"He will swallow up death in victory."

The groves of the original paradise were fair and pleasant, fragrant and fruitful; but, through the instability and ingratitude of man, sin found its way into that paradise, and death immediately followed.

The land of Canaan was prepared by Divine goodness for the posterity of Abraham, as a kind of second paradise; but, behold the effects of sin! See, in the preceding chapter of this book, what denunciations of wrath issued forth from the God of Israel, against his favorite land. Death and desolation did overspread the consecrated territory.

It is, my brethren, the universal lot of mankind, to be subject to the empire of death, the king of terrors; therefore, wherever the salvation and happiness of man are spoken of, attention must be paid to this capital evil; if provision be not made against this calamity, nothing is done.

The Israelitish nation and church, residing in Canaan, was the theater, on which the great anointed Deliverer of mankind was now to be exhibited to the view of all nations. So hateful to Satan and his angels, was the prospect of His appearance, that they could not refrain from gnashing their teeth upon that nation and church, wherein he was to display his glory. On the other side, amidst all provocations and calamities, the zeal of the Lord of hosts, for the Messiah and his work, watched over that chosen country and people; and, for preserving the situation of things, adapted to the manifestation of the Savior, executed those judgments on the presumptuous heathen, which are celebrated by the prophet in the first five verses of this chapter.

But, in what inviting strains, verses sixth, seventh, and eighth, doth he describe the fruits of the long-expected arrival of the Redeemer of perishing men! A feast for the guilty immortal souls of men of all nations; a feast divinely prepared, unspeakably rich and satisfying! In order to the enjoyment of this spiritual banquet, -- the removal of unbelieving darkness from the beclouded mind! In consequence of having tasted these life-inspiring refreshments -- victory over death! Blessed tidings! "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound!"

In attempting to illustrate so precious a subject, let me, first, make some remarks on the meaning of the singular expression, "He will swallow up death in victory. Second, I will take a comprehensive view of the methods whereby the God of salvation raises his people to victory over death. Third, I will attend to the different situations and periods of this important victory.

I. I propose to make some remarks on this singular expression, -- an expression full of meaning and of energy, -- "He will swallow up death in victory."

1. The very sound of the words conveys the idea of a solemn and terrible conflict. A poor expiring worm of the dust is the occasion and subject of the contest. But who are the conflicting parties? On the one side, appears the King of glory, Jehovah, the God of armies, clothed with majesty, arrayed in power, rousing up Omnipotent might, to overwhelm the opposing foe. From the solemnity of the encounter, on the part of God, we learn the formidable nature and qualities of Death, the king of terrors. He who said at the beginning, "ye shall not surely die," still deceives the children of folly, by teaching them to scoff, with insolent disdain, at that death which they know to be inevitable, and to flatter themselves, with Agag, that its unexperienced bitterness will soon be past. Even the children of wisdom are sometimes lulled into sleep, by indulging shallow thoughts of their final conflict with this enemy. But let us not deceive ourselves. The declaration of the text, rich in grace and salvation, teaches us to think of death with awe, as a formidable adversary, in subduing whose terrors, and in annihilating whose dominion, the Almighty appears in serious contest, and gains to himself "a glorious, an everlasting name."

2. But, while we awaken and humble ourselves, by just views of the formidable nature of death, let us rise to confidence, by observing how the expression of the text brings into this conflict the Infinite zeal of Deity. "He will swallow up death in victory." With what Divine impetuosity doth the God of compassion burst into the field, while death assails the children of his love! As a parent, beholding his child seized by a wild beast, or serpent, or human ruffian, rushes at once on the enemy, and, if his strength fail not, tears him in pieces; so will the blessed God come down, "terrible, out of his holy places," to fight for his children, when the iron hand of death lays hold on them. Such are the ideas which God condescends to suggest by this expression; and still more explicitly, Hosea 13:14, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes."

