Chosen and Never Alone

[Christ4Ever]

"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."—Isaiah 48:10.​

Comfrot thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has "chosen" me.

If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of His hands. Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the "furnace of affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say—

"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where He goes."

Charles Spurgeon

 

[B-A-C]

An interesting take on the KJV. Here is the NASB.

Isa 48:10; “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isa 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned?
And My glory I will not give to another.

This is really more accurately translated as "I have chosen the furnace to refine you".

This is the NLT.

Isa 48:10; I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
Isa 48:11; I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished,
and I will not share my glory with idols!

 

[Christ4Ever]

@B-A-C
Keep in mind brother that both the NASB & NLT were not available to Spurgeon in the 1800's.

One has to remember that this is a devotional and not a sermon which would allow greater time to take other verses & points of scripture into account.

Still, his point is made even using the other two translations as well. If I'm reading this devotional right. Spurgeon's point is that God choose us, and if you were to use drawn by Him as we have been (John 6:44). Then surely He is with us regardless of the purpose that brought about what we may be going through.

Thanks for sharing my brother!
Always with the love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
C4E
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