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We are reminded here of -

I. THE SENSE IN WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN US. "Jacob, whom I have chosen... I have chosen thee." The way in which God's ancient people were chosen of God is familiar biblical history. Abraham was called out of Chaldea, Israel (the people) out of Egypt, the Jews out of Babylonia, in order that they might receive, retain, and reflect the truth of the living God; in other words, this nation was the recipient of those distinguishing mercies which could alone account for their national redemption and their spiritual condition. We are now the subjects of God's electing, his distinguishing grace in these respects; - in ways which are not common to the whole of our race, perhaps not even to the generality of our fellow-men, we have been

(1) acquainted with his redeeming truth, made to know and to understand it in its purity and fulness;

(2) wrought upon by kindly, helpful, winning influences, in the home or in the Church;

(3) affected by the direct and immediate influences of his Divine Spirit. Thus has God chosen and called us to himself

II. THE LIFE TO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CALLED. A life of holy service. "Thou, Israel, art my servant." We are not called merely to enjoyment or to privilege; we are summoned to God's presence and kingdom - " called to his foot" (ver. 2), in order that we may serve. Our Christian life is that most honourable, most elevating, most useful, one of service. It is the life

(1) of sacred worship;

(2) of cheerful obedience;

(3) of active helpfulness.

III. THE INTIMATE AND HONOURABLE RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH WE ARE INVITED TO STAND. "The seed of Abraham my friend. Behold, what manner of love and of condescension is this, that we should be called the friends of God! All that Abraham was to God it is certain that we may be, - we who are brought nigh by Jesus Christ. And what his disciples were to him, we also are invited to be (see John 15:14, 15). We are God's friends, inasmuch as:

1. We have a profound sympathy with him in the principles he holds and in the work in which he is engaged.

2. We are trusted by him to do what is right and worthy, and are entrusted by him with that which is high and, arduous.

3. We are admitted to his near presence, and are invited to constant fellowship with him.

4. We are the objects of his love and his good pleasure. - C.

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KJV: But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

WEB: "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend,