Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. –Isa. 49:15
"Lord, remember David in all his afflictions." Psalm 132:1. How comprehensive is this short petition! What a holy boldness, what a filial confidence breathes in it! Yes, says a poor doubting, dejected soul, it came from an eminent saint; but I am a miserable sinner; I am afraid the Lord hath forgotten and forsaken me. Is your mind pained at the thought of this? This is a godly sorrow, to which the wicked are strangers. This is one of the afflictions of the righteous.
"Lord, remember me," is the prayer of faith to a covenant God. Here is a precious cordial, a heart-reviving answer from the Lord. "Look at that woman with her smiling babe at her breast: see how fond she is of it, how delighted with it: it is part of herself: its innocent look and helpless cry call forth her tenderest affection and regard. Can she forget it! Can she refuse to show compassion to it 1 Will she neglect to administer to its wants, and to preserve from danger the dear and tender son of her womb? Is it possible?" Here is an image in nature which strikes one with the most tender affection, to set forth the love and care of the Lord to his people.
But strong and striking as it is, it fails. There have been those who have not had compassion upon the offspring of their womb. Therefore, knowing the fears and surmises of our nature, the Father of love and the friend of sinners, as it were, corrects himself, "Yea, they may forget "–the comparison fails–this image yea, all nature is too weak to borrow a representation from. Yet will I not forget thee. O, may faith fasten and live upon this precious word. May love he excited and joy increased by it. As though our dear Lord had said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love," saved thee with an everlasting salvation, called thee by my grace, made thee know thy poverty and vileness, thy hopeless and helpless state: shall I ever be unmindful of thy distress, deaf to thy cry, and unwilling to relieve thy wants?
Is the tender infant part of its mother? Remember, "we are members of Christ's body, of his flesh and of his bones." Ephes. 5:30. Was the infant born in pain and sorrow? O, what agonies did it cost our Lord to redeem us! Has he brought us to himself for salvation; and will he leave us to perish by sin, to be overcome by the world, or to be a prey to Satan! Ever re member the riches of his-love: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isa. 49:16.