Morning “The daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.” / Isaiah 37:22

Reassured by the Word of the Lord, the poor trembling citizens of Zion grew

bold, and shook their heads at Sennacherib’s boastful threats. Strong faith

enables the servants of God to look with calm contempt upon their most haughty

foes. We know that our enemies are attempting impossibilities. They seek to

destroy the eternal life, which cannot die while Jesus lives; to overthrow the

citadel, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. They kick against

the pricks to their own wounding, and rush upon the bosses of Jehovah’s

buckler to their own hurt.

 We know their weakness. What are they but men? And what is man but a worm?

They roar and swell like waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. When

the Lord ariseth, they shall fly as chaff before the wind, and be consumed as

crackling thorns. Their utter powerlessness to do damage to the cause of God

and his truth, may make the weakest soldiers in Zion’s ranks laugh them to

scorn.

 Above all, we know that the Most High is with us, and when he dresses himself

in arms, where are his enemies? If he cometh forth from his place, the

potsherds of the earth will not long contend with their Maker. His rod of iron

shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel, and their very remembrance

shall perish from the earth. Away, then, all fears, the kingdom is safe in the

King’s hands. Let us shout for joy, for the Lord reigneth, and his foes shall

be as straw for the dunghill.

 “As true as God’s own word is true;

 Nor earth, nor hell, with all their crew,

 Against us shall prevail.

 A jest, and by-word, are they grown;

 God is with us, we are his own,

 Our victory cannot fail.”

 

Evening “Why go I mourning?” / Psalm 42:9

 Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why thou art so

often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who

told thee that the night would never end in day? Who told thee that the sea of

circumstances would ebb out till there should be nothing left but long leagues

of the mud of horrible poverty? Who told thee that the winter of thy

discontent would proceed from frost to frost, from snow, and ice, and hail, to

deeper snow, and yet more heavy tempest of despair? Knowest thou not that day

follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed

winter? Hope thou then! Hope thou ever! For God fails thee not. Dost thou not

know that thy God loves thee in the midst of all this? Mountains, when in

darkness hidden, are as real as in day, and God’s love is as true to thee now

as it was in thy brightest moments. No father chastens always: thy Lord hates

the rod as much as thou dost; he only cares to use it for that reason which

should make thee willing to receive it, namely, that it works thy lasting

good. Thou shalt yet climb Jacob’s ladder with the angels, and behold him who

sits at the top of it–thy covenant God. Thou shalt yet, amidst the splendours

of eternity, forget the trials of time, or only remember them to bless the God

who led thee through them, and wrought thy lasting good by them. Come, sing in

the midst of tribulation. Rejoice even while passing through the furnace. Make

the wilderness to blossom like the rose! Cause the desert to ring with thine

exulting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be over, and then

“forever with the Lord,” thy bliss shall never wane.

 “Faint not nor fear, his arms are near,

 He changeth not, and thou art dear;

 Only believe and thou shalt see,

 That Christ is all in all to thee.”