Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 41:8

"But thou, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend," — Isaiah 41:8 (ASV)

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

Let us, for the time being, forget the people to whom this message was addressed, and see whether it might not be spoken to ourselves. Come, my friend, are you truly God's servant? Do you delight to do his will, and to walk in his ways? If so, then you are God's chosen; for, wherever there is the true spirit of obedience to the Lord, it is the result of his grace, and grace never comes except from the well-head of electing love. If you are God's servant, you are God's chosen.

Then, see to it that you walk and live as one of the seed of Abraham, whom God calls my friend. It was very touching, the other day, to notice how the Queen spoke of one who was her servant, but who had gained the friendship of his royal mistress. So the Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples, Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends. May we so faithfully serve him that it will be fitting for the Lord to speak of us in all three of these terms: Thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

But you, Israel, are my servant,

You do not worship idols; you worship Jehovah, the living and true God.

Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

What a title for God to give to a man, "Abraham my friend"!

Could we not also endeavor to get into God's friendship, where Abraham was—to trust and love God much, to talk with Him much, and enjoy high and holy fellowship with Him?