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Understand my text, however paradoxical it may seem, as being a genuine invitation on the part of a gracious God to the most provoking of men.

I. Our text appears as A HUMBLING CHALLENGE. God had punished Israel on account of sin. Israel was not penitent, but in self-righteousness judged that the Lord was harsh and severe. "Come, then," says God, "come and plead your suit with Me. Put Me in remembrance of any virtues on your part which I may be supposed to have overlooked. If I have misjudged you, if you have not really been neglectful of My service and worship, let the matter be rectified. If really you have a righteousness of your own, put Me in remembrance of it."

1. On looking back we find that the Lord had charged His people with neglect of prayer. "But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob." This is the charge which we are compelled to bring against all unconverted men and women. Perhaps you offer a form of prayer; but that is nothing if your heart goes not with the words. This is rather to mock God than truly to call upon Him. But come now; if there be any mistake in this charge, disprove it!

2. Next, the Lord charged it upon Israel that they had not delighted in Him. "Thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel." Can you deny this? If you can, you are invited to state your innocence before the Lord.

3. The Lord had also said that these people did not honour Him. "Thou hast not brought Me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices." It may be you have presented no tokens of love to the Lord at all; or, on the other hand, you may have brought sacrifices, but you have not honoured God by them. You have given that you might be known to give, or because others did so, but not with the view of honouring God. Yet if it be so, if any unconverted man can say that whether he eats or drinks, or whatsoever he does, he seeks to do all to the glory of God, this ought to be known. It would be a new thing under the sun. In truth, it would prove that the man was converted, and had been renewed in the spirit of his mind by the grace of God. But it is not so.

4. Moreover, the Lord charged Israel that they did not love Him. "Thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins" — thou hast made Me a very slave with thy waywardness. "Thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities," — God's patience was tried to the utmost with their wanton wickedness. Is not this charge sadly true of many? If it be not so, you are now challenged to vindicate your characters. Do not set up a lying defence, but speak the truth.

6. The challenge before us is occupied not only with the ways of man, but with the ways of God; for the Lord here asserts of Himself, "I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense." That is to say, God is no hard taskmaster. The commandments of God are essential justice; you could not improve upon them; no law could be more for our benefit than that which He has given us. If God has treated you like slaves, then say so, and state your grievance in solemn converse with God. When God forbids us anything, it is because He knows it would be for our harm; and when God commands us to do anything, it is because He knows that it is for our soul's eternal good.

II. I hope you will be able to follow me while our penitence suggests AN AMENDED VERSION. Let us take the text as our consciousness of guilt desires to read it. There are certain things which God in great love invites us to bring before His memory. If you cannot take up His challenge, and prove your personal righteousness, let the charges stand, with your silence as an assent to them; and now plead with Him, and pat Him in remembrance of matters which may serve your turn, and lead to your forgiveness.

1. Put the Lord in remembrance of that glorious act of amnesty and oblivion which in sovereign grace He has proclaimed to the sons of men in the preceding verse. That done, proceed to put the Lord in remembrance of your sins. Make an open unreserved acknowledgment unto the Lord. Confess this also, that you have continued by your sins to go away from Him who invites you to return, and promises you a welcome reception.

2. When you have done this, if your spirit is much depressed, and your heart is driven to despair by a sense of your guilt, then put the Lord in remembrance of the extraordinary reason which He gives for pardoning sin: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake." Say unto Him thus: "Lord, there is no reason in me why Thou shouldest spare me, but do it for Thine own sake — for Thy love's sake, for Thy mercy's sake."

3. When you have gone as far as that in putting God in remembrance, I would advise you to plead the Lord's purpose and intent revealed in verse 21: "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." Say, "Lord, I am Thy poor creature. Thou hast made me; even my very body is fearfully and wonderfully made; and the mysterious thing which dwells within me which I call my soul, is also the creature of Thy power. Hast Thou not made me for Thyself? Wilt Thou not have a desire to the work of Thine own hands? Lord, come and bless me! Sinner as I am, and utterly undeserving, yet I am Thy creature; do not fling me upon the dunghill. If Thou wilt forgive me, Lord, might I not praise Thee?"

4. If that does not ease you, go a little further back in the chapter till you come to verse 19: "Behold, I will do a new thing," etc. Plead that published declaration! Say, "Lord, Thou hast said 'I will do a new thing': it will indeed be a new thing if I am saved. I am driven to such self-abhorrence, that if ever I am saved I shall be a leading wonder among Thy miracles of grace." It may be you can say — "Lord, I have been sighing and crying and groaning now by the month together, and I can find no peace. Oh, if Thou wilt but put a new song into my mouth, the dragons and the owls that saw me in my gloom shall open their eyes and be astonished, and honour the Lord God of Israel!" I know some who might say, "Lord, it will fill all the workshop with wonder if I shall rejoice in Jesus. All my friends and companions will wonder that I should become happy and holy through sovereign grace."

III. Our text affords us some PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. If the Lord says, "Put Me in remembrance," then —

1. It is very clear that we ought to remember these things ourselves. Oh, you that are not saved, remember the years in which you have lived without prayer l What a wonder that you have been permitted to live at all! Remember, next, for your humbling, how weary you have been of God. Some I would urge to remember long years of neglect of God's service, with all their niggardliness to the cause of God, all their want of love to God, all the many times in which they have hardened their hearts, stopped their ears, and refused the warnings and invitations of their Saviour.

2. It is time that we should now begin our pleading with God.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

WEB: Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified.