Morning “The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.” / Deuteronomy 5:24

 God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any

aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be

manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has

ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own

powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear,

then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to

be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into

straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and

weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth

to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see

but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of

self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the

revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know

but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,”

these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of

bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah,

because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led

by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s

greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of

knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of

the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you

might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left

to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved,

but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the

outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

 

Evening “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.” / Matthew 12:20

 What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth

in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let

but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind

that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing

more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised

reed. Then look at the smoking flax–what is it? It has a spark within it, it

is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out;

nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here

described, yet Jesus says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench; the

bruised reed I will not break.” Some of God’s children are made strong to do

mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can pull up

Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who

are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race.

They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful

flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial

threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by

every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the

billows–weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight.

Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise

made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and

lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus–so gentle, tender,

considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need never fear a

harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our weakness, he

rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him, and the smoking flax

no damping frowns.