Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Admin

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night” (Psalm 91:5).

What is this terror? It may be the cry of fire, or the noise of thieves, or fancied appearances, or the shriek of sudden sickness or death. We live in the world of death and sorrow, we may therefore look for ills as well in the night-watches as beneath the glare of he broiling sun. Nor should this alarm us, for be the terror what it may, the promise is that the believer shall not be afraid. Why should he? Let us put it more closely, why should we? God our Father is here, and will be here all through the lonely hours; He is an almighty Watcher, a sleepless Guardian, a faithful Friend. Nothing can happen without His direction, for even hell itself is under His control. Darkness is not dark to Him. He has promised to be a wall of fire around His people–and who can break through such a barrier? Worldlings may well be afraid, for they have an angry God above them, a guilty conscience within them, and a yawning hell beneath them; but we who rest in Jesus are saved from all these through rich mercy. If we give way to foolish fear we shall dishonour our profession, and lead others to doubt the reality of godliness. We ought to be afraid of being afraid, lest we should vex the Holy Spirit by foolish distrust. Down, then, ye dismal forebodings and groundless apprehensions, God has not forgotten to be gracious, nor shut up His tender mercies, it may be night in the soul, but there need be no terror, for the God of love changes not. Children of light may walk in darkness, but they are not therefore cast away, nay, they are now enabled to prove their adoption by trusting in their heavenly Father as hypocrites cannot do.

“Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He, who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.”

From “Evening by Evening” by Charles Spurgeon.

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Treasures of wickedness profit nothing

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Admin

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing…(Proverbs 10:2).

Ill-gotten riches are called treasures of wickedness. It is an opinion generally held by men, that riches, in whatever way procured, will do them great service. If, therefore, they cannot come at the possession of them by honest means, they will scrape them together by any means in their power. But here the Spirit of God tells
us, that if a man should heap up immense riches to himself, they will profit him nothing. And how can they? They are cursed to him. If a moth in his substance, and stings in his conscience, and the damnation of hell, can bring any advantage to the robber and extortioner, let them rejoice in their portion.

But righteousness delivereth from death.

No righteousness but that which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, delivers from eternal death. However, he is a gross deceiver of his own soul, who pretends to be clothed with it, while he continues to live unrighteously.

By righteousness, we give to every one his due; first to God, and next to men. This righteousness is a preservative from death and misery of every kind. How? Through the gracious protection of him that keepeth the path of the righteous.

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Where no counsel is, the people fall

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Admin

Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).

In our private concerns it is dangerous to trust our own wisdom, and it is our interest to advise with wise and faithful friends, in every important business of life. But in the affairs of countries, public calamity must be the inevitable consequence of the sovereign’s being not wise enough to know his need of asking and following the advice of wise men. If he asks the advice of wise men, and yet follows that of fools, he is no better than Rehoboam, who by such conduct rent his kingdom, and but for the kindness and faithfulness of God to David, in reserving two tribes to his grandson, would have lost it all.

Solomon had wisdom not only to teach, but to practise this maxim. He had wise counsellors under whom his kingdom flourished, and their counsels might have preserved the kingdom in the hands of his son. But God infatuates those whom he intends to punish; and there is not a plainer evidence of infatuation than when men presume on their own sense, or prefer the counsel of the vain and foolish to that of the sober and the wise.

Great is the judgment with which God visits a land, when he removes wise and faithful counsellors from the management of its concerns. In our intercession for kings, then, let us pray that God may furnish them with good counsellors, and with wisdom to make a proper use of them.

From “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

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A tale-bearer revealeth secrets

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Admin

A tale-bearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter (Proverbs 11:13).

Much of our wisdom lies in the prudent choice of friends. A well-chosen friend sweetens the present life, and assists us in our progress to a better. An unworthy friend will bring on us disappointment, vexation, and remorse. But what sort of persons are we to avoid or to chuse for our friends? We must not chuse one that takes pleasure in telling every thing he knows. You may be sure that such a one will betray your secrets; for though he should have no malignity of disposition, his anxiety to rehearse every private story that he has picked up, will prove to him an irresistible temptation to expose you.

The scripture, however, does not condemn all revealing of secrets. There are some secrets which the laws of justice and charity bind us to reveal *. But it is a proof that a man has no command of his tongue, when he can risk the uneasiness and displeasure of his neighbours, by publishing matters which can be of no benefit to him to whom they are communicated.

