“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa. 57:15).
Whatever we are in the eyes of the world, yet let us still adore and admire God, and come in humility before him. For the angels, who are glorious spirits, and are in the heavens with him, and knows more than any human flesh now can know, yet they adore him, and hide themselves, and cannot behold his glory; and, indeed, the more that we know of him, the more will we adore him.
Then I would have you to come in great reverence before the Lord, because he is the Lord Jehovah, the great and mighty God. And, while I would have you most of all to look to, even that you come with a Christian care and fear, that so you do not come short and miss the comfort of the Lord’s promises, and that you do not come short in performing your duty, while you owe it to the Lord.
Beloved, only a word now to stir you up to cry for grace to the Lord, and this is it. If the Lord have appointed a man for destruction and condemnation, he will never get any ear to hear and eye to see, nor a heart to understand what it is that the Lord is doing about him, nor what his servants in his name are speaking. You have an example of this set down, 1 Sam. 2:15; Eli there, he spake to his sons, that they had transgressed against the Lord, and that they made the Lord’s people to transgress: but it is said, “They hearkened not to the voice of their father;” and the reason of it is given, “For the Lord had appointed to slay them.”
Alexander Henderson said, “If you would be free of the destruction of the Lord, cry for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what it is that the Lord is speaking to you.”
In Gen. 18:17, the Lord says of Abraham, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham sail surely become a great and mighty nation?” And why will he not hide it? “That the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.” And therefore, when God has purposed to do ill to any, he puts it in their heads not to use any means to cast it off. When he has purposed to do good to any, he puts it in their hearts to use all lawful means.
Do you rejoice in good providence, but are put off by affliction? Know that God is sovereign over it all.
In everything that is good rejoice, and rejoice in it with fear and trembling; and beseech the Lord to give to you ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand what it is that the Lord speaks to you, that so ye may use the means to cast away his judgments, and may be also exercised about the means, how to get good to your own souls; that so the blessing of the Lord may be begun on you this day, and may continue with you all the days of your life, through Jesus Christ. (Alexander Henderson, Sermons, Prayers, and Pulpit Addresses).
Contemplation:
I rejoice in your hope, mighty God. Nothing can make me more cheerful in this world than hope in you; my joy is called the, “rejoicing of the hope”, (Hebrews 3:6). Help me to place this hope between serving the Lord, and being patient in tribulation. Nothing tends to move me to love you more than cheerfully serving you, or to be more patient under afflictions, than a hope of being forever with the Lord.
Help me to be patient in tribulation. While the saints are in this world we must expect tribulation; my way to heaven lies through tribulation. It is becoming of me to be patient under it, not murmuring against You, on the one hand, nor reviling men, on the other.
Help me to be continuing instant in prayer: prayer is needful at all times, but especially in a time of my tribulation and distress, whether it is inward or outward. Help me to pray without ceasing; I should watch to it with all perseverance. I should pray always, and not faint; never give out and over, or be discouraged. Help me to learn that I am to go to the throne of grace continually for fresh supplies of grace, and strength to enable me to exercise that grace, and perform the duties you require while rejoicing.
