Isaiah (Quality: Good)

[0:00] Mr. Ellis B. Hyde, Hope Chapel, Shorts Corner, The Lord's Day, 5th August 2001, The Morning Service.

[0:20] Let us now further sing hymn 539 to the tune Millennium 551. Hymn 539.

[0:33] Christians, rejoice and sing your maker's lovely praise. He is your God and King, ancient of endless days.

[0:43] He lives, he reigns, and sits above the King of kings and God of love. No place can him contain. Immensity he fills.

[0:56] He measures with a span the world with all its hills. In heaven he reigns, your God and King, and will you to his glory bring.

[1:07] Hymn 539. Hymn 539. Hymn 539. Christians rejoice and sing Your maker's lovely praise He is your God and King Ancient of endless days In this spirit of greater hope The King of means and God of love No place can be contained In this city he feels

[2:12] In that church he does not And the petit island of all that's in peace In deadly ransom King I'll lend you to his holy dream He changed you by his grace and that's that grace indeed that such a breath away slouching and late and free

[3:14] His mercy true and his joy to make good the glory shine The time will shortly come when you wish with surprise we'll find your say as the home near us forever that shines with things to him waiting to pray and never knew the heart again as the

[4:30] Lord may help this morning I will direct your attention to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 50 and the tenth verse who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyed the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyed the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Lord in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God if it were not for the scriptures the people of

[5:34] God would be absolutely distressed and almost in despair because there's such an extremity of the experiences that they pass through that they wonder sometimes where they are where they're going and so you see here who is among you that feareth the Lord and that obeyeth the voice of his servant now how good that is surely if they are obeying the Lord and that you fear God you can only expect to have his gracious presence and enlightenment in your soul and comfort in your soul too but no here's a character which is passing through a very trying experience and it may well be that some of you would know what this means who is among you that feareth the

[6:37] Lord you see who is it's not delineated to be this person or that person because it may be if I was to say and the hinge that well this means so and so and your experience was quite different you would be distressed but who is among you that feareth the Lord what a blessing it is if God speaks this word to us that obey the voice of his servant well is that a day of joy and gladness it should be but sometimes it isn't and sometimes if the Lord withdraws his presence from us we are greatly troubled and so that walk so we read to our assignment that walk in darkness and have no light and yet this is the pathway that comes into the lives of

[7:44] God's people sometimes sometimes I felt this very forcibly you see we do not always walk in the light why do we walk in the dark well it is not a question of what we do or what we don't do but the various circumstances dictate to us where we are what a blessing it is for us that this is recorded in the scriptures there are those that seem to indicate that once you're called by the grace of God well once you're led by the spirit into the truth once you're favoured with the blessing of God then it's always going to be like that but you see who is among you that fear of the Lord that obeyed the voice of his servant surely you must be under continual blessing but sometimes it isn't so no sometimes it isn't so and this is a very painful path

[8:58] I feel forsaken and alone I hear the lion roar and every door is shut but one and that is mercy's door so we have the record first of all describing the person and then perhaps to our astonishment the person the path of the person addressed that walketh in darkness and yet it is the experience of many of God's people sometimes in their life it's not light it is dark so then what are we to do here is the the counsel of God and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord hath no light you see so it's what we call pitch darkness so you can't see anything you can't even see anything to your advantage and

[10:12] Satan under these circumstances comes in very powerfully and he said you've been deceived all this time you thought you were following the Lord God you thought you were having fellowship with him you thought that it was wonderful that God had revealed himself to you and now a very different scene is operating but how can these things be we find a number of references in the scripture to the people experiences of the people of God those that feared God and notice that there aren't any names generally in the scriptures those who doesn't include you otherwise if it said so and so and so and so named a few people and you felt forsaken and alone you heard a lion roar blessed be

[11:16] God this is a way of instruction we learn a lot in the dark and certainly one of the benefits of being in the dark that your eyes are not wandering to various things which are probably as evil and as bad as walking in darkness well now if we are walking in darkness we have to feel our way do you have to feel your way sometimes feel what a wonderful thing it is to see a blind person and we are blind in one sense when we come to this word that obeith the voice that walk in darkness if it is darkness we might as well be blind and I say that very carefully but you get some idea that the blind person couldn't be worse we know that the blind there have been some blind people who know what pitch darkness is

[12:38] I remember visiting one ancient saint of God and the sun was shining brightly on that day and I said can you see anything no he said nothing it's all dark well it's a sun shining round about you and yes you have to say it's all dark I can't see anything and if there's no sun if there's no light well we're in distress are you in distress this morning are you cast out by reason of the way do you almost despair well you may well do what are you to do then in meanwhile here we have the counsel of God let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God now what is this name of the Lord well it is the name of a person it is the name of a person who is able to do great things and that person is our

