Isaiah

[0:00] Thank you for the Lord's help. I direct your attention this morning to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 43 and verse 13. Prophecy of Isaiah chapter 43 and verse 13.

[0:16] Yea, before the day was, I am he. There is none that can deliver out of my hand. I will work.

[0:30] And who shall let it? Yea, before the day was, I am he. There is none that can deliver out of my hand.

[0:41] I will work. And who shall let it? The prophet was given clear views of God. It's a mercy if we're given the same.

[1:06] Amen. Simply, the truth is this. We're not our own. We're in the hand of God, whether we know it or not.

[1:21] There is a blessed mercy if we're brought to realize it and brought to know the blessed nature of being in his hand.

[1:35] One of his children, beloved of him and dealt with by him. We cannot expect that the steps he orders will be pleasing to the flesh.

[1:55] If he is our God and we have been called to follow him, then should we be surprised at the pathway he leads us in.

[2:15] For he was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. And he has gone the way before his dear church in this world.

[2:30] He was tempted in all points like as we are. He fought with sin. He fought with sin. The scriptures say so beautifully, he did not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

[2:47] He did. He resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And he will mold his dear people to the image of his dear son.

[3:00] He will bring them solemnly into fellowship with him in his suffering. His was a cup that we will never fathom.

[3:15] We cannot comprehend it. We have only a glimpse of it from time to time. The path that he walked. We're his children, we shall be favored. To have a glimpse of what he suffered.

[3:30] He was crowned with thorns. His dear people are given thorns. One, two, three perhaps in life's past.

[3:45] But a solemn thorn. Messengers of Satan to buffet them. And yet, I will work. It is this mighty God.

[4:00] Before the day he was. Beautiful description of him. Oh, do you know him. Have you known him in your life? Have you known his power?

[4:11] I refer not to anything mystical. I refer to his voice. The call of your God. Calling you out of nature's darkness.

[4:23] Into his marvelous light. The effectual call of God. The irresistible grace of God. The world that lieth in wickedness.

[4:34] Has no knowledge of him. And yet they're judged by him. Or stand condemned in that great day. And the apostle says they're without excuse. Without excuse.

[4:49] The child of God. As taught by his spirit. Brought out of nature's darkness. Into his marvelous light. Is in his hand. This word has rested with me today.

[5:04] I'll work. And the margin says. Who will turn it back? Nobody can touch it. And the work of God is this.

[5:15] The steps of good man are ordered by the Lord. Not a single shaft can hit. Till. The God of love sees there.

[5:29] And in our own pathway. We have known. Some of those shafts that are here. And the effect of them. They.

[5:41] Draw a poor sinner to Christ. And the work here. Of his. Drawing a sinner to Christ.

[5:52] Is in. The simplicity of it. To bring him to a need. And the Lord dealt with Hezekiah. Brought him to his need.

[6:05] He dealt with him. And the effect. Prayer. And the effect. Real prayer. Not a formality. Not words. Cry. Crying. And he dealt with Jonah.

[6:17] Shut him in the belly of the world. The effect. As the belly of hell cried I. Crying. And the Lord works. To raise up.

[6:28] Cries in the hearts of his dear people. As any answers them. And out of the belly of hell. There came from the lips of Jonah.

[6:40] That. That. Sanctified experience. Salvation. Is of the Lord. Deliverance.

[6:52] Was divine. And he could glorify his God. And the Lord will be glorified. When the Lord led his ancient people. To the Red Sea. A divine hand guided them there.

[7:06] They knew they were in the right place. They couldn't escape it. The pillar. Of cloud. Had led them there. And yet. There was a total impact. And they were trapped.

[7:20] Any. General. Leading an army. Would not have gone to such a place. He would not have been ensnared. In some valley. Which you couldn't get out of.

[7:33] But the Lord. Led his people. To the Red Sea. And the beauty of it. Is seen in that. Lovely hymn of William Cooper. God moves. I love that word.

[7:44] Go no further. God moves. Our word. And it is to us. Not to him. It is to us. And how we've proved it in our pathway.

