Morning   “Do as thou hast said.” / 2 Samuel 7:25

God’s promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; he intended

that they should be used. God’s gold is not miser’s money, but is minted to be

traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his promises put in

circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say,

“Lord, do as thou hast said.” We glorify God when we plead his promises. Do

you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches he has

promised? Do you dream that he will be any the less holy for giving holiness

to you? Do you imagine he will be any the less pure for washing you from your

sins? He has said “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be

red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Faith lays hold upon the promise of

pardon, and it does not delay, saying, “This is a precious promise, I wonder

if it be true?” but it goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, “Lord,

here is the promise, Do as thou hast said.'” Our Lord replies, “Be it unto

thee even as thou wilt.” When a Christian grasps a promise, if he does not

take it to God, he dishonours him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace,

and cries, “Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, Thou hast said

it;'” then his desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash

his own notes. Never let the promise rust. Draw the sword of promise out of

its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be

troubled by your importunately reminding him of his promises. He loves to hear

the loud outcries of needy souls. It is his delight to bestow favours. He is

more ready to hear than you are to ask. The sun is not weary of shining, nor

the fountain of flowing. It is God’s nature to keep his promises; therefore go

at once to the throne with “Do as thou hast said.”

 

Evening  “But I give myself unto prayer.” / Psalm 109:4

Lying tongues were busy against the reputation of David, but he did not defend

himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great

King himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The

Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner, he gave himself to the

exercise–threw his whole soul and heart into it–straining every sinew and

muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thus only, shall

any of us speed at the throne of grace. As a shadow has no power because there

is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man’s proper self

is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is

utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would give it force. “Fervent

prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven,

makes them fly open.” The common fault with the most of us is our readiness to

yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving hither and thither, and we make

little progress towards our desired end. Like quicksilver our mind will not

hold together, but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It

injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a

petitioner, if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing

with a feather or catching a fly?

Continuance and perseverance are intended in the expression of our text. David

did not cry once, and then relapse into silence; his holy clamour was

continued till it brought down the blessing. Prayer must not be our chance

work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give

themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we

addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element,

and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and

more prevalent in supplication.

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