God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all them that believe," is
"for the remission of sins that are past," as well as for the
constantly recurring sins of the present.
Shall we, then, never think of our past sins? Yes; think of them as
the mariner thinks of dangers past, and as the redeemed in glory think
of past tribulations. "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves
thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he
bringeth them unto their desired haven." Yes; think of them with
gratitude to God for deliverance, and let this be your song as you
press on: "He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many
waters: he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated
me; for they were too strong for me." "When I said, My foot slippeth,
thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; the God of my rock: in him will I trust; he is my
shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my
Saviour." "For who is a God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save
our God? Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the
heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name."
Think of them, also, with humility and self-distrust, and let this be
your constant prayer: "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my
footsteps slip not." "Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under
the shadow of thy wings."
But oh do not carry the memory of past sins as a weight to drag your
soul down to the dust! If the Lord has forgiven and forgotten them,
why not rejoice in this wonderful token of his love toward you?
Casting aside every weight, you may thus rise to the enjoyment of "a
present heaven."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
XI.
_The Help._
"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember the stones of
help he has given_.
For forty days the champion of the Philistines had defied the armies
of Israel. He was a man of great stature--a giant--and a man of war
from his youth. "And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man,
fled from him and were sore afraid." All, yet not all, for one
accepted Goliath's challenge and stepped forth to battle with him. Who
was he? The strongest, bravest and oldest veteran in the army? No; he
was not a soldier, but a shepherd-boy, and too young to be enrolled.
"A stripling" the king calls him, and his weapons are only "_five
smooth_ _stones_!" Is it any wonder that his elder brother chided him
and that Goliath disdained him? Trusting in the Lord who delivered him
out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he went
forth confident of victory. He took a stone from his bag and put it in
his sling, and buried it in the giant's forehead so that he fell
prostrate to the ground. How wonderful!
There are giants still in the land--giant powers that defy the armies
of the living God. There are giant sins and giant fears that throw
themselves across the path of every Christian and threaten his
destruction. And if this page shall meet the eye of some youthful
warrior who would fain overcome those spiritual foes that challenge
the soul, permit me to choose five smooth stones for you, with which
you shall prevail to lay the giants low.
_The presence of God_ is one of these stones: "Thou God seest me."
Sometimes, like David's first stone, it is enough to kill the Goliath
of temptation. When sinners entice us, there is power enough to defend
us in the thought that the many eyes of the Most High are looking on
us, and the soul starts back appalled, saying, "How then can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God?"
_The power of God_ is another of these precious stones. David declined
to go forth to battle with Saul's armor. He could not go with weapons
which he had not proved, but he took to himself "the whole armor of
God." He had proved it, and knew by experience that there was more
than protection in that panoply. Goliath was a giant, but he was not
God. He was mighty, but he was not almighty. He was potent, but he was
not omnipotent.
_The wisdom of God_ is still another of these stones. The mighty man
of Gath was mailed from head to foot. He was completely covered with a
coat of iron and brass. His whole body was protected; only his
forehead was left exposed that he might be able to see his antagonist.
And, strange to say, the first smooth stone went straight to this only
place where it could harm him, "and sunk into his forehead." God's
wisdom guided it to its own place.
_The faithfulness of God_ is another of these stones. In his holy word
he has made unto us many exceeding great and precious promises, and
his faithfulness ensures their fulfillment. He will do as he said.
Heaven and earth may pass away, but his promises shall never pass
away. If ordinary means will not suffice for their accomplishment,
miracles shall be wrought. The sun and moon shall stand still, if need
be. Taking the past as pledge of the future, "there shall not fail one
good word of all that the Lord our God hath spoken."
_The love of God_ is the last stone of help. "And the last shall be
first." It is the smoothest and most precious of the five. There is
some gold in all the others, but this one is all gold, and the most
fine gold. In the presence, power, wisdom and faithfulness of God much
love is mingled. He goes with us and upholds us and guides us and
remembers his covenant because he loves us, so that our last thought
crowns and comprehends all the others. The love of God is first and
last and best. Presence, power, wisdom, faithfulness and love, these
five; but the greatest of these is love.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
XII.
_The Deliverance._
"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as my
Deliverer_.
