The Suretyship of Christ.
xxxviii. 14. Undertake for me.
I. That man needs a surety. This is evident from several considerations. Man—1. Is an insolvent debtor; 2. a captive; 3. a criminal; 4. helpless and mortal.
II. That a surety has been provided (Heb. vii. 22, viii. 6, ix. 15, xii. 24). Christ was constituted a surety; not for God to us, but for us to God. He undertook to do for us, and in us, what we could not do for ourselves. Is man a debtor? Christ has paid the debt. Is man a captive? Christ came to set the captive free. Is man a criminal? Christ has endured the curse (Isa. liii. 6; 2 Cor. v. 21). Is man helpless and mortal? Christ has provided everlasting strength (2 Cor. xii. 9).
III. That there must be a believing application made to that Surety. We must put in claim for share in the suretyship of Christ—must say in faith, “Lord, undertake for me; be surety for me.”
IV. The effects of such application. These are many and most important. In case of Hezekiah several are mentioned. God had sent him an alarming message. He wept and called upon God. His prayer was answered. A sign was given. During his sickness and after his recovery he had great exercises of soul. He thought of death (ver. 10); was annoyed because he was about to be cut off from the worship of God (ver. 11), and that by a premature death (ver. 12). But was there not a remedy? Yes. What? A believing application to the Lord as surety. “O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.” And what was the consequence? The whole tone of his thoughts was changed. He now recognises God’s hand in the dispensation (ver. 15); sees these things to be good for his soul (ver. 16); believes his recovery certain—realises the forgiveness of sin—is enabled to praise God (ver. 19); can now resolve to teach his children about God’s truth and determine with them to bless and magnify God for ever (vers. 19, 20). Thus the realisation of God as surety, and a believing application to Him for help, proved the turning-point for good in Hezekiah’s experience.
Application.—1. In the way of warning. (1.) Not to depend on ourselves for salvation. (2.) Not to neglect the means of grace. 2. In the way of encouragement. (1.) Jesus Christ is surety for all who believe in Him. (2.) All who are oppressed in body or soul may and should, by God’s grace believe in Jesus as their surety.—T. Oliver: The Study and the Pulpit, New Series, 1876, pp. 419–421.