110. Maroth, or The Disappointed.

For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem. - Micah 1:12.

The village of the bitter spring (for such is probably the meaning of the name Maroth) experienced a bitter disappointment.

The more eager and patient their careful waiting, the more distasteful the draught of evil which they were compelled to drink. Their trust in man proved to be vain, for the Assyrian swept over them, and stopped not till he reached the gate of Jerusalem, where Hezekiah's faith in God made the enemy pause and retreat.

Let us consider, as suggested by the text:

I. SAD DISAPPOINTMENTS. "waited carefully for good: but evil came."

Disappointments come frequently to the sanguine, but they also happen to those who wait — wait carefull, and expect reasonably.

1. Disappointments are often extremely painful at the time.

2. Yet could we know all the truth, we should not lament them.

3. In reference to hopes of several kinds they are certain. As for instance, when we expect more of the creature than it was ever meant to yield us, when we look for happiness in sin, when we expect fixity in earthly things, etc.

4. In many cases disappointments are highly probable. Conceited hopes, groundless expectations, speculations, etc.

5. In all cases they are possible. "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip."

6. They should be accepted with manly patience.

7. They may prove highly instructive, teaching us:

· Our fallibility of judgment.

· The uncertainty of sublunary things.

· The need of reserve in speaking of the future (James 4:14).

· The duty of submitting all our projects to the divine will.

8. They may be greatly sanctified.

· Sometimes they have turned the current of a life.

· They are intended to wean us from the world.

· They tend to make us prize more the truthfulness of our God, who fulfills the desire of them that fear him.

· They bring us precious things which can only come of experience.

· They save us from unknown evils which might ruin us.

II. STRANGE APPOINTMENTS.

The text tells us, "evil came down from the Lord."

1. The expression must not be misunderstood. God is not the author of moral evil. It is the evil of sorrow, affliction, calamity that is here meant.

2. It is nevertheless universally true. No evil can happen without divine permission. "I make peace, and create evil" (Isa. 45:7).

3. Some evils are distinctly from the Lord. "This evil is of the Lord" (2 Kings 6:33).

· For testing men, and making their true character to be known,

· For chastening the good (1 Chron. 21:7).

· For punishing the wicked (Gen. 6:5-7; 19:24-25).

4. Hence such evils are to be endured by the godly with humble submission to their heavenly Father's will.

5. Hence our comfort under them: since all evils are under divine control, their power to injure is gone.

6. Hence the antidote for our disappointments lies in the fact that they are God's appointments.

III. EXPECTATIONS WHICH WILL NOT END IN DISAPPOINTMENT.

l. Hopes founded on the promises of God (Heb. 10:23).

2. Confidence placed in the Lord Jesus (1 Pet. 2:6).

3. Desires presented in believing prayer (Matt. 21:22).

4. Harvest hopes in connection with sowing seed for the Lord (Ps. 126:5-6).

5. Expectations in falling asleep in Jesus (1 Thess. 4:14). Is your life embittered by disappointment?

Cast the cross into the bitter water, and it will become sweet.