Isaiah 51:22 Thus said your Lord the LORD, and your God that pleads the cause of his people, Behold… How can God be both judge and advocate? Maybe Isaiah would have said, "I see it not clearly myself yet." But the riddle is all explained when you bear in mind the distinction of the persons in the Godhead. He pleads His people's cause for them by the Son, and in them by the Holy Ghost. This wonderful title, "God that pleadeth the cause of His people," has been already vindicated in the history of Israel. But what is it God pleads? We may go very much astray unless we emphasize that word "cause." It is not, He pleadeth the whims of His people. Everything that I may want or like God is not going to provide. That word "cause" means the strife, the battle, the controversy. The Church of God is just the expression of a great conflict that has been going on for ages. I want to show you how Jesus has pleaded the cause of His people, and He has done it in different courts. I. He pleaded the cause of His people first in the COURT OF JUDGMENT that was situated at Golgotha. As to proving men innocent, that is impossible; they are guilty and condemned and yet Christ steps forward and says, "I will plead their cause." And He stood in my place and yours, and pleaded our cause: but pleading our cause took Him to the Cross and into the tomb. II. Having pleaded my cause in the court of judgment, He now pleads my cause IN THE COURT OF LAW AND JUSTICE. It is not enough for a soul to be free from sin; that is the negative side. How can any man enter heaven apart from righteousness? I will suppose for a moment that this difficulty is raised in court. Yes, the past sin is atoned for; but where is the man's righteousness? I say, "Oh, my Lord, Thou who didst plead for me just now, plead again!" and I hear Him say, "I lived the life of perfect righteousness, I obeyed the law in every jot and tittle, I had Thy word hidden in My heart." And the answer comes, "The plea is perfect: sinner, thou art not only forgiven, thou art justified; thy God hath pleaded thy cause." III. Jesus now pleads my cause IN HEAVEN ITSELF. If I am a saint, I am sure to pray, but being an earthly saint I am sure to pray very badly; being a believer, I am sure to sing, but having an earthly nature I am sure there are many low grovelling notes. How are my prayers to enter heaven? how are my prayers to be accepted? He who pleaded my cause on Golgotha, and He who pleaded my cause in the court of law, He now as High Priest pleads my cause before the golden altar. IV. And Jesus has not yet concluded His pleading work. Personally I am looking for a day that is yet to dawn when JESUS WILL PERFECTLY PLEAD ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE ALL THE RIGHTS OF REDEMPTION. V. I have only dealt thus far with the Father and the Son, but it is the whole Trinity that pleads the cause of His people, and therefore our final point is this, that whilst Jesus has pleaded for me at Golgotha and does plead for me yonder in the court of Heaven, THE HOLY GHOST IS PLEADING MY CAUSE WITHIN. (A. G. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: |
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