READ: Rom. 9:14-29
Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. – Is. 1:9
In verse 9, the LORD draws attention to His grace in His judgment. He not only remains faithful to His covenant threat of curse, but also fulfills His covenant promises of redemption. Through all apostasy and deformation, the LORD ensures that His covenant stands. This is how He reaches His ultimate goal. He will not utterly destroy His people like Sodom and Gomorrah. The comparison with these wicked cities emphasizes the severity of the condition of God’s people! God redeems a remnant from a wicked church.
The prophet Isaiah has to preach a lot of calamity as a prophet, but also unforeseen redemption in the future. His name means, “Salvation is of the LORD.”
But why would God still provide redemption in the midst of His severe charges from verses 2-8? That’s solely because He remains faithful to His Word and His promises, which rest on His good pleasure. He does what He promised, starting from the Mother Promise.
Only when the LORD redeems is there hope. Only then can escape from deserved destruction be possible. The LORD will rescue a small number from His punishment, not because this number is much better than others, but solely due to God’s electing grace.
Do we see this similarly today? Article 27 of the Belgic Confession cites Is. 1:9 as a situation where the church is very small. Additionally, the article refers to the seven thousand people under Ahab. The LORD often redeems a small remnant; think of Noah, Abraham, or the disciples at Pentecost. This also happens in later times, like during Luther’s era. Sometimes it involves only a very small group: “One from a city, two from a clan” (Jeremiah 3:14).
Thus, the Lord does not let the gates of hell overpower His church. When necessary, He provides rescue as if pulling firewood from the fire.
How can the church of Christ become so small?
Singing: Ps. 79:4,5