How dense the gloom that gathers round the record of Adam's sin and
fall! Reading this chapter without the cross before our eyes, it seems
the saddest in all the inspired volume. Issuing from the abyss of woe,
Satan has found an entrance into a newly-created world. Sin and death
have bridged the gulf that separated earth from hell, and are swift to
follow in Satan's track, eager to complete the ruin his hellish hate
devised. Fiends from the pit rejoice, while angels, with grief-clouded
faces, gaze upon the guilty pair. "Adam, where art thou?" Sinful man
hears the summons, and, compelled by power divine, appears in the
presence of his offended Maker. "Can any hide himself in secret places
that I shall not see him? saith the Lord." "Though they hide
themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out
hence." Truly, "there is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the
workers of iniquity may hide themselves."
But when we read this record in the light of the cross, our grief
speedily changes into gladness. That the promise made to Satan, "Thou
shalt bruise his heel," has not been retracted, each disciple of
Christ can testify. The old enmity hissed forth by the arch-apostate
and his followers when the almighty Arm hurled them into their own
place, has not yet been destroyed. The conflict, begun in Paradise,
between the seed of the woman and the serpent--that conflict darkly
shadowed forth in the mythology of heathen nations and painfully
experienced by each regenerate heart--is raging still. "O wretched man
that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" cries
the Christian. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me!" prays the Christian's Lord and Master. That the bruising is not
light, Gethsemane and Calvary bear mournful testimony. Nevertheless,
it is not vital. Thou mayest bruise his heel, Satan, but not his head.
From the abode of demons a yell of triumph must have risen when the
Light of Life was extinguished on the cross. But the triumph was
short-lived. "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I
shall arise." "That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die."
"Thou shalt bruise his heel" because Omnipotence allows it, for "it
pleased the Lord to bruise him," but "it shall bruise thy head."
"Traveling in the greatness of his strength," Jesus plants his feet
upon the necks of his enemies and chains the captives to his triumphal
car. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has seized the prey. "Judah, thou
art he whom his brethren shall praise." "Let all the people praise
thee, O God; let all the people praise thee." And those who will not
render him willing homage shall be trampled under the wheels of his
advancing chariot. "But these mine enemies, which would not that I
should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."
Shiloh, the Pacificator, has come; and though the conflict has not
ceased, the combatants are already singing the conqueror's song. What
meaneth this shout of triumph that cometh up from the battle-field? It
is the voice of them that shout for the mastery. They go forth
singing, "Thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory, through our
Lord Jesus Christ." We hear their song above the clash of arms; amid
the smoke of the battle-field we see their look of quiet confidence;
and as they fall in the conflict they shout, "O Death, where is thy
sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?"
From heaven above is now proclaimed the blessing above the curse; and
though Eden was lost through the disobedience of Adam, Paradise shall
be regained through the obedience of Christ.
Mercy closed Eden's gate. "Behold, saith the Lord, the man is become
as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his
hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever,
therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden." Life
everlasting, even in the garden of Eden, would be no boon to a
sin-stricken race.
The gates are open now not only "that the King of Glory may come in,"
but also for "the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy
face, O God of Jacob." "They shall ascend into the hill of the Lord;"
they "shall stand in his holy place."
[Illustration]
XIII.
_The Hearer of Prayer._
"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as the
Hearer and Answerer of prayer_; for his promises concerning prayer are
many, making us "always confident" when we come to the throne of the
heavenly grace. Surely, every Christian may approach with confidence,
saying in his heart, "My God will hear me." He may adopt the language
of full assurance and say, "Father, I know that thou hearest me
always." The Bible abounds in promises relating to prayer. We also
find there many illustrations of God's willingness to answer the
prayers of his children.
But some may say, "Notwithstanding the promises which appear so
positive, we do not always receive that for which we ask." There are
many reasons why this is so. Sometimes our motive in asking is wrong.
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss." Sometimes we do not
ask in faith, consequently, no answer comes; for thus reads the
faithful promise: "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
_believing_, ye shall receive." Therefore "ask in faith, nothing
wavering." There is another reason why we do not always receive the
things for which we ask. In our ignorance and short-sightedness we
often ask for that which God in his wisdom sees would be hurtful to
us. Loving us with more than a mother's love, he withholds the evil
which seems to us good, and sends the good which seems to us evil.
Though God's providence may seem to contradict his promise, yet this
is a faithful saying: "No good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly." The wicked often prosper for a time. "They are not in
trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Their
eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish.
Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase
in riches."
How shall we solve this seeming contradiction? Suppose we cannot solve
it. Shall we therefore arraign the justice of God? Shall we reject the
promise because we cannot understand it in the light of God's
providence? Oh, not so. Let us remember that now we know only in part.
