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The truth in this verse may be said to have met with its partial fulfilment in the unique and marvellous experience of the Jews; for(1) They are but a "remnant" of the human family, being but a fragment, a fraction of the whole human race.

(2) They dwell in "remnants," in detached, broken, and fragmentary portions, "here a little and there a little."(3) They dwell "in the midst of many people," so that there is hardly a single nation or people in which there is not at present some small remnant of the Abrahamic seed.

(4) They exist, and are preserved as a witness on the behalf of heaven and its truth.

(5) All this has been continued irrespective of, and, in many cases, in opposition to the most earnest human effort, "tarrying not for man," etc.

I. THE PAUCITY OF THE TRUE. God has ever had a people peculiarly His own; and who will dare dispute His right to have a more special regard to some, than He may have to others? Calvinian or Arminian, we all agree that "the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself"; the true from among the false, and the pure from amongst the vile. From the dawn of human history these have been but a "remnant" of the human family. Look at the flood, and at Egypt. Thus the holy and the true are but a "remnant" in nations, in towns, and in families.

II. THE POSITION OF THE TRUE. "In the midst," etc. It might be more in harmony with our own natural tastes and preferences to be a separate people in one land swarming together, without any of the false about us, but such is not God's arrangement. Shiploads of Christians may leave our shores for some Canterbury or other settlement, where they may hope to live and not see the face of an unbeliever, but sadly do such men err in expecting this. Should the whole Church but settle down in one land, it would be a most grievous curse and woe to the world. We are to settle down only in heaven. The distribution of the Church "in the midst," etc., is necessary in order to promote the Divine purpose; for it exists not for itself alone, but as leaven in meal, as salt, as Divine seed, here a grain and there a grain. Learn this, that God hath placed you "in the midst" of your enemies, by contact to bless them, for each has his sphere.

III. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRUE. The design of their dispersion has a vital relation to the people amongst whom they are placed, as the dew and showers to the grass. As the showers are of heavenly origin, so is Israel "born from above." As the dew is a pure and crystal liquid, so the true Israel is composed of the choicest natures and sweetest spirits in the world. Dew is silently produced, and so the mightiest work may be accomplished in the human soul, "without observation." As the dew and showers are entirely independent of the human, so the Church, like the truth, lives not upon human sufferance. This purpose will be fulfilled. Many weak and unbelieving minds have thought that the true, being but a "remnant," their influence would waste and die, but thank God this cannot be, for the source is unfailing and Divine.

(E. D. Green.)

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KJV: And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

WEB: The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, that don't wait for man, nor wait for the sons of men.