1.
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
2.
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3.
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:
4.
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.
HOW GOD CARRIES MEN
‘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
I. Let us see how God carries men.—The first requisite for an upright bearing is ground—something to rest upon. So the soul requires this assurance, and God has confirmed it in His Word: ‘I have made, and I will bear.’ The responsibility of life is God’s; we have been sent here at His will. This instinct has formed the turning-point in many a man’s life.
II. Sometimes a man’s heart will shake him off this ground.—Conscience says, ‘God has made thee, but thou hast unmade thyself.’ When this comes to a man it is the most sinking time in his life. But God insists that just here He is most anxious to bear him up. The Gospel would be no gospel if it could not lift a man out of the fear of his sin.
III. This gospel, however, must be accompanied with repentance and perseverance in holiness.
IV. The most essential part—God’s being life within us.—All human metaphors fall far short of describing God’s relation to man. God does not carry dead men. He is very intolerant of the dead, but all who have a wish for life He will lift and carry to holiness.
5.
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6.
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
7.
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8.
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10.
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11.
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
12.
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
13.
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.