[7:56] A mysterious way. What's he up. What's he doing. His wonders to perform. It was a wonder at that Red Sea. And I like this. You know. There's peace this month.

[8:09] In the Gospel Standard. About the difference between. Fatalism. And election. Predestination. Now. When Moses stood. At the water of the Red Sea.

[8:21] That was the Lord's divine will. I'll work. But Moses was not fatalistic. He didn't sit back. And say. Doesn't matter. What happens.

[8:31] The Lord's here. It'll all be alright. Nothing to worry about. He said to those children of Israel. Stand still. And see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you.

[8:42] And he shall hold your peace. But what was he doing. We have a beautiful glimpse. Of the Lord's words. Showing the heart of Moses. Why criest thou unto me.

[8:54] There he was. Trapped. God had led him into that impact. What did he do? He looked upward.

[9:05] I was reading the other day. Some words of. J.C. Philpott. They come. As an exposition. Of part of the.

[9:16] Blessing of. Jacob. Upon his. Son. And as he blessed them. At the. End of his days. We have. The blessing of Joseph.

[9:28] The blessing of Joseph. Was this. The archers have. Sorely grieved him. And shot at him. And hated him. But his. Bow abode in strength. And the arms of his hands.

[9:39] Were made strong. By the hands of the mighty. God of Israel. From thence. Is the shepherd. The stone of Israel. And J.C. Philpott.

[9:49] Says of that. So beautifully. His arms are made strong. By the arms of the mighty. God of Jacob. But he didn't shoot back.

[10:00] At those that shot at him. Philpott. Philpott. Philpott. Says that. If. A man. Swore at you. In the street. You would be the loser.

[10:10] If you swore back at him. Oh. The way. The Lord. Leads his people. And. Philpott. Says. He shot upward. He shot his prayers.

[10:21] To the God of heaven. Joseph. Oh. The. Purpose of God. I'll work. His working.

[10:32] Is to bring. Christ. Into the hearts. Of his dear people. Himself. In their need. And one can believe. That Daniel. In that den of lions. Prayed all night. One can believe.

[10:47] Those men. That went into that fire. He did seven times hotter. Prayed. And no doubt. Were full of fears. And temptations.

[10:58] And couldn't see. And yet. When they came forth. Oh. How bettered. They were. By the cross. How bettered.

[11:09] They were. By the fire. How bettered. Spiritually. They were. By the experience. Because they had proved. Their God's faithfulness. They had known him. To be their God.

[11:21] And the Lord. Doesn't listen. The apostle Paul. When he was given. The thorn in the flesh. He prayed thrice. To have it removed. I've lived with that. Word for. Several years now.

[11:31] Three or four years. And the word is this. My grace. Is sufficient. For thee. For my strength.

[11:43] Is made perfect. In weakness. I cannot go. Beyond it. Into the beauty. Of the blessedness. Of it. Most gladly. Therefore.

[11:53] I glory. In my infirmity. We need. Such grace. For all human flesh. Would. Escape. Our infirmities. We would escape.

[12:04] Dependence. But the Lord works. I preached. A few. Days ago.

[12:15] At. Luton. Bethel. From the words. Of Moses. Show me now. Thy why. What a solemn way.

[12:27] That he. God's why. Thy why. Thy why. Not mine. And it wasn't for Moses. To choose the way. He followed.

[12:38] The clouded pillow. But you know. That night. One dear woman. In the congregation. Was greatly blessed. In the morning. Her husband was dead.

[12:48] Her word. Her word. Show me now. Thy why. All how the Lord. Prepares.

[12:58] His dear people. Reflection. He prepares them. For the path. Of sorrows. As he. Preceded them.

[13:10] Here. In this world. Of that. As that man of sorrows. And acquainted with grief. We hid as it were. Our faces from him. He was despised.

[13:21] We esteemed him not. Then you come to this. Surely. Oh there's such a sacred divine certainty. About it. He hath borne our grief. Carried our sorrow.

[13:32] Yet we did esteem him stricken. Smitten of God. And afflicted. But he was wounded. Do you see the work? Sacred divine work.

