Sermon #  152           Series: Isaiah

 

Title:   “Yet Will I Not Forget Thee”

Text:  Isaiah 49:14-16

Subject:  God’s Promise Never To Forget His People

Date:   Sunday Afternoon – May 30, 1993

 

Introduction:

 

In verse 13 Isaiah calls for heaven and earth to sing and rejoice.  Well might the earth and the mountains of it break forth into singing. “for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted!”

 

But we do not always see things in the light of eternity.   We do not always view things in the light of God’s promise, or in the light of his revealed purpose – Do we?  To often, far to often, we…

Judge the Lord by feeble sense

And will not trust His grace;

Behind the frowning providence,

We think there must also be a frowning face!

 

“God said, “Rejoice!”  (Phil. 4:4).

“But Zion said,  “That is the Church and people of God often say, “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me!”  What a pity!  How shameful.  Yet, this is the common complaint of many, and at one time or another has been the complaint (I suppose) of all God’s people in this world.  Though I have never used these words, lest “I should offend against the generation of thy children,” I have often made this complaint against my God.

 

Today, I went to chastise myself, correct our thinking about God’s faithfulness, and comfort the heart of all who trust Christ.  I take God’s words to you who are his chosen, redeemed, called people in verse 15, for the title of my message.  God says to you and me.  “Yet Will I Not Forget Thee!”  What a word of grace that is!  What a gracious promise!

 

Proposition:  The Lord God has promised never to forget, much less forsake hispeople in this world.

 

Divisions:

 

I want to show you three things in this message:

  1. The Complaint
  2. The Consolation
  3. The Cause

 

I.  The Complaint – (v. 14).

 

This complaint, as I said before, is not uncommon among God’s people.  Indeed, it is far too common.

 

A.  As I head the Scriptures and Reflect upon My Own Experience, I think there Are Three Things Primarily That Give Birth To This Complaint.

 

1.       Protracted Affliction (Job 6:2-9; Lam. 3:1-20).

  1. Protracted Guilt (Ps. 32:3-4; 51:7-15).
  2. Unanswered Prayer (Ps. 88:1-18).

 

B.  Yet, no matter what gives birth to it, this complaint against God is unwarranted and reveals much about us, while we live in this body of flesh.

 

1.  Though we believe God, there is so much unbelief in our hearts that we would all perish, were our acceptance with God determined by the quality of our faith!

  1. Thank God, our acceptance is in the object of our faith- Christ! (Eph. 1:6).
  2. How slow we are to believe God’s promises!
  3. How distrustful we are of his providence!

 

2.  Though we gladly bow to the rule of God’s purpose and providence, our impatience with God’s providence reveals an evil,, rebellious nature within.  We are sinners still!  We need…

·         Forgiveness!

 

3.  Though our affection is in heaven, we still have too much morbid care for this world!  If we loved this world less, we would not complain so much about our lot in it.

 

Note:  Frequently, the most painful, bitter complaints arise because of a melancholy spirit, a weakness of the mind and heart which satan sizes upon and uses to torment some of God’s dear children.

Illus:  William Cowper

            Ferrell

 

II.  The Consolation- (v. 15).

 

Our heavenly Father desires that his children in this world be assured of his love and care and filled strong consolation.

 

A.  The Illustration- Mothers seldom forget their children or cease to love them.

      Illus:  The Hanged Man in Wake County, NC – “He is my son, and I love him!” But sometimes they do cease their own to cherish.

 

B.  The Assurance-  “Yet will I not forget thee!”

 

I Samuel 12:22 “The Lord will not forsake you, for his name’s sakes for it pleased the Lord to make you his people.

Malachi 2: 16 – “He hate the putting away!”

Romans 11:29 – “The gifts and callings of God!”

Hebrews 13:5-6

Deuteronomy 11:12 – “From the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Forever.”

Isaiah 33:16 – “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure!”

 

C.  The Confirmation – (v. 16).

 

1.  “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands!” – Everytime I open my hand I am reminded of you.

 

2.  As an architect sees the whole building complete, even before the foundation is laid, so the Lord God views his church and every member of it – “Thy walls are continually before me!”

 

God will never forget his purpose of grace toward us!  Though often it may appear that God has forsaken us, he never can (Isa. 54:7-10, 17; II Tim. 2:13).

 

III.  The Cause

 

God will not forsake his own.  The cause why he will not is fourfold.

 

A.  The Purpose of God according to election must stand (Rom. 9:11).

 

B.  The Immutability of God’s Grace necessitates His Faithfulness to His People (Mal. 3:6).

 

C.  He will Never Forsake Us because No Cause Can Ever be Found Why He Should Forsake Us.

 

  1. He forsook his Son for us!
  2. He has put away our sin!
  3. Sin can never be imputed to us!

 

D.  The work which God began in us he will complete – (Phil. 1:6; I Thess. 5:23-24).

 

Application:

 

1.       To you who have forsaken and forgotten your God – (Pro. 1:23-30).

  1. To you who imagine that you are forsaken of God – “Yet will I Not Forget Thee!”