But that man is to be chosen as your friend, who is of an honest and faithful spirit. Your heart will be relieved of its sorrows, by pouring them into his bosom; and you may rest assured that he will cause you no uneasiness by blabbing what you would not have the world to know.

Here we see that a well-governed spirit will govern the tongue. An unrestrained tongue is an evidence of levity, or of some worse quality in the heart. And if the spirit be faithful, the tongue will be cautious and friendly. The communication between the spirit and the tongue is so easy, that the one will certainly discover the quality of the other, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

* Lev. v, 5. 1 Sam. xx.

From “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

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These all died in faith

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Admin

These all died in faith (Hebrews 11:13).

Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord! It matters nothing how else they died, whether of old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, “they all died in faith.” In faith they lived–it was their comfort, their guide, their motive and their support; and in the same spiritual grace they died, ending their life-song in the sweet strain in which they had so long continued. They did not die resting in the flesh or upon their own attainments; they made no advance from their first way of acceptance with God, but held to the way of faith to the end. Faith is as precious to die by as to live by.

Dying in faith has distinct reference to the past. They believed the promises which had gone before, and were assured that their sins were blotted out through the mercy of God. Dying in faith has to do with the present. These saints were confident of their acceptance with God, they enjoyed the beams of His love, and rested in His faithfulness. Dying in faith looks into the future. They fell asleep, affirming that the Messiah would surely come, and that when He would in the last days appear upon the earth, they would rise from their graves to behold Him. To them the pains of death were but the birth-pangs of a better state. Take courage, my soul, as thou readest this epitaph. Thy course, through grace, is one of faith, and sight seldom cheers thee; this has also been the pathway of the brightest and the best. Faith was the orbit in which these stars of the first magnitude moved all the time of their shining here; and happy art thou that it is thine. Look anew to-night to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith, and thank Him for giving thee like precious faith with souls now in glory.

From “Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon.

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A bruised reed shall He not break

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Admin

“A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench (Matthew 12:20).”

What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the smoking flax– what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out; nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here described, yet Jesus says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed I will not break.” Some of God’s children are made strong to do mighty works for Him; God has His Samsons here and there who can pull up Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; He has a few mighties who are lion-like men, but the majority of His people are a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows–weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus–so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from His touch. We need never fear a harsh word from Him; though He might well chide us for our weakness, He rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from Him, and the smoking flax no damping frowns.

From “Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon.

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Who went about doing good

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Admin

“Who went about doing good (Acts 10:38).”

Few words, but yet an exquisite miniature of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are not many touches, but they are the strokes of a master’s pencil. Of the Saviour and only of the Saviour is it true in the fullest, broadest, and most unqualified sense. “He went about doing good.” From this description it is evident that He did good personally. The evangelists constantly tell us that He touched the leper with His own finger, that He anointed the eyes of the blind, and that in cases where He was asked to speak the word only at a distance, He did not usually comply, but went Himself to the sick bed, and there personally wrought the cure. A lesson to us, if we would do good, to do it ourselves. Give alms with your own hand; a kind look, or word, will enhance the value of the gift. Speak to a friend about his soul; your loving appeal will have more influence than a whole library of tracts. Our Lord’s mode of doing good sets forth His incessant activity! He did not only the good which came close to hand, but He “went about” on His errands of mercy. Throughout the whole land of Judea there was scarcely a village or a hamlet which was not gladdened by the sight of Him. How this reproves the creeping, loitering manner, in which many professors serve the Lord. Let us gird up the loins of our mind, and be not weary in well doing. Does not the text imply that Jesus Christ went out of His way to do good? “He went about doing good.” He was never deterred by danger or difficulty. He sought out the objects of His gracious intentions. So must we. If old plans will not answer, we must try new ones, for fresh experiments sometimes achieve more than regular methods. Christ’s perseverance, and the unity of His purpose, are also hinted at, and the practical application of the subject may be summed up in the words, “He hath left us an example that we should follow in His steps.”

From “Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon.

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For thou shall heap coals of fire upon his head

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Admin

For thou shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee (Proverbs 25:22).

