“For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and those who escape from Mount Zion.” (2 Kings 19:31, NKJV)
Elijah, in the obedience of his walk of faith, is establishing a spiritual mantle. One of the facets we are currently discussing is the realisation that he forms part of the so-called remnant – this especially means that God preserves, WITHIN HIM, the seed of His universal blueprint. Even though the other believers, influenced by a spirit of perversion, have chosen another path (Isa. 6:13), he needs to learn that he is carrying the “spirit of all the remnant” (Hag. 1:14). Now that we have a clearer understanding of who the remnant is, it is perhaps useful to briefly look at the contexts in which it is found in Scripture.
- It is noteworthy that a few Scriptures emphasise that those believers who form part of the remnant are often on a knife-edge when it comes to their faith, especially because of organised religion’s claim on them. In Ezra 9:14 the prophet’s lament is heard: “should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor?” Also see Isa. 1:9: “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.”
- Throughout the ages the kingdom of darkness has launched an immense attempt “to make war with the remnant of her seed, those keeping the commandments of God, and having the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17, ACV). [Please note – the commandments that are specified, are not the ten commandments or the 613 Jewish laws – it is the “new commandment” of love – John 13:34 1 John 2:7-8; 2 John 1:5.]
- Therefore it is of great importance that all believers pray, throughout, “for the remnant that is left” (2 Kings 19:4).
- God, and no one else, preserves the remnant “according to the election of grace” (Rom. 11:5). “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (2 Kings 19:31).
- The remnant is never a large mass of people – “Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.” (Isa. 10:19).
- All those with the spirit of the remnant do not build their own ministries (= houses), but rather “the house of the Lord of hosts, their God” (Hag. 1:14). They thus again establish the “tabernacle of David” (Acts 15:16-17).
- There is a particular legacy for the remnant: “For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.” (Zech. 8:12).
- Selah: Are you part of the remnant?
- Read: 30; Matt. 9.
- Memorise: 9:17.