But do we not often forget the condition of this promise? Do we not
make the promise void by our unworthy walking? "No good thing will he
withhold from them that walk _uprightly_." "If ye abide in me, and my
words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done
unto you."
We must remember that God's standard of judging between good and evil
is very different from ours. In this our thoughts are not as God's
thoughts. We call poverty, sorrow, sickness and bereavement evil; God
often shows us that they are good. We ask health; in answer God sends
sickness, which he blesses to the healing of all our spiritual
maladies. He can make our sick-chambers very Pisgahs, so that we shall
thank him for sickness. Sometimes in our weariness and discouragement
we pray for death. God in answer sends sufficient grace. He maketh our
feet "like hind's feet," equal to the way. Is not his "a more
excellent way?" It seems to us every Christian should be satisfied
with answers like these. Is it not better to have our portion
appointed by God? It is better when praying for temporal blessings
always to say, in spirit if not in words, "Nevertheless, not my will,
but thine be done."
There are some things for which you may ask without any limitations,
and these are spiritual gifts; "for this is the will of God, even your
sanctification." You may also have this confidence when praying for
the conversion of friends. God has provided salvation sufficient for
all. In our Father's house there is room enough, and in our Father's
heart there is love enough, for all. None need perish with hunger. "As
I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way and live." If,
then, you have a desire in your heart for the conversion of a soul, be
assured that God awakened that desire. It is a token of his readiness
to bless. "Have faith in God," "and wait on thy God continually."
Plead till the answer comes; "though it tarry, wait for it." "What
things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them."
[Illustration]
XIV.
_The Reward._
"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I think of his reward for
faithful labor_.
The weariness of work is often very great, but if sufficient
recompense follows our endeavors, if success crowns our working, we
soon forget past toils, "for the desire accomplished is sweet to the
soul." But if we can see no good resulting from our labors,
disappointment and grief increase our fatigue. Yes, the weariness of
grief far exceeds the weariness of successful labors, though they may
be "labors more abundant," "in season" and "out of season." The
faithful minister of Christ will here bear me witness, for of all
times of exhaustion he will acknowledge this to be the greatest, when
he goes from the pulpit to the closet with this despairing cry: "Who
hath believed our report?" "Master, we have toiled all the night and
have taken nothing."
It was morning when upon the shore of Tiberias three tired fishermen
were seen. They were sad as well as weary, for the night had yielded
them no recompense. From the crowd that pressed upon him to hear the
word of God, Jesus stepped forth and entered into Simon's boat. And
when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, "Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Naturally enough, Simon,
answering, said, "Master, we have toiled all the night." They were
very tired now, and were greatly in need of rest and refreshment. "All
the night." Slowly must the hours have worn away while they labored
and waited. And then he added, "We have taken nothing." We can almost
hear the tone of disappointment in which he said it. It would have
been no marvel if he had added, "Lord, if we have been so unsuccessful
during the time that is generally the most favorable for fishing, will
it not be useless for us to make another attempt? Besides, we are
weary all over and almost sick with disappointment; let us at least
wait till the falling darkness favors our work."
But Simon Peter's answer was marked by more faith than this. While he
reminded the Master how long and unsuccessfully they had toiled, he
quickly added, "Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net."
And a great multitude of fishes was the result of this act of faith
and prompt obedience. Peter and all that were with him were astonished
at the draught of fishes which they had taken.
To our mind this astonishment does not confute the idea that this act
of obedience was prompted by faith. The result so speedily followed,
and was so great in its magnitude, that the strongest faith might well
be taken by surprise. Have you not sometimes been surprised by the
blessed and abundant answer to prayer which you have received? Perhaps
the salvation of a dear friend was the deep desire of your heart. For
this you toiled till you nearly fainted at the mercy-seat. You prayed
unceasingly, and you believed it was the prayer of faith; yet when the
answer came you were almost overcome with astonishment.
