Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1895
“But now thus says the Lord that created you, O Jacob, and He that formed you O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I ha ve called you by your name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I ga ve Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I give men for you, and people for your life.” Isaiah 43:1-4
“Butyou have not called upon Me, O Jacob, butyou have been weary of Me, O Israel. You have not brought Me the small cattle of your burnt offerings; neither have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with an offering, nor wearied you with incense. You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, neither have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices: butyou have made Me to serve with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities.”
Verses22-24.
“Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you are My servant: I have formed you, you are My servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of Me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto Me, for Ihave redeemed you. Sing, O you heavens; for the Lord has done it: shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it: for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel.” Isaiah 44:21-23.
WHEN two Christians met together who were sitting under a very lean and starving ministry, one of them comforted his fellow concerning the miserable discourse by saying, “Never mind, my Friend, there is not much in the sermon, but the text is a feast by itself.” So, this morning, if my words should seem to be very poor and powerless, what fullness there is in these three texts! Here you have a dainty meal of three courses. You ought to be well nourished this morning, for I have set before you, in these passages of Scripture, quite as much as the largest capacity will be able to mark, learn and inwardly digest. Here is good pasture for the flock, wherein they may not only feed, but lie down! Did you say, “Too much text?” Possibly you might, on other occasions, reproach me with having too little of God’s Word and too much of my own, but there can be no fault the other way—the more of the Word of the Lord the better! What is man’s word compared with God’s Word? It is as chaff to the wheat, at worst, and as mere gold-leaf to solid bullion at best! Indeed, my word is of no value at all, except as it is made up of the essence of the Divine Word. Far better than our best exposition is the Word itself—this is the pure light of the sun—ours is but a poor candle! Of the Scripture itself we cannot have too much. If you derive no other profit from this assembling of yourselves together but to have your earnest attention directed to this precious part of Holy Writ, if the Spirit of God is with you, your meditations will make this a profitable hour!
Notice concerning these three texts that they are very much alike in this respect—they are each addressed to God’s people under the names of Jacob and Israel. The first text begins, “The Lord that created you, O Jacob, and He that formed you, O Israel.” And the second is like it, “You have not called upon Me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of Me, O Israel.” And so is the third, “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are My servant.” The Lord mentions both
the natural and the spiritual names of His servants—and this He does out of love to them. As tender parents will lovingly repeat all their children’s names, sometimes calling them by one and sometimes by another. As different memories arise in their minds, so the Lord remembers Jacob, the name of His chosen given him at birth, by which he was known as “the supplanter.” And then He repeats that higher name of Israel, the prevailing prince, which he won in a great spiritual struggle when he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and would not let Him go. To make sure that the people should know to whom He spoke, the Lord calls them both Jacob and Israel. We are so apt to set the promise aside for someone else, that it is well to have the full address placed at the head of these heavenly telegrams.
These texts are also like each other, again, from their being, each one, overflowing with love. Their manner and their matter differ, but their spirit is one. I do not know where the Lord’s love is best seen—when He declares it and tells of what He has done and is doing for His people—or when He laments over their lack of love in return, or when He promises to blot out their past sin and invites them to return to Him and enjoy His restoring Grace. I trust that I may be helped so to handle these words that a sweet fragrance of love shall fill this house, as when choice ointment is poured forth. May you believe and feel the love of God to you. And then may there arise out of your own hearts the perfume of another love, born of the first, and like unto it—the love of your renewed hearts towards your God. This love is a spark of the eternal flame of God’s love for you—may it never be quenched!