[13:43] Leading a poor sinner. In grief and sorrow. Why did he delay two days. Before he went to Bethany. Why leave such sorrow.

[13:56] In the heart of Martha and Mary. If thou hadst been here. Our brother would not have died. Stand still.

[14:09] And see. The salvation of God. For the Lord will fight. For you and you shall hold your pain. Blessed words. Deep. In unfathomable minds.

[14:21] Says Cooper. And never failing skill. He treasures up his bright designs. And works. His sovereign will. And here.

[14:33] We see the. Sacred nature. Of the Lord's dealings. Whom. He loveth. He chasteneth. And scourges.

[14:45] Every son. Whom he receiveth. Oh the. Words refer to Christ. Who was scourged. And yet.

[14:56] He brings. His dear people. Into the same pathway. And the same footsteps. He. Takes away. All creature hell. Brings them down.

[15:09] Under the cross. To his mercy seat. Facing. A never ending eternity. Was the path of Hezekiah. Set thy house in order.

[15:23] For they should die. And not leave. All the effect he had on him. First of all. He knew that was from God. Secondly.

[15:34] It showed him. He was unprepared. And thirdly. Brought him to cry to his God. And. We can tell the.

[15:45] Effect of it. The effect of it. He describes. The. Way. Broke him.

[15:57] I said. In the cutting off of my days. I should go to the gates of the grave. I am deprived. Of the residue of my year. I said. I shall not see the Lord.

[16:08] Even the Lord. In the land of the living. And here is his. Heart searching. I should behold man no more. With the inhabitants of the world. Mine ages departed. And so on. As a shepherd's tent.

[16:19] I have cut off my. Life as a weaver. He will cut me off. With pining. And so on. I reckon to morning. That as a lion. So will he break all my bones. From day even to night.

[16:32] They will make an end to me. And then this. Beautiful description of prayer. That. A Lord hears an answer. It is. The prayers of.

[16:43] His dear people. He hears the cries of his elect. He hates. To put away. And then we hear this word. Like a crane or a swallow. So did I chatter.

[16:56] Many times. And I have come here. To Uffington. Over the years. Long years now. I have heard the chatter. Of the martins. And the swallows. Overhead here. And.

[17:09] They appear in scripture. Beautifully we read of them. Making the Lord's altar. Their nest. And here we read of them. In.

[17:20] The figure. Of the prayer of Hezekiah. Oh. It speaks to us. Of the brevity. Of their prayer. Like a crane or a swallow. It speaks to us.

[17:30] Of the poverty. Of his prayer. So did I chatter. And then he goes on. Ah. My eyes. Fell me. I did mourn as a dove.

[17:41] My eyes fell me. With looking upward. He looked upward so often. Yearning. Crying. Beautiful description of prayer. You know. Mourn as a dove. Remember some years ago.

[17:54] Watching a dove. On electric pylon. We've been staying on holiday. And there were two doves. In the vicinity. Coring all the time. But one of them stood on a pylon. And touched the wire. And the pylon at the same time.

[18:05] It was electrocuted. And killed. And the other dove mourned and mourned. Never heard it like that before. But it mourned all the time.

[18:15] It was there. It's partner. And the beauty of this. The simplicity of the analogy. I did mourn as a dove. That's real you know.

[18:28] I think of the prayer. Of the apostle Paul. In the street court strain. As the Lord said to. Ananias. And there's a beauty in this. Behold. He prayed.

[18:40] And the Lord was listening to him. As he spoke to Ananias. That was prayer. I think of sometimes if. Ever there was true prayer. It's in the heart of the apostle.

[18:51] In the street court strain. Because the Lord said. He prayed. It wasn't a formality. It wasn't words. It wasn't a repetition. It was out of a broken heart. The Lord had brought him down.

[19:05] To his knees. Literally. And there he prayed. That's his prayer. And here. I mourned as a dove. Like a crane or a swallow.

[19:16] So did I chatter. And then his prayer. And we have the very words of it. Oh Lord I'm a prayer. Undertake for me.

[19:28] Beautiful prayer. I will work. Do you see the glory of God's work? To draw forth. From the hearts of his dear people.

