otherwise, we shall perish, in our sins,

[29:03] I, that speak, unto, speak, in righteousness, is mighty, to save, do not think, that, Jesus Christ, had to endure, all, the, powerful, workings, of Satan, suggesting, so many, things, if it were possible, would, have sowed, the seeds, of unbelief, we notice it, this morning, in the temptations, in the wilderness, if they'll be, the son of God, if they'll be, the son of God, here, we see, the devil, sowing the seeds, of unbelief, suggesting, that the, Lord, almighty, was not, the son of God, will, it surprise you, then, if sometimes, you should be, in a situation, where,

[30:09] Satan will come in, and say, what proof, have you, the son of God, now, if you are, prove it, prove it, and as we noticed, this morning, there was pride, set before the Lord, there was presumption, set before the Lord, Satan will sometimes, come to us, and say, well, if your religion, is worth anything, if you're proud of it, well, prove it, now, the Lord Jesus Christ, was, was our great savior, our captain, stood the fiery test, and we shall stand, through him, he did not, fall, to, the pride, and presumption, presented to him, which engenders, or would have engendered, unbelief, or, if it was, to be introduced, in such a way, that, now, this is the way, you can prove to me, that, your faith is real, by doing this, by doing that, so plausible, but, we need, a mighty savior, we need, a mighty savior, because, it is not, merely, from, what we might, call, outward, transgression, that we need, to be saved, there are, those people, that, when they're, called, they, they immediately, are, wrought upon, to, give up, many outward, transgressions, we find, that, this part, of, our conversion, can be, counterfeited, the counterfeit, is called, reformation, and, it is the, counterfeit, of, regeneration, so, there are, many, alas, that, may we be, well satisfied, with, reforming, attempting, to, restrain, themselves, from, outward, transgression, and, attempting, to, engage, in, what their, mind, might consider, to be, right, and acceptable, things, with God, these, are, invariably, such, seeds, that, produce, self-righteousness, and, after, they, reformed, they, want, no, self, no, savior, after, they, reformed, then, they, are, quite, satisfied, but, you see, here, is the distinction, those, that are, called, by grace, not, only, are, aware, of, the importance, of, living, rightly, turning, from, the things, of the world, as grace is given, and, that means, the things, of the world, in every aspect, of it, the spirit, of it, principally, but, they, they, also, find, there, is that, which wells, up, within, which shocks, them, which disturbs, them, seeking, after, the things, of God, seeking, to read, the scriptures, seeking, to, hear, the preaching, of the word, seeking, to approach, under the throne, of grace, and, yet, there, is another power, working, within, an almighty,

[34:10] power, how, shall we, be saved, from it, how, will you, be saved, from your lusts, how, will you, be saved, from your sins, we, shan't, be saved, by rules, and regulations, right, and proper, as they may be, in their, in their place, if we, are to be, saved, and, to be, drawn, away, from all, forbidden, care, and toil, it, will be, the result, of God's, merciful, favor, in showing us, this, blessed, and glorious, man, that is set, before us, in our text, who is this, oh, it will turn, your heart aside, immediately, to have, this person, his visage, more mild, than any man, suddenly, set, before your eyes, who is this, that cometh, from Eden, with dyed garments, from Bosra, this, that is glorious, in his apparel, traveling, in the greatness, of his strength, it is this, it is him, that, died, to put away, your sins, how we find, the truth, of the hymn writer's words, lose sight, of Jesus, and his cross, and soon, we fall, a prey, how easily, we are carried away, but, if we are carried away, carried away, in such a manner, in which we know, we have no strength, at all, we know, we have no strength, at all, and he knows that, the almighty God, knows that, he knows, our foes are strong, and though, ten thousand, shall engage, the weakest, shall not go wrong,

[36:23] God, leads us, in his own ways, to show us, the meaning, of these words, mighty to save, I remember, very well, when I was called up, to join the army, a person said to me, well of course, there are dreadful things, that are done, done by the soldiers, and you'll be doubtless, under many temptations, but you've no need, to follow them, and, in my innocence, I thought, they were probably right, it would not be, too difficult, to say no, by the power, of almighty God, for three years, I was willing, to suffer for his sake, but then, the Lord, began to teach me, what it meant, what these words meant, mighty to save, and I found,