3. Thus we see, my brethren, how "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Still farther, the same words, which exhibit the greatness of the love of God, lead us to contemplate the glory of his eternal power, as being infinitely more than sufficient to create this important victory over death. "He will swallow up death in victory." His arm shall be strong enough to crush this enemy: having overwhelmed all the might of death, his right hand shall appear glorious in power, possessing a boundless redundancy of vigor, beyond that which is actually exerted. The terrific force of death shall fall before the approach of the merciful power of Jehovah, as a giant sinks in the vast ocean, sufficient to be the grave of millions on millions beside.

That you may fully believe this, (and practically to believe it, in dying circumstances, will be very important,) remember, brethren, the majestic energy of the quiet and peaceful movements of Omnipotence, in the creation of the universe, when no resistance of an enemy was to be overcome. Who, then, can conceive the triumphant efficacy of Omnipotence, agitated, incensed, inflamed by the jealousy of love?

Such are the views, which, speaking after the manner of men, the Spirit opens to us in the text, and in other passages. At the same time, laying aside the figurative personification of death, we strengthen our faith, by considering, that whatever alarming, distressing power may belong to this evil, that power is from God. Death is the work of God; it is God frowning upon the sin of man. It follows, that the evil which comes from God, in the way of holy severity, must be completely under his control, and easily conquered and absorbed by his triumphant love.

4. If the cause of victory be thus all-sufficient, the effect, in the experience of dying Christians, must be an abundant sensation of victory. Rom. 8:37. "In all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us." When God comes forth to fulfill the language of the text, an overflowing fullness of victory shall be joyfully felt by the departing soul. Receiving a sufficiency of present strength, the believer shall see an infinite treasure behind; his dying graces, faith, patience, resignation, hope, and love, shall be richly invigorated; the joy of felt conquest shall surpass all that he ever anticipated, and, with an inexpressible burst of delight, overflow into the ocean of eternity. "To him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power which worketh in us. To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

II. Having considered the particular manner of expression in the particular manner of expression in the text; let us, my brethren, go forward, as we proposed, to take a more comprehensive view of the subject, and inquire, by what methods the wise and merciful God raises his people to the possession of victory over death.

1. This is done by a clear and powerful revelation of the glory of God.

Stephen the martyr, entering into this victory, began his dying speech with this observation; and who can conceive how he felt the majesty of his own words? "The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee." These words of the inspired sufferer point out the efficacy of Divine illumination, in a case analogous to that under our consideration. The object in view was to reconcile the mind of Abraham, to a final parting with all the comforts of his native country, and to make him willing to follow the conduct of the invisible God, into a unknown and undescribed territory. A thousand reasonings and questionings might rise in his mind against the proposal. But, to preclude them all, and at once to give decision and firmness to the patriarch's mind, "The God of glory appeared to him." The transcendent excellency of Jehovah was impressed deeply on his soul: beholding God, and captivated by Divine love, he hesitated not to make the required sacrifice, and, at every step from his home, he glorified his God.

Paul speaks of tedious and severe sufferings, as light, and as momentary; he represents the avenue through death, to the tribunal of Jesus Christ, as shining with a sweet, inviting luster. How did he rise to such ideas? Hear him, my beloved brethren, explain the origin of his magnanimity: "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." Compare II Cor. 4:17-18, and 5:1-10, with II Cor. 4:6.

A powerful discovery of the glory of God raises the soul to victory over death. That it is sufficient to produce such an effect, will appear manifest, whether we consider the excellency of the glory discovered to the soul, or the majestic clearness and evidence of the light which makes the discovery, or the sweet, commanding influence of that light, on him who receives it.

The glory of God, including the essential perfections of Jehovah, his holy moral attributes, his mysterious love, his boundless all-sufficiency, is an object so sublime and splendid, that its luster eclipses all earthly excellency; and, according to the bold language of the prophet, in the preceding chapter, verse 23, makes the sun and moon ashamed to appear.

But the revelation of this astonishing object, in Divine light, carries the soul far out of the cold region of opinion and conjecture. That light, justly denominated in Scripture, "marvelous light," shines from on high with majestic evidence, demonstrating its heavenly origin, abolishing doubt, and emboldening the soul to rest, on the sealed truth of God, its all for eternity.

