Morning “I will praise thee, O Lord.” / Psalm 9:1

 Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth’s gratitude

rises when the sun of heaven’s love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been

gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then

praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile

soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy

prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God’s mercies

is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine

lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give

thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit

ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth

of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to

increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens

the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his

Master’s service. To bless God for mercies received is also the way to benefit

our fellow-men; “the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.” Others who have

been in like circumstances shall take comfort if we can say, “Oh! magnify the

Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together; this poor man cried, and the

Lord heard him.” Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be

revived as they listen to our “songs of deliverance.” Their doubts and fears

will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs. They too shall “sing in the ways of the Lord,” when they hear

us magnify his holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The

angels pray not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the

redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, are never

weary of singing the new song, “Worthy is the Lamb.”

 

Evening “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause

me to hear it.” / Song of Solomon 8:13

 My sweet Lord Jesus remembers well the garden of Gethsemane, and although he

has left that garden, he now dwells in the garden of his church: there he

unbosoms himself to those who keep his blessed company. That voice of love

with which he speaks to his beloved is more musical than the harps of heaven.

There is a depth of melodious love within it which leaves all human music far

behind. Ten of thousands on earth, and millions above, are indulged with its

harmonious accents. Some whom I well know, and whom I greatly envy, are at

this moment hearkening to the beloved voice. O that I were a partaker of their

joys! It is true some of these are poor, others bedridden, and some near the

gates of death, but O my Lord, I would cheerfully starve with them, pine with

them, or die with them, if I might but hear thy voice. Once I did hear it

often, but I have grieved thy Spirit. Return unto me in compassion, and once

again say unto me, “I am thy salvation.” No other voice can content me; I know

thy voice, and cannot be deceived by another, let me hear it, I pray thee. I

know not what thou wilt say, neither do I make any condition, O my Beloved, do

but let me hear thee speak, and if it be a rebuke I will bless thee for it.

Perhaps to cleanse my dull ear may need an operation very grievous to the

flesh, but let it cost what it may I turn not from the one consuming desire,

cause me to hear thy voice. Bore my ear afresh; pierce my ear with thy

harshest notes, only do not permit me to continue deaf to thy calls. Tonight,

Lord, grant thine unworthy one his desire, for I am thine, and thou hast

bought me with thy blood. Thou hast opened mine eye to see thee, and the sight

has saved me. Lord, open thou mine ear. I have read thy heart, now let me hear

thy lips.