29. The afflicted one meditates upon the Divine Promises
EXHORTATION.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation."—Psalm xci. 9-16.
As on the one hand, troubles, misfortunes and sufferings are calculated to overwhelm and crush us; so, on the other, are those precious promises of God's grace and assistance calculated to support and comfort us.
1. Hence the afflicted believer should remember that God's promises are left on record for his benefit, as well as that of others. He ought not to suppose that they were given alone to Moses, David, Daniel, and other eminent saints; no, afflicted soul! they were intended also for you, as St. Paul plainly teaches,—Rom. xv. 4. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
2. He should remember that all God's promises will be fulfilled in his own good time. It does not become us to prescribe to God, and in
THE AFFLICTED ONE MEDITATES our afflictions to set the day and hour when he must send us deliverance; on the contrary, in humility and faith, we must patiently wait for the salvation of God.
3. The distressed believer should remember that God's promises of help, salvation, deliverance, relief from grievances, are sometimes fulfilled in this world partly, so that the sick are made whole, the afflicted comforted, the wretched delivered; but that often God only fulfils his promises in the life to come.
4. Wherefore the afflicted believer should be at peace, and set his hopes on the goodness of God, who has already fulfilled his promises to so many thousands.
Lord God! my heart pleads thy word, "Seek ye my face," and now "thy face, Lord, will I seek." In my distress I know not where to find consolation or counsel but with thee, with whom my heart has ever found comfort, help and counsel. Especially do I seek my consolation in thy precious promises, which contain the true and living fountain for the refreshment of my sinking spirit. I look to thy holy place—I seek in thy word for the bread and water of eternal life. Thou hast said, "I am with thee in trouble and will deliver thee." Now, Lord, I am in
UPON THE DIVINE PROMISES.
trouble; thou seest how great the anguish of my heart is; deliver me from mine affliction. Hast thou not said, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness?" And again, "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee." Therefore, O Lord, have mercy upon me, and forsake me not. Cast me not away from thy presence, and uphold me with thy free spirit. Thy word presents thee as an almighty, all-wise and most merciful Father, as a strong Rescuer, and merciful Protector, and upon thee I cast myself, and here I find consolation. Wherefore, be at peace my soul, for the Lord will not cast thee off forever. He afflicts thee, but still he will have mercy upon thee again, according to his goodness. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God. From one morning watch to the other my soul waiteth upon the Lord; yea, my soul waiteth upon the Lord until his salvation appeareth. Still surround me with thine arms, and refresh me, and do thou never leave nor withdraw thy helping hand, my salvation! On thee is my dependence in this time of trial; thou dost avert all afflictions; be all commended
THE AFFLICTED ONE CONSIDERS THE to thee, my body, my soul, my life, and all that thou hast given. Do with it according to thy pleasure. Amen.
The Afflicted one considers the Design of God in his Afflictions.
EXHORTATION.
"No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."—Heb. xii. 11.
When a child is punished, it weeps and thinks it is made to suffer too severely. Is it strange then that the afflicted are often at a loss to know how they should support their sorrows?
1. Let the afflicted believer therefore remember that God chastises him not to destroy, but to save him. When the surgeon cuts into a wound, and applies irritating liniments, it is done to heal it; and so God sends upon us sufferings and sorrows to wean us from the world and draw us nearer to himself and to heaven.
2. When God sees that our hearts and affections are too much wedded to any earthly object or being, he often finds it necessary to remove
DESIGN OF GOD IN HIS AFFLICTION.
the idol, so that he alone may have our supreme love, and that we are to seek and have our chief delight in him. It often happens that when uninterrupted health, happiness, and prosperity are granted to us for a length of time, we become weary in well doing, and negligent in prayer. This is a very great evil, and God sends some calamity or affliction upon us to bring us back to him. In all this, however, he still remains a wise, gracious, and merciful Father, who loves us sincerely.
My God! Thou hast plunged me into such sorrow and tribulation, that my heart is disturbed, my lips full of sighs, and my eyes full of tears! What shall I do, or whither shall I flee? Was I not happy once? Did I not enjoy peace and rest? Whence then come my present sorrows and sufferings? O my misery is great! But I will not therefore attempt to flee from thee, my Shepherd. Hast thou not cast me down with this heavy blow? O raise me up again with thy mighty word! I know full well that this affliction has been sent upon me, not for my misery and destruction, but that by putting me into this condition, thou wouldst prove my love, whether it is true, and will remain the same in adversity as in prosperity. Thou wouldst prove
17*
THE AFFLICTED ONE PRAYS my faith, whether I truly believe that thou art an almighty, wise, and merciful God, capable alike of rescuing me from this trouble, and of leaving me in it. Thou wouldst prove my patience, whether I will honor thee by bearing the cross without murmuring. Thou wouldst prove my confidence, whether it is ready to trust thee above all things, and count upon thy grace, love, and mercy. Thou wouldst prove my hope, whether it will continue even where there seems to be no ground for hope to trust thy word and promise; yea, my gracious God and Father! thou wouldst by this means draw me away from the world—its lusts, sins and wicked ways, that I might fix my heart upon thee alone. Well, thou God of love, be it so. I will submit to thy will, and cheerfully bear whatsoever thou mayest see fit to lay upon me. May the Holy Spirit give me strength, power, and endurance. I will be patient, let it last as long as it will. I will break with the world and worldly company, and be one in spirit with thee. May this affliction purify me, and be profitable to my soul. Thy help will come in its own good time. God will not desert me; though I be deserted of all others, I will cling to God. My heart and mind shall be faithful to him and trust in him, and consign all things to the care of him who never will forsake me. Amen.
FOR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE.