September 24 - Morning"For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him." — Ezra 8:22
A convoy on many accounts would have been desirable for the pilgrim
band, but a holy shame-facedness would not allow Ezra to seek one. He
feared lest the heathen king should think his professions of faith in God to
be mere hypocrisy, or imagine that the God of Israel was not able to
preserve His own worshippers. He could not bring his mind to lean on an
arm of flesh in a matter so evidently of the Lord, and therefore the caravan
set out with no visible protection, guarded by Him who is the sword and
shield of His people.
It is to be feared that few believers feel this holy
jealousy for God; even those who in a measure walk by faith, occasionally
mar the lustre of their life by craving aid from man. It is a most blessed
thing to have no props and no buttresses, but to stand upright on the Rock
of Ages, upheld by the Lord alone. Would any believers seek state
endowments for their Church, if they remembered that the Lord is
dishonoured by their asking Caesar's aid? as if the Lord could not supply
the needs of His own cause!
Should we run so hastily to friends and
relations for assistance, if we remembered that the Lord is magnified by
our implicit reliance upon His solitary arm? My soul, wait thou only upon
God. "But," says one, "are not means to be used?" Assuredly they are;
but our fault seldom lies in their neglect: far more frequently it springs out
of foolishly believing in them instead of believing in God. Few run too far
in neglecting the creature's arm; but very many sin greatly in making too
much of it. Learn, dear reader, to glorify the Lord by leaving means untried,
if by using them thou wouldst dishonour the name of the Lord. September 24 - Evening"I sleep, but my heart waketh." — Song of Solomon 5:2
Paradoxes abound in Christian experience, and here is one — the spouse
was asleep, and yet she was awake. He only can read the believer's riddle
who has ploughed with the heifer of his experience. The two points in this
evening's text are — a mournful sleepiness and a hopeful wakefulness. I
sleep. Through sin that dwelleth in us we may become lax in holy duties,
slothful in religious exercises, dull in spiritual joys, and altogether supine
and careless. This is a shameful state for one in whom the quickening Spirit
dwells; and it is dangerous to the highest degree.
Even wise virgins
sometimes slumber, but it is high time for all to shake off the bands of
sloth. It is to be feared that many believers lose their strength as Samson
lost his locks, while sleeping on the lap of carnal security. With a perishing
world around us, to sleep is cruel; with eternity so near at hand, it is
madness. Yet we are none of us so much awake as we should be; a few
thunder-claps would do us all good, and it may be, unless we soon bestir
ourselves, we shall have them in the form of war, or pestilence, or personal
bereavements and losses. O that we may leave for ever the couch of fleshly
ease, and go forth with flaming torches to meet the coming Bridegroom!
My heart waketh. This is a happy sign. Life is not extinct, though sadly
smothered. When our renewed heart struggles against our natural
heaviness, we should be grateful to sovereign grace for keeping a little
vitality within the body of this death. Jesus will hear our hearts, will help
our hearts, will visit our hearts; for the voice of the wakeful heart is really
the voice of our Beloved, saying, "Open to me." Holy zeal will surely
unbar the door.
"Oh lovely attitude! He stands September 24 |