[37:33] I was weak as water, I found, I had no power, the snare to shun, and whatever, was set before me, I fell under, mighty to save, mighty to save, is the Lord, able to save us, in our distressing hour, when, being left to ourselves, as Hezekiah was left to himself, as Peter was left to himself, as David was left to himself, we should only need, an hour, to be left to ourselves, if it was the Lord's purpose, to discover, what a full, and important, and glorious meaning, is contained, in these words, mighty to save, we cannot save ourselves, we cannot save ourselves, from falling, but we do read, this great word, in the epistle of Jude, unto him, who is able, to keep you from falling, and to present you, faultless, what a salvation, to keep you from falling, but if you do fall, to present you, faultless, faultless, this is what, a mighty salvation, means, representing you, faultless, before the Father's face, and you know, every one of the church of God, when they come to die, they'll be presented, faultless, doesn't matter, how many faults, you may have, it doesn't matter, how many sins, you may have committed, and we speak, that carefully, because we're not, saying to you, when you can go on, you can have, all your faults, you can be proud, of your faults, you can be proud, of your, the amount of, of sinning, you've gone into,

[39:53] I'm not saying, that at all, because where, the grace of God is, it will make you, ashamed of your sins, and it will make you, ashamed of your faults, you will not, engage, in an evening's conversation, with, people, much more, godly people, by going through, the sins that you've committed, if the grace of God, is in your heart, you'll have to put your hand, upon your lips, and say unclean, unclean, sometimes, I've had to be silent, in company, because of just that feeling, unclean, but we can't remain unclean, and if the grace of God, is in our heart, then, we must be clean, how can I be clean, is there one, that can save me, from my filth, is there one, that can save me, from my guilt, and in our, desponding moments, looking down, and everything, being so dark, around us, the light shines, you know, a light shined, around Saul of Tarsus, is it so, in your experience, that a light seemed to shine, and it shone upon, one, and maybe, this very first, might have come into the minds, of some, who is this, that cometh, from Edom, with dyed garments, from Basra, this that is glorious, in his, in his apparel, traveling, in the greatness, of his strength, well it is I, oh it is I, be not afraid, oh it is I, the disciples, were afraid, you know, when they saw, the Lord Jesus, walking on the waters, are we tossed, with tempers, and not comforted, and are we afraid, of the appearance, sudden appearance, of what we may suppose, to be a spirit, but it is I,

[42:26] I that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, to save you, from, your, your, base sins, to wash you, clean with it, is it surprising, that the, psalmist, should say, in the 51st Psalm, wash me, truly, from my sin, if we are, if our sin, doesn't cut very deep, then of course, we may be, quite satisfied, with a, superficial washing, which must be restricted, to what we call, a reformation, but you see, if, we feel, that we are unclean, inside, it, then we shall need, a, a through washing, this is a stronger word, than thorough, the word of God, does not say, wash me thoroughly, from my sins, we might think, that goes as far, as it's possible to go, the psalmist, didn't think so, he said, wash me thoroughly, wash me, so to speak, until the washing, comes out the other side, we may sometimes, if I can put it this way, let the water, from a running tap, run through, a bird, when it is, plucked and trussed, and when, when the water's, gone through, initially, there comes out, blood, and so on, but when, it is, clear water, coming through, we know, that, it's clean inside, now that's speaking, naturally, now can we draw, some conclusion, to that, in respect, to an experience, of being clean inside, when we feel, that, the water, and the blood, from thy ribbon soul, or ribbon side, which flowed, is truly, cleansing, in, every aspect, of it, let, let the water, and the blood, from thy ribbon side, which flowed, be of sin, the double killer, inside, and out, cleanse, me, from its guilt, and power, now, such an experience, will encourage us, when we come, to our dying bed, but, on the other hand, it is not the experience, but it is the knowledge, gained in that experience, of what the Lord is, in his power to save, when we are coming down, to, our dying moments, you know, it is as though, sin, is having its last length, and you know,

[45:58] I'm, would think, that some of our, beloved friends, have known, the tremendous temptation, from Satan, which says, ah, that's all past, but death, will get you, death, will get you, a sight, of our beloved, saviour, coming up, from the back, from the battle, having gained the conquest, and whispering, in the poor, sinners here, the saints here, I that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, mighty to save, from death, I die, that thou mightest live, I died, and I rose again, but now, you're coming, to enter into that, glorious experience, in the fullness of it, knowing what it all means, to be justified, the apostle presented, like this, ye are, complete, in him, that's justification, lacking nothing, if we obtain, the justification, yea, if we are blessed, with it, what is it, but the, wonderful result, of I, that speak, in righteousness, mighty to save, to snatch you, from the jaws of hell, is not this a brand, plucked out of the fire, to snatch you, from the jaws of death, to snatch you, from the hand of,

[47:53] Satan, he's mine, I've bought him, with my blood, from the shells of help, to die on the beast.