So vast, so glorious an object, presented to the soul in such light, must have an irresistible, attractive force; must command the heart away from the inferior system of things; must engage the immortal spirit to take up its everlasting abode in God himself. This is the language, not of enthusiasm, but of Scripture. "Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." "Thou hast made Jehovah, even the Most High, thy habitation." "He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." Pss. 90:1, 91:9, I John 4:16.

The consequence, in relation to death, is obvious. The removal from world to world is no longer an essential change; it is only an alteration of circumstances; it is an ascent from God imperfectly known, to the same God seen as he is.

2. In close connection with this illumination in the knowledge of God, victory over death is produced by a powerful application of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to the conscience.

Abstracted from this, the view of the glory of God would be too awful for the sinful creature; it would overwhelm him with terror. Blessed be God, the mystery of the cross is to us the central medium of revealing Divine glory. The influence of this mystery, applied to conscience to subdue the terror of death, is unbounded.

Such has been the uniform experience of Christian martyrs, grappling with Satan, and with death in every terrific form. Rev. 12:11. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Such is the universal experience of the children of God, including the most timid and feeble of them. Heb. 2:14-15. "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them, who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage." The sublime sweetness of that triumph over death, which is derived from the death and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, is at once exhibited and explained in those memorable words: I Cor. 15:55-57. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" There is the triumph: the explication follows. "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

For giving birth to so serious a triumph of soul, more, it must be remarked, is requisite, than speculative ideas of redemption by the cross, however distinct, plausible, and well-arranged such ideas may be. It is the powerful application, to the conscience, of this mystery, which creates the true victory over death: application not of man to man, not of a man to himself; but an application by the agency of the Spirit of the living God. This Divine Agent performs the work, which, in vain the deceiving priest mimics, brandishing his crucifix before the swimming eyes of the dying. HE glorifies the crucified Savior, enlightening the eyes of the understanding to see his transcendent excellency. He impresses on the trembling conscience, the purity and immense worth of the obedience and sufferings of Immanuel. He, operating by the word of truth, assures the soul hastening to the Supreme tribunal, that it is accepted before the Judge of all in the Beloved; that the Holy God is pacified and well-pleased; that the claims of hell are canceled; that the inheritance of glory is secured.

The Spirit of truth -- the Comforter -- imparts this evangelic light, in full proportion to every just view of the glorious perfections of God; in full proportion to every deep alarm of conscience; in full proportion to all the solemnities of an entrance, through death and judgment, to a boundless and unalterable eternity. See John 16:7-14; Eph. 1:17 etc., 3:16 etc.

3. But what new, surprising beams of light are these, which dawn in my distant horizon, which snatch the world from my languid eyes! What glory is this which rapidly encircles me! What sounds do I hear! What countenances, what spotless forms, sweep along! What invisible arms embrace me! What majestic splendors attract me, and, with an instinctive, mighty impulse, draw forth the throbbing, panting, groaning cry of my heart, "Let me die, that I may enter into this amazing life!"

These, my soul, are the approaching glories of the New Jerusalem; this is the King of glory, passing through thy everlasting doors; this is Jesus, thy Shepherd, giving thee eternal life: "None is able to pluck thee out of his hands."

Yes, beloved brethren, the heavens are opened over every dying believer. Your God swallows up death in victory, by showing you the fair fields, rivers, fruits, of his paradise in the heavens.

Here let us pause, and arrest the current of our ideas. Other views of this victory remain to be considered. In the meanwhile, let every soul think of the preciousness of the Divine feast proclaimed in the context, which brings with it victory over death. Let every soul inquire, Hath God destroyed the face of the covering, spread over me by sin and unbelief, and the veil which hides such glories from the benighted mind? Till this is manifestly done, let me give myself, let me give the God of mercy, no rest. To him be glory for ever.

"He will swallow up death in victory: and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 25:8.