Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2071
“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at My Word.” Isaiah 66:2.
PORTRAIT painting is a great art. Many pretend to it but the masters of the art are few. In the Word of God we have a gallery of portraits so accurate, so striking, that only the hand of the Lord could have drawn them. Most of us have been startled to see our own portrait there. The best of all is that at the bottom of each likeness we have the Lord’s judgment upon the character so that we are able to form an estimate of what our true condition is before the Lord. Here you have a man drawn—he is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at the Word of the Lord. Here, also, you have the Lord’s estimate of him—“To this man will I look.”
I hope to dwell chiefly upon the character described in the closing words, “And trembles at My Word.” Support the text by the fifth verse, “Hear the Word of the Lord, you that tremble at His Word.” This trembling is, in God’s esteem, an admirable trait in their character. The glorious Jehovah from His Throne in Heaven speaks of those contrite ones who tremble at His Word—and then the Prophet takes up the strain and cries, “Hear the Word of the Lord, you that tremble at His Word.” It is a very great mercy that there are descriptions of saints given in the Word of God which go very low and reach the feeblest degrees of Divine Grace and the saddest frames of mind.
We find the children of God sometimes upon very high places—their spiritual life is vigorous and their inward joy is abounding. When we give you descriptions of saints in that condition, many of the Little-Faiths at once cry out, “Alas, I know nothing of this! Would God it were so with me! But, indeed, it is not.” They are greatly discouraged by those very things which should raise their spirits and stimulate their desires—for surely if one Believer is able to climb the Delectable Mountains, there is all the more hope that another may do so.
Yet, we have to thank God that in His priceless Scripture, He has painted for us portraits of the Believer in his low estate. In the picture gallery of those saved by faith we find Rahab as well as Sarah and erring Samson as well as holy Samuel. In the Family Register of the Lord we have the names of Believers who were weak and sad and faulty. We have instances in the Sacred Record of undoubtedly gracious men who were in very uncomfortable and undesirable conditions. Men are spoken of as the Lord’s people when their souls are sick, when Divine Grace is at a very low ebb and when joy is eclipsed.
God’s people are in Scripture owned as such when it is winter with their spirits lie dormant like sap stagnant in the tree. The Lord acknowledges spiritual life in His own when there is small evidence of it, and when that evidence is confused. The mention in the Scriptures of small but sure evidences is cheering to many. I know many of God’s people that have been greatly comforted by the text, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the Brethren.” “Oh,” they have said, “we do feel a love to all God’s people, whoever they may be. And if that is evidence of Divine Grace, we have that evidence.”
Apostles could say, “We know and we are quite sure about it, that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the Brethren.” Therefore we also may be encouraged by our sense of love to the saints to enjoy the same assured confidence that we also have passed from death unto life. You may, some of you, think this an insecure ground of consolation. But I can bear witness that it is, like the conies’ hole among the rocks, a very useful shelter from the enemy.
That is a very choice evidence, too, where God speaks of those that think upon His name—“A book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name.” If our thoughts dwell lovingly
upon the name of the Lord, this is a saving sign. And yet how small a thing it seems! Thoughts are like straws but they show which way the wind blows. Surely the Lord’s net of comfort has meshes small enough to hold the smallest fish.
That, again, is very comforting where the Lord says, “Your heart shall live that seek Him.” Even seekers shall live. Though as yet they are rather seekers than possessors, they have the Lord’s promise of eternal life. Though they are only pursuing and have become faint in the pursuit, yet the love which set them pursuing will keep them following on. That is a blessed Word, indeed—“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” “I do call upon His name,” says one, “I know I do. I am crying to Him in prayer. I do wish to have His name named upon me. I choose Him to be my God and I dedicate myself to Him. And if that is calling upon God’s name, then, truly, I am a child of God.”