The Lawful Captive Delivered.

From: The Gospel Messenger: Volume 3 (1888)

ONE evening in the autumn I was talking to a friend, on whom I had called, when we were interrupted by the cat, ―a beautiful Persian, ―who had evidently got something he wanted us to see. At last―so importunate was Tom―my friend stooped down and found that he had got a bird, and after some little trouble she succeeded in taking it away from him. It was a pretty little robin, but the cat had used it so cruelly that it was in vain to think of doing anything for its relief. As it lay in her hand, panting, with its broken leg and drooping wing, she said, “What can I do with it?” A neighbor coming to the door heard her speak, and after examining the bird said, “You can’t do anything with it; better let me put it out of its misery,” and suiting the action to the word he wrung its neck. In that little bird, crushed and helpless, I saw a picture of myself when under the power of Satan. Too weak for any effort, powerless to save myself, I must surely have perished forever, had not One who was stronger than my captor come to the rescue. “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” I was Satan’s lawful captive, for I was a sinner, and we read in John 8:34³⁴Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34), “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [or slave] of sin;” and again, “Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19¹⁹While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2:19)).

The answer is given to the question propounded in Isaiah 49:24²⁴Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? (Isaiah 49:24), “Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children” (Isa. 49:25²⁵But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (Isaiah 49:25)); and it was Jehovah Jesus who bound the “strong man armed,” went right down into Satan’s stronghold, through death destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is the devil” (Heb. 2:14¹⁴Forasmuch then 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; (Hebrews 2:14)), and ascending up on high “led captivity captive.” “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things” (Eph. 4:8, 9, 10⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:8‑10). The One who said, “O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction” (Hos. 13:14¹⁴I 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. (Hosea 13:14)), who “hath abolished death” (2 Tim. 1:10¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10)), and “spoiled principalities and powers” (Col. 2:15¹⁵And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)), is the One who has set me free.

Reader, are you free? If you are still in the strong man’s house, I would urge you to flee from it now. The Lord Jesus Christ has bound the strong man armed, and you may go free if you will. He who has “the keys of hell and of death’’ (Rev. 1:18¹⁸I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)) is for you. Poor sinner, escape while you may.

You who are sinking “in darkness and in the shadow of death,” there is light and deliverance for you. Oh, turn to the One to whom the Lord Jehovah could say, “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee,... that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves” (Isa. 49:8, 9⁸Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; ⁹That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. (Isaiah 49:8‑9)). The apostle Paul, quoting the above passage of Scripture, winds up with “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).