Great Themes of the Bible
Emmanuel 73
(see Matt. i. 21-3). If He had not been Emmanuel, God with us, He could not have been Jesus, a Saviour. Now this was a further sign of God's favour to the house of David and the tribe of Judah. For He that intended to work this great salvation among them no doubt would work out for them all those other salvations which were to be the types and figures of this, and as it were preludes to this.
2. THE COMFORT OF THE PROMISE
Here is a sign for you, not in the depth or in the height, but in the prophecy, in the promise, in the covenant, made with David, which you are no strangers to. The promised seed shall be "Emmanuel, God with us''. Let that word comfort you (Isa. vit. 10). God is with us, and your land is Emmanuel's land. Let not the heart of the house of David be moved thus. Nor let Judah fear the setting up of the son of Tabeal, for nothing can cut off the entail on the Son of David that shall be Emmanuel. The strongest consolations in time of trouble are those which are borrowed from Christ, our relation to Him, our interest in Him, and our expectation of Him and from Him.
Of this child, Emmanuel, it is further foretold (Isa. vit. 15) that, though He shall not be born like other children, but of a virgin, yet shall He be really and truly man, and shall be nursed and brought up like other children. ''Butter and honey shall he eat"', as other children do, particularly the children of that land which flowed with milk and honey. Though He be conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, yet He shall not therefore be fed with angel's food; but, as it becomes Him, shall be
"in all things made like unto his brethren"' (Heb. ii. 17). Nor shall He, though born thus by extraordinary generation, be a man immediately. As other children, He shall advance gradually through the several states of infancy, childhood, and youth, to that of manhood, and, growing in wisdom and stature, shall at length wax strong in spirit and come to that maturity as to "know how to refuse evil and choose the good"' (see Luke ii. 40, 52).
3. THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROMISE
It is to St. Matthew that we turn to see how history underlined prophecy. In Matthew 7. 22, 23, the Old Testament prophecies are shown to have had their accomplishment in our Lord Jesus. This was He that should come, and we are to