How beautiful and magnificent is the imagery the prophet employs in this chapter to represent the effects of the Messiah's appearance.

The scene proposed to our view, is a barren and desolate wilderness. But when he who in the beginning said, Let there be light and there was light, [3] condescends to visit it, the face of nature is changed by his presence. The wilderness becomes a garden. Fountains and streams of water burst forth in the burning desert, the soil becomes fruitful, clothed with verdence and adorned with flowers – the towering cedars which were the glory of Lebanon and the richest pastures which were the excellency of Carmel, present themselves to the eye, where a little before all was uncomfortable and dreary.
 

To what shall we ascribe it, that so few of those who value themselves upon their taste, and who profess themselves admirers of pastoral poetry, are struck with the elegance and grandeur of this passage? Alas, we can only ascribe it the depravity of the human heart. They would surely have admired it had it been found in any of their favourite authors, but such descriptions are only to be found in the Bible, a book which their unhappy prejudices and passions, leads them generally to neglect or despise.
 

But they who know themselves, and the Lord, consider it not merely as a description of a change in outward nature, but as a representation of a more important, a moral change, of which they themselves are in a measure the happy subjects.
 

The barren wilderness reminds them of the state of the world by nature, and of their own hearts, before the Messiah, the Sun of Righteousness arose and shone upon them with healing, with light, power and comfort in his beams. In that memorable hour old things passed away and all things became new. The Lord by shining into their hearts and showing them his glory in the person of Christ has created for them a new heaven and a new earth. The works of God without them in his creation and providence assume a different appearance, they see his hand wherever they look, they hear his voice in all events, for now, the principles of his grace are planted in their souls, and they are no longer barren and unfruitful but are filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to his praise and glory.
 

The verses I have read exhibit the effects of the Messiah's power and goodness, by another image equally pleasing – not only the wilderness, but the inhabitants of the wilderness, partake of the virtue of the great Restorer. He finds them in misery, in circumstances of distress incurable by any hand but his own. But when he comes the blind receive their sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dumb have their voices given them to resound his praise. These mighty works in the literal sense, marked his character, and confirmed his claims, when he was upon earth, and to these he himself appealed in proof that he was the promised Saviour who should come, and that no other was to be expected. Matthew 12:3-6. [4]
 

But the words have a more sublime and important sense. As the great Physician he cured all manner of bodily diseases and infirmities, but he came into the world for greater purposes.

The maladies to which sin has subjected the body, are but emblems of the greater evils it has brought upon the soul. He came to open the eyes of the mind, to make the obstinate will attentive and obedient to the voice of God, to invigorate our benumbed and paralytic faculties, that we may be active and cheerful in his service and to open our lips that our mouths may show forth his praise. I have a good hope that I may warrantably say, This day, is this Scripture fulfilled in your eyes!

 

These different effects are produced by one simple but powerful operation. When Lazarus lay in the grave all his natural powers were inactive. But when the voice of the Son of God, restored him to life, he was of course immediately enabled to see, to hear, to move and to speak. Thus while we are spiritually dead, we are necessarily blind, deaf and dumb, and motionless, with respect to all the objects and faculties of that life of God in the soul which is the perfection and honour of our nature. When we are made partakers of this life by a new and heavenly birth, then our spiritual senses are brought into exercise. Then the eyes of the blind are opened to see the beauty and glory of divine truths, we hear the voice of God, we feel a liberty to walk and act in his service, and our tongues are taught to praise him.
 

Here are four leading [effects] of a work of grace, which distinguish believers from the rest of mankind: