November 25

This people have I formed for myself. - Isaiah 43:21.

NOW, there are three formations which we may notice. The first is national. In this class we place the Jews. They were formed a commonwealth by the agency of God. He called Abraham when alone, and blessed him. Then he gave his seed the land flowing with milk and honey. He gave them laws and ordinances of a peculiar nature, and distinguished them by dispensations the most wonderful and glorious; so that Moses could say, “What nation is there so great? who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” Yet he complains, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” So said Moses concerning them:-“Of the rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.”

The second of these formations is natural. Here all mankind are included, for “we are all the work of his hands,” “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” If we contemplate the human frame, and observe the body, the complexity of its vessels, the multitude of its organs, and how many of these are too minute for research; then if we think of the soul, its consciousness, its knowledge, its capacity for expansion, and its powers; and if we also think of the conjunction of these two,-a piece of clay and thought united together, combined in the very same formation, (for he is the framer of our flesh and the former of our spirits,) we shall arrive at the same conclusion with one of old,-that “there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding.”

In the third of these formations we place all the subjects of divine influence. In the words before us, the Lord is speaking of “this people,” not as the creatures of his power or as the beneficiaries of his providence, but as the children of his grace. Our relation to him as our Benefactor and Preserver and Maker will not insure our safety. We may rejoice in the thought that we are the work of his hands, but he has expressly said of his ancient people, “Because they are a people of no understanding, therefore he that formed them will not have mercy on them, and he that created them will show them no favour.”

Now, all real Christians are renewed in the spirit of their minds. The understanding, which was darkness, is now made light in the Lord. The rebellious will is subdued to the obedience of Christ. The affections which were “earthly, sensual, devilish,” are now “set on things above,” and the conversation is in heaven. The very conscience which was defiled is “purified from dead works to serve the living God.” These are “the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” “These are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” And to each and to all of these God looks down and says, “This people have I formed for myself: they shall show forth my praise.”