Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 564
Delivered on Sunday Morning, April 10, 1864, by the Rev. C, H. Spurgeon, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
“Yet now hear, O Jacob, My servant. And Israel, whom Ihave chosen: thus says the Lord thatmadeyou and formed you from the womb, which will help you. Fear not, O Jacob, My servant. And you, Jesurun, whom Ihave chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon your seed and My blessing upon your offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. One shall say, I am the Lord’s, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob. And another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” Isaiah 44:1-5.
WE ought not to overlook the first and immediate meaning of these words. There can be no doubt that we have here a promise made to God’s ancient people, the Jews. Whatever their sins may have been, God has not forever cast them away. They have become like the dry and thirsty desert, but the day will yet dawn when God’s sovereign love shall again visit them and His Spirit shall distil upon them until Israel shall be glorious among the nations and her children shall be multiplied and saved. O that the long-expected day would hasten! Break, hallowed morning, for earth’s watchers are growing weary! The twelve tribes right longingly wait for the appearance of Messiah the Prince and we also who believe in Jesus, joyfully expect His advent and the gathering together of Israel.
How great will be the day of the Lord’s gracious visitation! “For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” If the fall of them is the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? The vision tarries, but it will surely come! The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Be it ours to rejoice in that ancient promise, “There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My Covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
Leaving this interesting view of the text, we will meditate on it, for practical purposes of comfort to ourselves. Observe that the text begins with the word, “Yet.” What an ominous word as to the past! What a cheering word as to the future! “Yet.” “Yet.” What black words are those which come before it? Surely all is not well. Look at the preceding verses and see. God’s people were represented as being in a sadly backsliding state. They had lost their love to the service of God. They neglected His altar. They brought Him no thank offerings. No, they had fallen into a state of sin until they wearied God with their iniquity.
Consequently they fell into a condition of sorrow—God gave them up to the curse and the reproach. It may be that such is our case this morning, though we are God’s people. Perhaps our soul lies cleaving in the dust. We have forgotten to run with diligence in the way of God’s Commandments. We have fallen into a lukewarm state. We are following afar off. It may be that we have even fallen into sin and sitting in this House of Prayer we confess with Pharaoh’s butler, “I do remember my faults this day.”
It is very possible that we have been made too smart for our sins. God may have hidden His face from us. Our faith may be flagging—our graces may be withering. It will be so, it must be so when we forsake our God. If we leave the flowing Fountain to trust in broken cisterns, we shall soon know the bitterness of thirst. “Yet.” “Yet,” says the text—“yet,” though you have fallen into this state, do not despair! Though you have transgressed very foully, do not think God has cast you away! “Yet now hear, O Jacob, My servant. And Israel, whom I have chosen.” Yet—the word is a star of the morning, prophetic of brighter rays—yet I love you! Yet you are My chosen! Yet My loving heart is true to you! Yet will I return unto you in favor! Yet shall you rejoice in Me and be filled with My goodness!
Come then, Brothers and Sisters, if we have wandered ever so far, let this word sound like the shepherd’s call to bring us back. You need not always be sad—there is no necessity that you should be always weak in righteousness and abundant in sin—yet the promise is yours! Yet God loves you! Yet He invites you to come to Him! Return now and seek His face once more. You have lived in the feverish lowlands, yet climb the mountains! You have groveled in the dust, yet ascend as on eagles’ wings! You have been covered with sackcloth, yet put on your beautiful array! Your neglect of the promises has not made them the less sure. The key of your faith may be rusted, but it will still open the door of mercy.