[19:40] A cry to himself. To bring them into real need. So that. They come. In that lovely hymn. Though dust.

[19:51] And ashes. Feelingly. Like Hezekiah. In thy sight. We may. Beautiful word. We must. Draw near. And all the mercy.

[20:03] Of being. Taught by God. Blessed by him. To know the. Throne of grace. And to be. Drawn.

[20:14] To go out. To that. Blessed place. You read of the children of Israel. When they sought the Lord. They went out to the tabernacle. Lovely.

[20:25] Figure that is. Of his dear people. They go to the blood sprinkled mercy seat. For help. They plead that. Precious blood. That. Glorious night.

[20:37] The name of Jesus. And they come. Seeking him. And he has said. I will work. Who shall turn it back?

[20:50] Who will touch. That. Glorious work. In the. Hearts of his. Dear people. As he. Molds them. And conforms them. To the.

[21:01] Image of his dear son. I say to you here. This morning. All of you. Young and old. Can you.

[21:16] See. In your soul. Do you know. In your soul. That all is working. Solemn.

[21:30] If you are. An onlooker. To the work of grace. Solemn. If you. Come into the house of God. And. To mere formality. Solemn.

[21:40] If you. Have never approached. The mercy seat. Solemn. If a cry. Has never come up. From your heart. The formality of prayer.

[21:51] Is very long. Very rigid. One of the glories. Of the work of God. In the heart of a sinner. Is that he produces.

[22:01] A cry. That. Whose hallmark. Is brevity. Faith. And that is beautiful. It is God's work.

[22:14] To draw out the heart. Of a poor sinner. In the simplicity. Of the language. Lord. Help me. Do you know anything of it?

[22:26] Oh. Blessed mercy. I say to you young ones. I look back. On my own pathway now. For over 50 years ago. So. When in.

[22:37] My youth. In the exam room. I look to the Lord. I remember on one occasion. Taking some exams. University exams.

[22:48] In the hall. In the. South Kensington. The examination hall. Of London University. There were several thousand students there. And these were.

[22:59] Vital to me. In my career. These exams. Oh. What a sense I had. In that room. Of the presence of my God.

[23:10] He had worked in such a way in my life. That he brought me out of the world. And he brought me. To look to him. Wherever I was. And my eyes looked upward in that exam.

[23:26] And you know. I went out of that hall. And. Went down after the exam. To the. London Underground. Into the. Tube at South Kensington. In the rush hour. Up a spine.

[23:36] And. I never forget that night. Standing. Surrounded. With a great crush of people. But to me. It was like a summer's day. Oh. Oh. The light.

[23:49] That shone in my heart and life. And when the results of that exam were put up. And I saw them. The Lord spoke to me.

[23:59] In such a beautiful way. Outside the Senate House. In London. London University. And it was this. In blessing.

[24:11] Our blessing. Beautiful word. Our word. He brings his dear people. Into. Solemn places.

[24:23] That. To. He may hear their cry. And that was in my years. But oh. I tell you. This morning. The years have gone by. Long years.

[24:35] And I've had to prove it. Again and again. When most. We need. His. Helping hand. This friend. Is always near.

[24:48] With heaven and earth. At his command. He waits. To answer prayer. And. Still. Still. Still. I know. And I grow no stronger in this.

[24:59] Still. I know. My heart is full of unbelief. Full of fear. Full of temptation. I appreciate. What we read here.

[25:09] This morning. The beautiful. Fear not. Of the. Word of God. That. Lie here. In this scripture. Fear. Thou not. For I am with thee.

[25:21] Be not dismayed. For I am thy God. I will help thee. I will strengthen thee. I will uphold thee. With the right hand. Of my. Righteousness. These.

[25:32] Are sacred realities. To be known. And experienced. And only in the valley. Will you experience them. Only in the depths. Will you cry to your God.

[25:43] I have been down into many depths. Since then. Depths of bereavement. Depths of weakness. Theatres in the hospital. Major operation. And I have proved.

[25:54] Again and again. My God. Has been with me. And I have felt. His presence. Heard his voice. And been brought.