[13:50] Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so then if we cannot see yet it doesn't prevent us from praying and very often and what a mercy it is that if you are in the midst of darkness you can't see anything you can't see the truth and you can only see those things which cast you down by reason of the way now here we have the counsel of God he that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God I remember reading many years ago of a Scotsman he beat one of their communion seasons and because he was talking afterwards the darkness came on and he had a great journey to to and he had to walk so he started out and what was the mercy of it he couldn't see couldn't see but what was the mercy of it he saw later

[15:12] God cast his mind back over the way had come and he was amazed because the way had come was through bogs a very dangerous country yet the Lord let him quietly and wonderfully and took him to his home in peace and safety now how often that is do not forget that the darkness can be a benefit you might say that's strange but have you walked in darkness and yet when you have come the light has begun to shine you have looked and what a deliverance how are you preserved from all the dangers which you must be in if you are in darkness so he had reason to give thanks unto God you see he wasn't walking disobediently but he had been blessed at the communion season in

[16:17] Scotland and he was thinking no doubt upon this but he couldn't see where he was going and he had no idea that he was going through such country as the boring situation well what did he do he was a good man oh yes he was a good man we did not have understood these words who is among you that feareth the Lord obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness because it is night time and who can see in the night but you walk on you have to walk on are you standing still are you venturing by present faith in your present situation where you have to walk on now we do the people of God do have this experience walking in darkness as you know darkness can be darkness felt and darkness can be a very difficult thing he tried hiding you from the things that you see or used to see but you didn't oversee the prongs and the traps and snares and so this man walking a good man he was maybe he was thinking about the mighty power of

[17:53] God but he led him forth he had no idea oh is it so that in your lives sometimes as you look back over a path you come during a night season as we call it you are amazed oh amazed why what have you seen you seen God's preservation what have you seen you seen that God could see though you couldn't see and so he led them forth by the right way that they might come to a city habitation whose builder and maker is God so who is among you we go back to the opening question you see who is among you that here feareth the Lord God knows we are here together this morning variously drawn we have a pathway that people can see but some of you will be able to say that you've been walking in a pathway that other people can't see they know nothing about they think it's all smooth but in actual fact it's very troublesome and you're very anxious and you have many doubts and fears as to whether you will get saved to land but

[19:30] God takes care of his people so then we read elsewhere he cast your care upon him for he careth for you as you know the darkness and the light are both the light in the Lord he is not affected by the darkness and neither helped by the light himself because he is the mighty God how are we going to find out about the mighty God how are we going to believe that he is what he is it's only by walking through very often a darkness you see if we are walking in darkness we would not be attracted by the various things that are there even though we would have been had we seen them how as we come to the house of

[20:37] God there are those times when we are attracted through this coming to the house of God this morning have you been attracted by all sorts of things but to the truth the consolation of the truth well what has it meant oh what has it meant you have been walking in darkness you could see nothing and do bear this in mind the darkness is so dense that you can see nothing which is of course remarkable and blessed be God even though we have that precious scripture when we can see nothing the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not

[21:38] I will help thee so we are learning something about the mightiness of God about the kindness of God about the loving kindness of God about the care that God has for your soul how are you going to find the development of that great truth he cares for you how are you going to find it well if you can see everything is smooth well that doesn't mean much to you he cares for you but if you are in distress and if you are in silent circumstances and if you can't see your way oh what a wonderful thing it is to think upon this truth he cares for you cares for you you know there are many people both friends and enemies they say yes they care for you but particularly your friends but what do they do they do they do anything to help you and why do they not do anything to help you it is because they cannot see they cannot realise if your heart is cast down by reason and the way their heart may be in a different situation so they can't help you you know

[23:12] I have sometimes heard people have said it to me I know how you feel now I know this friends they don't know how I feel and I don't know how you feel because the various trials that come into the lives of into our lives well the outside the detail on the perimeter so to speak people can see but you see dear friends all of God's teaching is with a purpose and it would not be wise for you to say to another I know you are how you fear your disposition is different your heart is different and you don't know how they feel no and I feel personally that that is so true people say

[24:14] I know how you feel but they haven't a clue and it's not will God's will that they should have a clue for it is the creed that most must walk the darkest paths alone and yet what a blessing it is if while you're walking alone in a path which nobody can see they have no idea what you're passing through they have no idea what burdens you're bearing and they cannot know how you feel if there's one thing that is beyond anybody it is to know how a person another person feels you see you might be of a different nature I know we've got the same nature in one sense but the reaction to our nature can be quite different so then what a blessing to have a word like this who is among you that feareth the