It is said to be a custom to this day among the Arabians, to cure some diseases, by the application of burning coals to the head. The disease of rancour and spite will certainly be healed, for the most part, by those coals of love that Solomon here directs us to heap upon the heads of our enemies. As the hard metals are softened and melted by the fire, so the hard and stubborn spirit is softened and melted by the solid expressions of charity and meekness. He is a wild beast of the most untameable kind, that feels no shame for his own conduct, nor any warm emotions of gratitude to him whom he has offended, when he sees him returning good for evil. No enmity is stronger than the enmity of man’s heart to God, and God makes use of his own kindness to subdue it; and we are to be followers of God as dear children, and try the like experiment upon our own enemies, as far as the infinite difference of persons and circumstances will admit the resemblance and if our enemies are warmed into friends, have we not gained a nobler victory, by gaining our brother, than if we had humbled them to the dust? The pleasantest and noblest of victories is to overcome evil with good. But perhaps we shall be losers by kindness to our enemies? Who knows but their hearts may be untameably savage, and then our bread and water is thrown away upon them? Let them be what they will, it is not thrown away. If they persist to return evil for good, the Lord shall graciously reward thee. The Lord loves mercy and goodness, and there are no instances of it that he loves better, and rewards more bountifully, than those by which we most resemble himself, and cross our selfish and haughty spirits. David preserved the life of a railing Shimei from the rage of Abishai, as he had formerly done the life of a persecuting tysant. The good man hoped that God would return him good for the evil that his enemies did to him, when he shewed kindness to them, and his hopes were not disappointed.

From “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

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Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Admin

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee (Proverbs 25:17).

We must not indulge ourselves without restraint in any of the pleasures of life, however delightful. Honey is not so sweet to the taste, as the intercourses of friendship, amongst those that have a cordial love to one another, are to the heart. But as we must eat only so much honey as is sufficient for us, so we must use a prudent caution in our familiarities with our most affectionate friends. Although their houses are a home to us, yet we must not be frequenting them at every hour, nor continue in them till our company become wearisome. It is highly proper for us to visit our friends, and preserve by that means our mutual friendship, and enjoy the sweets of it; but it is very improper to teaze a friend by too frequent visits, which may have the unhappy effect of dissolving the closest intimacy by creating disgust where love in former times took place. Our friends have their business to mind, and their time is valuable to them; and friendship is bought too dear by him that ceases to be master of his own time, and may be called off the most necessary employment to receive a visitant. Besides, we ought to consider the circumstances of our friends, and take care not to load them by our visits with expence which they may be unable or unwilling to bear. The freedom of friendship does not consist in a liberty to teaze one another, but in a liberty to contribute to one another’s happiness and comfort, beyond what strangers can presume to use.

How different are the pleasures of earthly friendships from those which are vouchsafed to Christians in their admission to fellowship with God! The oftener we visit the best of all friends, we are the more welcome, and the more we frequent his house to partake of the provisions of it, he is the better pleased with our conduct.

From “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

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If thine enemy be hungry

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Admin

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21).

This precept is grievous to flesh and blood. We are disposed by our pride and rage to inflict a severe revenge, not only on our enemies, but even on our offending friends. To do to them as they have done to us is not reckoned sufficient, but sevenfold vengeance must be rendered into their bosom. A stab at the heart has been often returned by the modern men of honour for a rude expression.

But we that are Christians have not so learned Christ. Enmity against God is infinitely worse than enmity against us, and yet God spares his enemies, and does them good from heaven, giving them rain and fruitful seasons. We ourselves were sometimes alienated from God, and enemies in our mind by wicked works, and if we had been recompensed according to our works, we had now been in the lake of fire and brimstone; but God who is rich in mercy, sent his Son to accomplish our redemption from ruin. By Christ, we that were guilty of horrid enmity against God have received the atonement. We are reconciled to God; and blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ; and shall we now think that God lays an unreasonable command upon us, when he requires us to be charitable and kind to our enemies, and not to return railing for tailing, but courtesies for injuries?

It is easy for us to say that we forgive our enemies, but do we make it evident in our works that we forgive them in love? We may bring our minds without very great difficulty to overlook their injuries, and to bury them in silence; but a sullen disdain of injuries is no Christian grace. Our duty is to wish real happiness to our enemies in this world and the next, and to shew the truth of our love in praying for them, and in doing them good as opportunity presents, and their needs require. It was so habitual to the good Archbishop Cranmer to shew kindness to those that had wronged him, that it became a proverb: “If any man would have a good turn from the archbishop, let him do him an injury.” But will not behaviour of this kind lay a man open to injuries? No.

From “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

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