[26:05] I believe. Into sweet fellowship. With him in the valley. I'll work. I tell you this. If you knew. What was ahead of you. You wouldn't choose the way. You wouldn't indeed.

[26:18] We don't know. What lies ahead of us. And it's our mercy. It's hidden from our eyes. When we sing. That lovely hymn. Choose thou the way. Oh what do we.

[26:30] Mean. Do we really mean it? We need much grace. To really mean it. Choose. Thou the way. But still lead on.

[26:40] Because. We can be certain of this. And the children of Israel. Were certain of this. That because they followed. The pillar of cloud.

[26:51] And came to that impasse. At the Red Sea. They were in the right place. They couldn't go wrong. If led by their God. They couldn't go wrong.

[27:02] If guided by his hand. And yet. It didn't appear right. Did it? It appeared all wrong. Oh blind unbelief.

[27:15] Is sure to work. And scan. God's work in vain. God is his own interpreter. And he will make it play. It's been so.

[27:27] Blessed to me in my life. Back. During my first marriage. To my first.

[27:38] Wife. She was expecting. And. She had serious trouble. And had to go into hospital. For ten weeks. Before. My son was born.

[27:49] But you know. I feared. She was. In danger of a. Massive hemorrhage. And yet.

[28:00] They didn't want to operate. Because they wanted the child. To grow. And I feared. That. I'd lose both her and him. But I shall never forget it. Alone at home.

[28:11] I came out of the house. One day. To go to work. And suddenly. The clouds. You so much dread. Are big with mercy. And shall break.

[28:23] In blessings. On your head. And you know. It entered my heart. With such sweet power. When she eventually. Had the cesarean operation. I sat outside.

[28:35] In my car. Reading a book. The nurses. In the ward. Could not understand me. They were. So anxious. At this operation. What would happen. But they were brought.

[28:47] The baby was brought forth. The mother's life was spared. And I proved it. But only seven years later. The Lord took her to himself. And the night. After. I had such a sight.

[29:00] Big with mercy. I saw the. Child that was spared. He was only five at the time. Oh. What a sight I had. Of the fulfillment of that word.

[29:12] And later when. I took him. At Chippenham Chapel. Through the waters of baptism. What a sweet sight I had.

[29:22] Big with mercy. It shall break. In blessings. On your head. God does indeed move. In a mysterious way. Our work. You know. We would never.

[29:33] Never. Never. Choose the pathways. He's led us in. We don't know what. The cup is. That is in our hand. We don't know its content. We know this.

[29:45] That it's for our good. For our benefit. For our soul's eternal good. To bring us to Christ. And to bring us there.

[29:55] As poor. Fallen sinners. And what is the Lord doing? He's working. For our soul's salvation. He's working. To bring us. To feel ourselves.

[30:06] Like Hezekiah did a sinner. He's working. To bring us. Into the solemn. And sacred experience. Of what Hezekiah. Came into.

[30:19] Oh Lord. By these things men live. In all these things. Is the life of my spirit. For peace. I had great bitterness. But. Thou in love to my soul.

[30:31] Hast delivered it. From the pit of corruption. For thou hast cast. All my sins. Behind thy bad. The Lord uses. The. Path. Providentially.

[30:43] To teach us. Spiritually. And to conform us. To the image of Christ. And to bring us. Into fellowship. With his dear son. In his sufferings. He does indeed.

[30:54] It's a mighty work. That he's accomplishing. But it's for our good. It's for our benefit. It's for our blessing. It's for his glory. And it's to prepare us.

[31:06] For a never ending eternity. And we would never choose the way. Yet. The Lord knows. It's the right way. And we are brought to see it in the end. Why.

[31:19] Through darksome paths. Says the hymn writer we go. We may know no reason. Yet. We shall. Hereafter know. Each. In his. Due seasons.

[31:31] I. Will. Work. Oh. I ask you again. Is this mighty God. Before the day was.

[31:43] I am he. Is he. Working in your heart. It is a. Wonder of wonders. That that great God. Who formed this universe.

