Isaiah 49:1-6 Listen, O isles, to me; and listen, you people, from far; The LORD has called me from the womb… We are justified in referring this paragraph to the Lord Jesus, as the ideal Servant of God. And we may get some useful teaching as to the conditions of the loftiest and best service which, following His steps, we may render to His Father and our Father. I. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL SERVANT. 1. A holy motherhood. "The Lord hath called me from the womb." The greatest and best of men have confessed their indebtedness to their mothers; and not a few have, without doubt, enshrined in their character, and wrought out in their life, inspirations which had thrilled their mothers' natures from early girlhood. It is from their mothers that men get their souls. To make a man, God begins with his mother. Few of us realise the immense importance attaching to the education of girls. 2. Incisive speech. "He hath made My mouth like a sharp sword." Speech is the most God-like faculty in man. Christ did not scruple to be called the word or speech of God. This regal faculty is God's chosen organ for announcing and establishing His kingdom over the earth. Our mouth must be surrendered to God, that He may implant there the sharp two-edged sword that proceeds from His own lips (Revelation 1:16). 3. Seclusion. "In the shadow." We must all go there sometimes. The photograph of God's face can only be fixed in the dark chamber. 4. Freed from rust. "A polished shaft." Weapons of war soon deteriorate. Rust can best be removed by sand-paper or the file. Similarly we must be kept bright and clean. For this purpose God uses the fret of daily life, the chafe of small annoyances, the wear and tear of irritating tempers and vexing circumstances. II. APPARENT FAILURE (ver. 4). This heart-break seems inevitable to God's most gifted and useful servants. It is in part the result of nervous overstrain, e.g. Elijah (1 Kings 19.). But in part it results from the expanding compassion of the soul. There are three 'sources of consolation. 1. That failure will not forfeit the bright smile of the Master's welcome nor the reward of His judgment-seat. He judges righteously; and rewards, not according to results, but to faithfulness. 2. The soul leans more heavily upon God. "My God is become My strength" (ver. 5). 3. We turn to prayer. How sweetly God refers to this, saying, "In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee" (ver. 8). Thus God deals with us all. He is compelled to take us to the back side of the desert, where we sit face to face with the wreck of our fairest hopes. There He teaches us, as He only can, weaning us from creature-confidence, and taking pride from our hearts. III. ULTIMATE SUCCESS. When Jesus died, failure seemed written across His lifework. But that very Cross, which man deemed His supreme disgrace and dethronement, has become the stepping-stone of universal dominion. Thus it may be with some. They are passing through times of barrenness, and disappointment, and suffering. But let them remember that the Lord is faithful (ver. 7). He will not suffer one word to fail, one seed to be lost, one effort to prove abortive, one life to be wasted. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. |
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