Contemplating this scene, let us take new courage. The sowing-time is
often a time of exhaustion. It is also a time of weeping; from very
weakness God's seed-bearers weep. The work is great; "who is
sufficient for these things?" Sometimes God in his infinite wisdom
sees fit to withhold from them the knowledge of the results they are
really accomplishing. Often he calls them away before the seed is
fully ripe, and they never see the harvest, nor hear the joyful song
of the reapers who come after them. They sow in tears, and then they
lie down at the close of the day, and with sighs and tears they pass
away; but God watches over the precious seed, and the tear-watering
causes it to flourish more abundantly and ensures a more glorious
harvest. At the time of planting, if the husbandman sees no signs of
coming rain, he steeps his seed over night in water that it may spring
up sooner; but no seed springs up so soon as that which is steeped in
tears. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
The present reward of work is very great, and much to be desired. "In
all labor there is profit." Every deed done for the good of others
brings a blessing to our own souls: seeking their happiness, we find
our own. God's laborers are blessed above all others. He never forgets
to reward the smallest work of love; even the cup of cold water given
in his name shall be remembered. When we fail to accomplish the good
we designed, we cannot say that our labors were in vain or that we
have spent our strength for naught. God's designs have been
accomplished; our souls have been disciplined; and as we sit down upon
the ruins of our brightest plans and fairest hopes, we glorify God far
more by our cheerful submission than we could have done by successful
labors.
But the _future_ reward, how great it is and how enduring! The
harvest-time will be a time of joy. Past labor and weeping will be
forgotten when the Lord of the vineyard shall call the laborers that
he may reward them abundantly. What a scene will then be presented to
our view! From north, from south, from east, from west, will they
come--some who have toiled through the heat and burden of a long day;
others who have labored but one short hour. I, too, will obey the
call, saying, as I come and kneel before the God of the harvest,
"Master, behold my sheaves. I know they are very few and of little
worth; yet, Master, behold my sheaves." Then shall these cheering
words come to me, and not to me only, but to all the faithful
laborers: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord."
Weary worker in the vineyard, waste not your strength in weeping. Say
not, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for naught, and
in vain;" for surely your judgment is with the Lord, and your work, or
your reward, with your God. "Thus saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice
from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be
rewarded, saith the Lord."
[Illustration]
XV.
_The Soul's Portion._
"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as my
soul's best portion_.
Again and again in God's holy word are we warned to avoid
covetousness. From the midst of the thunders and lightning of Sinai
issues the emphatic command, "Thou shalt not covet." "Take heed, and
beware of covetousness," saith the Master, "for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." "Let
your conversation be without covetousness," enjoins the great apostle,
"and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
In order, then, to gain this sweet content, let us meditate upon
Christ, who is our soul's eternal portion. Let us consider what we
already possess, and also meditate upon "things to come," till our
hands shall relax their grasp upon earthly things and our hearts cling
more closely to Christ. Our lips vainly declare, "Christ is all," if
our lives contradict our lips. The worldling looks at our daily life,
and soon judges whether or not we are satisfied with Christ.
"Conversation" means more than mere words. In its original meaning it
includes the whole life. Our whole lives, then, must prove that Christ
is our all.
Can we be contented in sickness, in sorrow and in poverty? Yes, we
can; "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In
sickness the Lord will make all your bed; he will strengthen you upon
the bed of languishing; his left hand will be under your head, while
his right hand will embrace you. In sorrow he will be with you, for he
has said, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the
flame kindle upon thee." In poverty be content, for though you are
poor and, it may be, despised of men, you are not forgotten by God.
That you might have eternal riches he became poor--so poor that he had
not where to lay his head. The manger was his cradle and the rich
man's tomb was borrowed for his burial. "For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
Christ is our _eternal_ portion, "for he hath said, I will _never_
leave thee, nor forsake thee." "Lo, I am with you alway" were his last
words on earth. Be content, then, with such things as ye have. Having
Christ, ye possess all things, "for all things are yours; and ye are
Christ's, and Christ is God's."
The "things present," which belong to us through the covenant of peace
made with Christ, are precious and greatly to be desired. We have the
promise of all things needful for this life. "My God shall supply all
your need." "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly." Bread is sure; water is sure. "The young lions do lack,
and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good
thing." "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what
ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on." "Consider the ravens" and "the lilies," and "be not
faithless, but believing;" for if God so feedeth the ravens and
clotheth the lilies, "how much more will he" feed and clothe you, "O
ye of little faith!"
Come and meditate upon his promises, for they are positive and sure,
and full of sweet comfort. All your wants are supplied by your Lord
Jesus. Are you sick? He is your Healer. Are you weary? He is your
Rest. Are you in trouble? He is your very present Helper. Are the days
dark? He is your Sun. Are you in danger from the darts of the
adversary? He is your Shield. Does the desert sun beat hot upon your
head and the desert sand scorch your pilgrim feet? He is "as the
shadow of a great rock in a weary land." When the wicked, even your
enemies and your foes, come upon you, he is your Fortress and your
strong Tower. He is your Teacher, Brother, Friend and Saviour. What
more do you desire?