[25:22] Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light you see we have found out here God tells us fix us out have you heard sometimes even in the preaching of a glorious gospel that speaks of the downward side and you say well I feel that I feel that you sat and listened to a discourse and the minister doesn't know what you're feeling but God tells him what you are feeling he can say I know how you're feeling but he can tell you mysteriously and you are not aware that God has told you and so we read in the scriptures from

[26:23] Genesis to Revelation various cases where the word of God tells us of certain people's experience what a wonderful thing the word of God is because it's very extensive and it draws to our attention the feelings which you wouldn't know otherwise have you ever read the scriptures have you ever heard the gospel preached have you ever heard a sermon which you say that's me that's me oh it is good but you are encouraged what is the end very often if you are in that place you say that's me you are going to listen very attentively as to know what was the next point well God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above your evil but with every temptation may your way escape oh what a blessing this is the

[27:36] Lord is good a stronghold in the day of trouble how are you going to find that out it is only by walking a path alone but if you are walking that path alone you find that God is a great God and he will underneath are the everlasting arms yes underneath are the everlasting arms the Lord the God is thy refuge and strength through religion and real experience is very personal we cannot describe what we feel sometimes perhaps you've come into the house of God and you've been very downcast by reason of the way perhaps you've been an outcast but does those servants of

[28:37] God receive such light on the subject though he does not know it yet suddenly he's telling you what you're feeling this is one of the great mysteries of gospel preaching the medicines are not proud that they've been able to describe your case they cannot be because though they have been an instrument that has described your situation yet they didn't know God was telling them say this I remember my old pastor and he was 94 when he died he said to me you know what preaching is and he said it says voice says say this say that say the other and he said you wonder why you're saying it sometimes but it is to come to a place where you meet a mother's case well you're all sitting here this morning but do I know how you're feeling do I know what sadness you are passing through do I know what joy is you're feeling well this is impossible and even if you convey to me what's the benefit you've received yet I still cannot feel the depth of feeling that it means to you oh therefore whoso is walking in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the

[30:28] Lord and stay upon his God now the name of the Lord is indicative of what the Lord is the name of the Lord is to show forth what he really is that he understands the side divine and marks the secret road who can who can do that we may hear a person sighing we might say what are you sighing about and it may be that they would say I don't know I don't know and you don't have to be able to say that because I've known little children that have been in distress they've cried why are you crying I don't know in a place like that where you don't know why you're acting as you do well under those circumstances what a blessing it will be if you come to this word let it walk the voice of his servant that walk in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the

[31:56] Lord even a child you know we should not dismiss children out of hand it used to be in days gone by when children were cast to the war they didn't understand probably not for the most part but there might have been one that they understood because in some cases the spiritual work of the Holy Spirit came into their lives early oh yes we don't have to grow up or even grow old to be the subjects of God's mercy and favour no God is able to come and I believe I can tell you a few incidents in my own life when I was quite young that God spoke and he told me what I was told me the trouble and he showed me his wonderful hand it was only passing and it was something that I just kept to myself because if I told other people they wouldn't understand

[33:08] I remember a very sad case of some people that had been to an anniversary service and a little girl on the coach going back happened to say oh wasn't that good and they all laughed oh dear friends what a dreadful thing are you going to laugh at a child that child was feeling something she felt the glory of God conveyed to her during the service and she would burst forth in her what should I say innocence and distress she fell down she said oh how gracious how wonderful that the Lord has spoken like this she picked up the blessing of God whereas perhaps those who are older pass it over dismissed it now it may be that some of you who look back to your childhood days and remember when God caused you to realise this is a great God this is one who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all

[34:24] I can ask or think this is a mighty God who is able to deliver the needy when he cried the poor also and him that hath no helper so therefore it is not wise for us to cast out despise children altogether because there is many of course many foolish things come from the lips of children but on the other hand there may be a gem sometimes when that little child or that young man or young woman speaks for the feeling of their heart and there's warmth in what they say and you can tell that God has done something for them it is not in them but because God has revealed to them a great truth and if you are a sinner you'll need God to tell you a great truth and that is that he is able to save to the outermost all that come unto

[35:27] God by him well have you thought about that word have you thought about the word all all that come unto God by him they might be poor they might be rich they might be uneducated they might be people that are well educated but no here it is all is a wonderful and embracing word but even all is not known and developed in some people's experiences they will laugh at it they will laugh at it they might say you you well God will not take any notice of you but we have a word in the scriptures which tells us the experience of one we have it in the 66th

