Isaiah 44:21-22 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: O Israel… I. THE TITLE WHICH THE LORD GIVES TO HIS PEOPLE. "My servant." 1. Notice what a practical title it is. It has to do with action and service; it has to do with the heart, but also with the hand, with the inner and with the outer life. There is no true Christian but the practical Christian. A servant is not always at work; but a servant is always a servant, and ever ready for work. 2. It is a personal title — "Thou." 3. It is an exclusive title — "My servant. These other people are servants of Baal or Ashtaroth; but thou art My servant." When a man has a servant, he expects him to serve him, and not to be in the employ of other people. God's servants must serve God; not idols, not the world, not self, not sin, not Satan. 4. It is an honourable title. It must be so, for God uses the title in this verse twice over. "Thou art My servant: I have formed thee; thou art My servant." To serve God, is truly to reign, 5. This is a title of acceptance. As God says, twice over, "Thou art My servant," He means, "I accept thee as My servant; I own thee as such." One reason why we are God's servants is that He has forgiven us our trespasses (ver. 22). II. THE PROMISE WHICH HE MAKES TO US. "Thou shalt not be forgotten of Me." Men forget us. And they turn against us. Those for whom you do the most are often those who will be most unkind, and most bitter against you. But God says, "Thou shalt not be forgotten of Me." What does this promise mean? 1. That God will never cease to love His servants. 2. That the Lord will never cease to think of His servants. The thoughts of God are wonderful. He can think of every individual saint as much as if there were no other saint in the universe. III. SOME REASONS WHICH ASSURE US THAT GOD WILL NOT FORGET THOSE WHO ARE TRULY HIS SERVANTS. 1. The very best reason is that He says he will not forget us. 2. God cannot forget us, since He has made us. The former part of the verse says, "Thou art My servant: I have formed thee." With His own fingers He has made us into vessels of mercy, so He cannot forget us. 3. He has blessed us; He has blessed us so much already that He cannot forget us now. 4. He has loved us so long already. Was there ever a time when the redeemed of the Lord were not written on the heart of Christ? He loved you before the first star began to dart its golden arrows through the darkness of space. Rest you then secure; love so ancient will never die out. 5. We have cost Him so much. 6. He is too good a Lord to cast us off. He is a wretch of a man who casts off an old servant simply because he is old. The Lord does not turn His old servants adrift; but says, "Even to your old age, I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you." ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. |
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