Reading: “They shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.”—Isaiah 19:20

Notice the sweet encouragement contained in these words. Here is a cry of the soul and it is directed to the Lord. There is a cry of nature under oppression; but as this is not to God, it is evident that it never came from God; for, he tells us, that none of them saith, “Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?” Job 25:9. But when the Holy Ghost convinces of sin and puts a cry in the heart, He convinces also of the righteousness of Jesus.

Hence the difference of those cries is as wide as the east is from the west. Mark, therefore, this distinguishing feature of grace and see whether your cries are praying cries and not complaining ones. And now observe what follows. When poor sinners thus cry unto the Lord, “He shall send them a Saviour, and a great one.” Who but God the Father, sent His Son to be the Saviour of poor lost sinners? Was not Jesus a Saviour indeed, and a great one! Who, but He, could deliver the sinner from destruction?

And remark, further, the absolute certainty of the promise; for it is said, “He will deliver them.” Yes, blessed Jesus, Your deliverance is sure, and Your salvation is certain. You have said, Your “sheep shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of thine hand.”

Here are all the persons of the Godhead engaged for the salvation of every poor crying sinner. Here is God the Holy Ghost causing the sinner to feel the oppressions of sin, and putting a cry in his heart to the Lord. Here is God the Father answering that cry in mercy and sending His almighty Son to be the Saviour of the poor sinner. And here is Jesus the Saviour, and a great one, saving the poor sinner with an everlasting salvation.

“In spiritual things, when God has raised a desire, He always gratifies it; hence the longing is prophetic of the blessing. In no case is the desire of the living thing excited to produce distress, but in order that it may seek and find satisfaction.”C. H. Spurgeon

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2013.