[36:31] Psalm I cried unto him with my tongue and he was extolled with my tongue if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me but verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer have we felt the movement of iniquity in our hearts and as this has been suggested to your mind God won't hear you if he knows your thoughts but verily God hath heard me and you know the positiveness of God's operations will exceed and override all the doubts and fears that you may have and I suggest it to you that God won't hear you he never did hear you you think he did but he didn't well the word of

[37:34] God says the reverse yet but verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer blessed be God which hath not turned away from my turn away my prayer nor his mercy from me well who is among you that fear the Lord well isn't that going to be good and yet I'll be troubled because of our fallen nature suggesting all sorts of thoughts into our mind and Satan will say you can't accept what God has said you know that you're a sinner you know that you're a sinner and he will not hear you and so you ponder it when you ponder it well you say God hath heard me he has delivered me out of many distressing circumstances when all around my soul is way then

[38:43] Jesus is my help and stay let him trust in the name of the Lord to consider the name of the Lord is wonderful we can find in the scriptures a description of what the name of the Lord means he is a comforter he is a supporter he upholds me when I fall he has pity upon me when nobody else would have pity upon me this is the Lord and let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God now that's a very strong word and stay upon his God but what does it really mean well it means you put your whole force and rest upon God so that he takes your weight if I might put it like that your whole weight sin has cast you down sin has burdened you and the

[39:49] Lord is a great God and will support you he supports me unto every love and so it is you know the experience of God's people of the servants of God too is peculiar for themselves how many thoughts you have when you are alone how many thoughts you might have when you were in the midst of great company and yet you're not with the company because God has set your affection above and what's more he has caused you to trust in the name of the Lord the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe the name of the

[40:50] Lord oh we have I think one of the psalms speaks of various aspects of the name of the Lord it may be that you've been consoled or comforted in your time of trouble under these circumstances yes and what do we find the Lord is good a strong hole in the day of trouble I didn't know it and the trust in him if there are those that say they know the Lord and yet are not trusting in him it means that they are not speaking the truth it may seem to be extreme you may say I cannot reach so high but nevertheless God you are my witnesses said the Lord that I am God and so trust let him trust in the name of the

[41:50] Lord and stay upon his God what's going to make your strength such it is when you can see that God is the unchangeable God I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed I am the Lord I am your companion in tribulation I can sympathise with you when nobody else can sometimes we know we cannot tell really until God reveals it to us how the Lord sympathises and how he is able to speak the apt word you see we might think that we are helping people when they quote a text but it could be that that quotation is just the reverse of what the person saying it intending you know the situation well yes it was a good thing to have the word of God but it wasn't the wrong word of God and sometimes people in your best interest have quoted a portion of scripture but it's been the wrong word of God oh then who is among you that feareth the

[43:22] Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness so he's not standing still he's still walking and hath no light perhaps you've found the word of God like this you've read it no light but God is the light and God when he shines will show to you the wonders of inaccuracy of God's description of your feelings and also it tells you that he is a great God and is able to save unto the outermost all that come unto them by him let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God well we leave these few remarks scattered as they are in the Lord's hands and may it be his good pleasure to speak them into your soul the right word remember when God speaks the word it's the apt word it's a right word it's a word which well it may be that some have known the experience you didn't even know it was in the word of

[44:42] God but when you turned it up yes there it was and it hit the nail on the head as we say may the Lord be gracious to us forgiving every sin and enabling us to honour him by trusting in him at all times Amen We close with hymn 517 to the tune Harlan 524 Hymn 517 We bless the triune God the father and the word and the holy ghost God who must ever be the mighty one in three to all eternity the lord of hosts holy immortal three one god eternally teach us to praise mysterious three in one whilst thy grace make known and lead us safely on in thy own ways hymn 517 singing vitamin and

[46:17] Issue до God whom must ever be The mighty valley free Tell all eternity The Lord of Christ Hurling in hope of faith Thou God eternally Teach us to praise May His mercy divine To us Thy praise make you

[47:18] And we know safely In Thy heart's place One will in this check world May we thy wondrous help Nor yield to him Learn and celebrate And all their paths engage Silent from age to age Is Thy again We bless the Father's name

[48:24] His love is still the same We hope so praise Blessed is that the world May His one call the Lord In sun's sweet And glory and blessed days And now May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ And the Father's love The fellowship and communion Of the ever-blessed Spirit Be with us Now and evermore Amen

[49:26] Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen H targets H profund Hроде Hriends Hpex H übrig H groove H Jung Hg H I H L H H H H Thank you.

[50:25] Thank you.

[50:55] Thank you.