Aug 13
24
THE PROMISE
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4
The friends of your youth are gone, death or distance has stripped you of them. But your God says, “I am he who formed you at first, as a creature; I am he who called you by my grace, into fellowship with my Son; I am he who gave you my Word, that I would never leave you nor forsake you; and I am in the same mind still. I am immutable—there is no change in me. You have changed, I have not. You will change—but I shall not.”
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you!”
Your God will not only carry your burdens—but he will carry YOU. He laid you like a lamb in his bosom, when he called you by his grace; and he will carry you now you are old; he will never turn away from doing you good—but will rejoice over you to do you good, with his whole heart, and with his whole soul. He will bear with you—though you may sometimes feel fretful, peevish, and ungrateful. He will be with you amidst all your infirmities. He will carry you, not only to the Jordan—but over it! He has delivered you in six troubles—and in seven he will not forsake you!
You should look back to past deliverances, and then face your present difficulty, saying with David, “The Lord, who has delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, and out of the mouth of the bear—will yet deliver me also from this uncircumcised Philistine!” Or with Paul, “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us!” God’s promise—is your property. Take it, trust it, plead it, and expect it to be made good. Faithful is he who promised, who also will do it. Even though you believe not—yet he abides faithful; for he cannot deny himself. James Smith
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Those circumstances, which to the dim eye of Jacob’s faith wore a hue so somber, were at that very moment developing and perfecting the events which were to shed around the evening of his life the halo of a glorious and cloudless sunset. All things were working together for his good! And so, troubled soul, the “much tribulation” will soon be over, and as you enter the “kingdom of God” you shall then see, no longer “through a glass darkly” but in the unshadowed sunlight of the Divine presence, that “all things” did “work together” for your personal and eternal good. Arthur Pink.
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The free love and favor of God, and His unspeakable goodness
and mercy manifested in Jesus Christ to poor sinners—is the
very spring and fountain of all evangelical sorrow. Nothing
breaks the heart of a poor sinner like the sight of God’s free
love in Christ, the Redeemer. A man cannot seriously look upon
the firstness, the freeness, the greatness, the unchangeableness,
the everlastingness, and the matchlessness of God’s free favor
and love in Christ—with a hard heart, or with dry eyes! It is
only such a love as this, which sets the soul a-mourning and
a-lamenting over a crucified Christ.— Thomas Brooks.
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An arm that can never be broken!
(J. R. Miller, “A Life of Character”)
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!” Deuteronomy 33:27
The picture suggested, is that of a little child, lying in the strong arms of a father who is able to withstand all storms and dangers.
At the two extremes of life, childhood and old age—this promise comes with special assurance.
“He shall gather the lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11), is a word for the children.
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He; I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you!” (Isaiah 46:4), brings its blessed comfort to the aged.
The thought of God’s embracing arms is very suggestive. What does an arm represent? What is the thought suggested by the arm of God enfolded around His child?
One suggestion, is protection. As a father puts his arm about his child when it is in danger—so God protects His children. Life is full of peril. There are temptations on every hand! Enemies lurk in every shadow—enemies strong and swift! Yet we are assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God. “Underneath are the everlasting arms!”
Another thought, is affection. The father’s arm drawn around a child—is a token of love. The child is held in the father’s bosom, near his heart. The shepherd carries the lambs in his bosom. John lay on Jesus’ bosom. The mother holds the child in her bosom, because she loves it. This picture of God embracing His children in His arms—tells of His love for them—His love is tender, close, intimate.
Another thought suggested by an arm, is strength. The arm is a symbol of strength. His arm is omnipotence. “In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4). His is an arm that can never be broken! Out of this clasp—we can never be taken. “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!” (John 10:28)
Sometimes we say the waters of trouble are very deep; like great floods they roll over us. But still and forever, underneath the deepest floods—are these everlasting arms! We cannot sink below them—or out of their clasp!
This view of God’s divine care is full of inspiration and comfort. We are not saving ourselves. A strong One, the mighty God—holds us in His omnipotent clasp! We are not tossed like a leaf on life’s wild sea—driven at the mercy of wind and wave. We are in divine keeping. Our security does not depend upon our own feeble, wavering faith—but upon the omnipotence, the love, and the faithfulness of the unchanging, the eternal God!
No power in the universe can snatch us out of His hands! Neither death nor life, nor things present, nor things to come—can separate us from His everlasting arms!
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As we grow older
(J.R. Miller, “The Glory of the Commonplace”)
“Even to your old age and gray hair I am He; I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you!” Isaiah 46:4
As we grow older, there should be a constant gaining, never a losing in our spiritual life. Every year should find us living on a higher plane than the year before. Old age should always be the best of life, not marked by spiritual emptiness and decay–but by nobler fruitfulness and more gracious beauty. Paul was growing old, when he spoke of forgetting things which are behind, and reaching forth to things ahead. His best was yet to be attained. So it should always be with Christian old age. We must ever be turning heavenward, toward nobler life and holier beauty!
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green!” Psalm 92:12-14
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Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:3,4
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God is our parent — a kind and tender-hearted parent. He is peculiarly attached to His people — they are dear to Him, precious in His sight. They are His portion. He prizes them above all creation. He is strong to sustain, to defend, and support them. His strong arm, tender heart, and watchful eye — are all employed for them — and especially so in old age.
The aged believer is as a child. He is weak. He feels exposed and defenseless. He is timid and fearful. But the Lord, as a tender parent, engages to take him up in the arms of His power — and carry him in the bosom of His love! Like a tender lamb in the shepherd’s bosom, on a cold and frosty night, borne across a bleak and snow-covered wasteland — so the believer, shall be carried in the bosom of his God, across the bleak and cheerless desert of time.
God will carry him tenderly — hushing the weak one’s fears. He will bear him carefully — so that nothing shall harm or hurt him. He will soothe him with gentle words, and encourage him with kind acts — until He safely introduces him at Home!
Christian, you have nothing to fear! Your God says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age! I am your Father — your Friend — your solace — and your confidence! Look unto Me — even to old age, I will carry you. I will bear you up under all that you feel and fear. I will carry you through all that discourages or distresses you. I will deliver you from foes, fears, dangers, and death itself! Nothing shall by any means hurt you! My arm is strong enough — trust in it. My bosom is your resting-place — lean on it, lean hard! Do not be afraid . . .
love dwells there,
pity rules there,
your name is engraved there!
Trust me, I will never leave you nor forsake you!
“Hearken!” Believer, your God bids you to “hearken.” His words are true and faithful. He speaks to banish your fears. He speaks to strengthen your faith. He speaks to comfort your poor drooping heart. He speaks to clothe your care-worn brow, with the light of hope, with the cheerfulness which confidence imparts.
Hearken to Him — not to unbelief!
Hearken to Him — not to carnal reason!
Hearken to Him — not to Satan!
Hearken to Him — not to erroneous men!
Hearken, it is your Savior who speaks;
it is the Guide of your youth who addresses you;
it is your tender Parent who seeks to cheer your heart.
“As one whom his mother comforts” — so does your God comfort you.
He is near you — near you every moment;
He will carry you — carry you every step;
He will deliver you — deliver you from every danger, trouble, and foe!
James Smith.