[31:54] Should deign. To stoop down. Into the paths. Of his people. And hear their cries. For we deserve not. The least of his mercy.

[32:06] But you know the. Ultimate. Of this work. Is that they may come eventually. To where. The writer of the song of Solomon came.

[32:18] When he said. My beloved is mine. And I am he. United. To Jesus the vine. I have life, health. And righteousness too.

[32:30] And this he will teach me in time. Without him. I nothing. Can do. I will work. And. God.

[32:42] Is God. And no one will touch his work. It is a perfect work. He will bring his dear church. To glory.

[32:54] Gather them to himself. Conform them. To the image of his dear son. For whom he did foreknow. Them he also did predestinate.

[33:04] To be conformed. The image of his son. He was a man of sorrow. He was a sufferer. For his dear church. And think it not strange.

[33:18] He says to his dear people. Concerning the fiery trial. That is to try you. As though some strange thing had happened unto you. But rejoice. Rejoice. That is grace.

[33:29] That is grace. Not humanity. Rejoice. In as much. As ye are made. Partakers of the sufferings of Christ.

[33:41] The Lord will gather his church. And you know. In this same chapter. We so blessedly read. I will say to the north. Give up. And to the south.

[33:52] Keep not back. Bring my sons from far. And my daughters from the ends of the earth. Even everyone that is called by my name. For I have created him for my glory.

[34:04] I have formed him. I have made him. Beautiful words you know. Formed him. Conforming his dear church. The image of his dear son.

[34:14] Formed. In the image of Christ. And that is. To be brought down. Humbled. Brought into the paths of.

[34:25] Obedience and submission. Brought to. The place where Christ said. In such simplicity in his day. My sheep. Hear my voice. And I know them.

[34:37] And they follow me. And that is in the. Paths that he directs. He orders. The steps. Of a good man.

[34:48] That is a gracious man. Are ordered. By the Lord. Do we see it? Do we feel it? Do we know it? Blessed mercy.

[34:58] If we can look back. And trace. As. Scriptures say. Thou shalt remember. Trace out. All. The way.

[35:09] The Lord thy God. Has. Led thee. These forty years. In the wilderness. To prove thee. And to try thee. And to show thee. What was in thine heart.

[35:20] Oh. Can you. Look back over thee. Way. Way. What have you got to remember. When Bunyan's. Pilgrim. Came to Jordan.

[35:33] And sank. Evangelist. Counseled him. To look back. Over the way. And I tell you this.

[35:45] The glory of it was. That he had something. To look back to. He could go back. To the city of destruction. When he had to leave it.

[35:56] And leave wife. Family and children. He could go back. To the slough of Despond. He could go back. To Calvary's cross. Where he lost his love. This was experience. He.

[36:07] Had been to the cross. Of Calvary. And knew the blood. Of the atonement. He could. Trace it out. He had heard the words. Of God. Thy sins which are many. All forgiven me. What he had to look back to.

[36:19] You might have said. Well. If he'd had that word. Why was he thinking in Jordan. Because your dear children. Are an exercise people.

[36:29] You know. They're not fatalists. They don't reason things. Oh. They want the Lord. To. Reveal himself.

[36:40] In his presence. In every hour of need. And that dear. Pilgrim. Had gone to many places. He'd gone. To that. House beautiful. In the room of peace.

[36:52] He knew some sacred things. He'd also been. Uphill difficulty. And in the. Valley of the shadow of death. He'd been in Doubting Castle.

[37:04] He'd learnt what it was. For those divine promises. That had been given to him. To be used. To bring him out of Doubting Castle. Blessed experience.

[37:14] He had something to look back to. And so he took courage. And passed over. Oh God's dear church. Will not escape. Suffering sorrows. And afflictions.

[37:26] But. When. In the hand of God. They will work together for good. All things. We cannot.

[37:37] Say that. Until we've been through it. And can look back. Then we can say. All things have worked. For my good. All things. Work together for good.

[37:49] To those who. Love God. To those who are the. Called. According to his. Purpose. Amen. Amen.

[38:00] Thank you. Thank you.

[38:16] Thank you.