Isaiah 27:12 - Homiletics

The Israel of God gathered in and garnered one by one.

While Scripture often speaks broadly of the call and conversion of nations, it yet, to an attentive reader, is continually proclaiming the fact that salvation is an individual matter. No privileges of birth or covenant, of Church-membership or Church-position, assure any one who has come to years of discretion that he is among the saved, or can make up for the want of personal fitness, personal faith, personal sincerity. God is very careful, and very choice, when he "makes up his jewels" ( Malachi 3:17 ). His eye is not only over all , but each. He tests them "one by one." He says to each, "My son, give me thy heart" ( Proverbs 23:26 ). He requires of each conversion to him, trust in him, the earnest wish to please him. "One by one," as they become fit for it, he gathers them in, adds them to his crown, causes them to join the "innumerable company" of his elect—"the spirits of just men made defect" ( Hebrews 12:22 , Hebrews 12:23 ). This consideration should make men careful to assure themselves;