I Will Give You As A Covenant To The People

"I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house." (1)

The plan of salvation is a means not only of rescuing humanity from sin but also of vindicating the character of God, His unselfish love and righteousness, before the entire universe. See John 17:4, 6. Jesus was the promised One from the beginning. He is the "Seed" of the woman that would bruise the serpents head, promised to Adam and Eve. (2) He was continually referred to by the prophets in Holy Scriptures.

Jesus is the covenant of God to us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved", (3) "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (4)

Without Christ, men grope and stumble about in darkness. But in Christ, the most surrounded by darkness and unfortunate have the privilege of finding the light of life, "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (5)

Jesus on several occasions healed the physical blindness of men, including one who had been blind from birth. (6) The restoration of physical eyesight upon various occasions testified that Jesus had power to impart sight to men's souls.

To release prisoners from the prison house and those who sit in darkness from the prisons of their environment and sin. Jesus came to assuage the suffering of those who are grieved and weary of their burdens. He is the Great Physician, who came to heal the hearts and souls of men. When men yield to sin becoming its captives and slaves, Christ comes to lift us up from the bondage of evil and to make us free in Him. (7)

Jesus was given to us by God as His pledge and covenant for our salvation. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (8)

1. Isaiah 42:6, 7.
2. Genesis 3:15.
3. John 3:16, 17.
4. Ephesians 2:13.
5. Isaiah 49:6.
6. John 9:1-11; Matthew 9:27-31; 11:4, 5.
7. John 8:34, 36; Romans 6:1-23; 8:2, 21.
8. Psalm 107:8.