“The Remnant of Jacob”

Micah 5:7

 

The remnant of Jacob” is Christ’s seed in the earth that shall serve him, the generation accounted to the Lord to serve him (Psalm 22:30), Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. — “The remnant of Jacob” is God’s elect, all those who must and shall be saved by his grace. — “The remnant of Jacob” is the whole Church of God, the whole Israel of God, all who have been, all who are, and all who shall be saved in Christ. Blessed are they who are included in the number of “the remnant of Jacob”!

 

What is a remnant? A remnant is what is left over. A remnant is that which is useless, despised, and thrown away. A remnant is the last piece of cloth on a bolt, or roll. If it is not thrown away, it is sold at a discount because it not worth much. That is a pretty good description of you and me. God’s elect are looked upon as below the mark, not fit for society, as narrow, crude, crotchety, peculiar. Because of this they are a nuisance and aggravation to all.

 

It was true in Micah’s time, and it is true today, that the Church and people of the living God are a poor, needy remnant, a remnant scattered among the nations. An elect remnant, a redeemed remnant, a protected remnant, Micah tells us that we are God’s remnant. Particularly and distinctly he tells us that we are God’s remnant in Christ’s hands, under Christ’s care, given to Christ, our Prince, Priest, Provider, and Protector (Micah 5:4).

 

            In the third verse of this chapter we read of this remnant, ­ ­“Therefore will he give them up, until the time [that] she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” There is, without question, a prophecy here of the marvellous incarnation of the Son of God (v. 2). Yet, this is also a reference to the spiritual birth all God’s elect experience in time, when Divine life is implanted in us and imparted to us by the Spirit of God and the resurrection-power of our Lord Jesus Christ is experienced in the soul. — “Then shall the remnant of his brethren return unto the children of Israel.” Blessed be God, ­“to him shall the gathering of the people be.” To him all the scattered remnant shall be gathered at God’s appointed time of love. All the elect shall be born again. All the redeemed shall be made “partakers of the divine nature.” All the chosen shall be brought to Christ and brought to life in and with him in the blessed new creation of grace!

 

            Because Christ our Surety stands “in the majesty of his God they” (all his people, the remnant that comes to him) “they shall abide!” The scattered ones who are gathered “shall,” not may, “shall abide.” Then comes the glorious climax of this precious prophecy concerning Zion’s King and Lord, “for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.” In these words we have a glorious description of him whose goings forth have been from everlasting and shall be to everlasting in the salvation, glorification, and blessedness of his people.

 

5

 

            What is the sure and certain result of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Prince, Priest, Provider, and Protector? — “And they shall abide.” O glorious security! Not one shall perish. None can pluck the weakest from his loving embrace. Not all the hosts of hell and earth combined shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

            Yes! It is gloriously true: “He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and they shall abide” on his loving heart, in his affectionate embrace, on his glorious throne, amidst the wreck of matter and the crush of worlds. — “They shall abide,” members of his body, never to be severed from him whom they love because he first loved them. — “They shall abide” as the bride of his heart never to be divorced by him, never allowed to leave him, and ever indulged with the sweet kisses of his mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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