101. A People Who Were No People.

I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. - Hosea 2:23. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. — Romans 9:25-26.

WE accept the supreme authority of Holy Scripture: every word of it is truth to us.

Yet we attach special weight to words which are the personal utterance of the Lord God; as in this case, where God himself is the Speaker, in the first person.

Still more are we impressed when a divine message is repeated; as in this instance, where Paul writes,— "As he saith also in Osee."

God "saith" still what he said long ago.

Come then, anxious souls, and hear the story of God's grace to his chosen, in the hope that he may do the like for you.

Observe with attention, concerning the Lord's people:

I. THEIR ORIGINAL STATE: "not obtained mercy — not my people."

1. They not only were not "beloved," but they were expressly disowned. It was said unto them, ye are not my people." Their claim, if they made any, was negatived.

· This is the worst case that can be: worse than to be left alone.

· This, conscience, providence, and the Word of God all appear to say to men who persist in sin.

2. They had no approval of God.

· They were not numbered with his people.

· They were not "beloved? in the sense of the love of complacency.

3. They had not in the highest sense obtained mercy."

· For they were under providential judgment.

· That judgment had not become a blessing to them.

· They had not even sought for mercy.

4. They were the types of a people who as yet:

· Have felt no application of the blood of Jesus;

· Have known no renewing work of the Spirit;

· Have obtained no relief by prayer; perhaps have not prayed;

· Have enjoyed no comfort of the promises;

· Have known no communion with God;

· And possess no hope of heaven, or preparation for it.

It is a terrible description, including all the unsaved.

It is concerning certain of such that the unconditional promise is made in the text: "I will call them my people." Who these are shall be seen in due time by their repentance and faith, which shall be wrought in them by the Spirit of God. There are such people, and this fact is our encouragement in preaching the gospel, for we perceive that our labor frill not be in vain.

II. THEIR NEW CONDITION: "Thou art my people."

1. Mercy is promised: "I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy." This is absolutely free.

2. A divine revelation is pronounced: "I will say, Thou art my people."

· This is done by the Spirit of God in the heart.

· This is supported by gracious dealings in the life.

3. A hearty response shall be given: "they shall say, Thou art my God." The Holy Ghost will lead them to this free acceptance.

· As a whole, they will say this with one voice.

· Each individual will say it for himself in the singular,"Thou."

4. A declaration of love shall be made: "I will call her beloved, which was not beloved" (Rom. 9:25). Love shall be enjoyed.

5. This shall be perceived by others: "There shall they be called the children of the living God."

Their likeness to God shall make them to be called the children of God, even as the peacemakers in Matthew 5:9. Thus every blessing shall be theirs surely, personally, everlastingly. Reflections arising from all this:

· We must give up none as hopeless; even though they be marked out by terrible evidence to be not the people of God.

· None may give up themselves in despair.

· Sovereign grace is the ultimate hope of the fallen.

· Let them trust in a God so freely gracious, so omnipotent to save, so determined to bring in those whom it seemed that even he, himself, had disowned, whom everybody had abandoned as not the people of God.