October 30 - 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." October 30 - 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. Tens 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. To-night, 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. October 30 |