January 12

Isaiah xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall war for his law. 5. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

The phrase "covenant of the people" means strictly the medium or no other of the covenant between God and the people. This could not be said of God, it is to be said of the Jews; and it might be applied figuratively to Israel, yet he could not be called a "light of the Gentiles." But Christ was "a light to light in the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel," the "messenger of the covenant," through whose intervention its blessings should come to all people. Hence all the inhabitants of the earth, from the mountains and the valleys, from the sea and its islands, from populous cities and from desert shores are summoned to rejoice and give glory to the Lord for the Saviour's coming.

His coming was full of mercy and peace, of healing and salvation, ourselves as the light, gentle as the dew; but, like

8. I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. 10. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing; let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands. 16. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

the light, giving life and joy; like the dew, giving beauty, fragrance, and refreshment. The heart that is bruised and crushed with its sorrows and sins he will not break with the severity of judgment, but soothe and heal with his pardoning grace. The dim torch of faith and love, though like the just expiring wick of flax it emits hardly a spark of light, he will not extinguish, but with the oil of his mercy will kindle it to a pure, bright flame. Eyes that have been beaded to truth he will open to the sunlight; souls that have been shut up in the darkness of guilt or of despair he will burn out into the free air of hope and peace. For every sin he has mercy; for every sorrow, healing; while yet his law of truth and holiness shall judge the earth. This holy, just, gracious, merciful Prince of Israel is our Saviour and Lord.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 49, 118, 119.

O thou eternal Jehovah, King of kings, and Lord of lords! we draw nigh unto thee this morning, rejoicing that we have such a throne of grace ever open, that through the merits of thy dear Son, our only Saviour, we can be received and welcomed and loved.

We confess our great unworthiness; our sins of thought, word, and action; our sins of omission and commission; our sins against light and privilege and providence and grace. We cast ourselves upon Him who hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; who came to seek and to save the lost. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Remembering at what price our redemption hath been purchased, we would consecrate our lives to Him who loved us, and gave himself for us.

Bless the members of this household. May they walk before thee with a perfect heart! May

the young be enabled to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things!

Bless our land. Bless all in authority. May righteousness run down our streets as a mighty stream! May that glorious day soon come when the wilderness and the solitary place shall be made glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose! O Lord! revive thy work in the midst of the years.

Thankful for the mercies of the night, we commend ourselves to thee for this day. Guide us; provide for us; go before us. Let us have the conscious assurance that God is for us, and then none can be against us.

And now, Lord, what wait we for? Our hope is in thee. Prepare us for living; prepare us for dying. And all we ask is for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.