December 2

"And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Matthew 15:27.

To Him, said the dying Jacob, shall the gathering of the people be. To Him, said the evangelical Isaiah, shall men come. He is the centre of all attraction, because he is the only source of relief. To whom, in all our ignorance, should we go, but to him who has the words of eternal life? To whom, in all our guilt and weakness, but to him in whom we have righteousness and strength? To whom, in all our dangers and misery, but to him who is the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble? And, blessed be his name, he is not only mighty to save, but has been pleased to assure us, "him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."

But he may try the confidence he has bound himself not to disappoint. We have here an application made to him by a woman of Canaan, who cried to him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." Observe the discouragements she meets with. First, his silence: "He answered her not a word." Secondly, the address of his disciples. It is not certain that they pleaded for her relief at all; but if they did, it was in a spirit that we cannot admire. They betrayed impatience, and a wish to get rid of her importunity. "His disciples came and be-ought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." Then here is, thirdly, a kind of exclusion, which seems to place her beyond the reach of his commission, if not of his pity. He said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." All this not driving her away, He, fourthly, speaks as if he would add insult to rejection: "Is a dog to be treated like one of the family? It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs." And she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Let us consider this as the language of a sinner applying for mercy in the prayer of faith.

First, he allows the truth of God's word, however it may reflect upon him. "Truth, Lord." He had in effect called the woman a dog, and nothing could have been more reproachful. We see this in the question of Hazael, and the offer of Abishai with regard to Shimei. Among the Jews, too, a dog was an animal unclean, and forbidden in sacrifice; and God's utmost abhorrence of a victim was expressed by cutting off a dog's neck. Yet he says, "Truth, Lord;" I acquiesce in the censure. A sinner is called every thing that is vile in the Scripture—a fool, a madman, a rebel, a traitor, unworthy of the least of all God's mercies, and deserving that his wrath should come upon him. And, Lord, says he, it is all true. And thou art justified when thou speakest, and clear when thou judgest. Here others stand out; but the convinced sinner is brought to add his amen not only to the truth of God's word in general, but the truth of it with regard to his own personal guilt, depravity, and condemnation. And till we are brought to this, the gospel can have nothing to do with us. It is a remedy; but a remedy is for the sick, and not for the healthful. The way to attain relief and comfort, is not to deny, conceal, or extenuate our sins, but to confess them in all their heinousness, and in dealing with God, to stand where his word places us.

Secondly, he draws encouragement from seeming repulse. "Yet, Lord." This is an exercise of spiritual understanding; but the absolute importance of the case makes the man alive to every opening of hope, and he is now under the influence of the Spirit, that is teaching him to be wise unto salvation. Thus darkness is made light, and crooked things straight. Thus he rises above difficulties which would otherwise be insuperable. He distinguishes between appearances and reality. "I know that, behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face." Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. If he wounds, it is to heal. I hope I am his, because I am thus. As long as he tries me, he is not saying, Let him alone. He would not thus prune the tree, if he had sentenced it to be cut down. I see what once I did not, and the discovery is painful; but if he was minded to kill me, he would not have showed me such things as these. That he far from him, to trifle with my misery. In vain the enemy says, "But thy sins are so numerous and aggravated." They are; but this is the very reason why I should apply for mercy. Pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Thirdly, he prizes the least communication from the Saviour. "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table;" and this is all I crave. The very same sentiment is put into the mouth of the prodigal. There is bread enough in my father's house, and I perish with hunger; he never thought of the fatted calf, or the best robe, or of the ring on his hand, or the shoes on his feet. Oh, let me return to thy dear abode, and I shall not covet the chief room, or the highest seat. Make me as one of thy hired servants. Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ. David wished to be a doorkeeper in the house of his God. The least grace is infinitely precious. It is connected with salvation, and makes us the heirs of promise. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Fourthly, he perceives the affluence and all-sufficiency of the Lord Jesus. Though what I implore is much for me to receive, it is nothing for thee to give. It is no more than a crumb from a king's table; and what is this to the viands on his board, and the resources of his wealth. What I implore, thou wilt not miss, and I shall not rob thy children of their portion and plenty.

Come therefore to him, remembering that he is Lord of all; that he is not only rich, but that his riches are unsearchable; that he has not only fulfilled the law, but magnified it, and made it honorable; that his righteousness is the righteousness of God by faith; that his blood cleanseth from all sin; that in him all fulness dwells.

And he will give you not a dog's place and a dog's portion, but he will put you among the children. He will seat you at his own table. He will say, Eat, O friends, and drink; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Was it not so here? Was he not charmed, instead of being displeased with her earnest and continued application? Does he not commend her for not taking a denial, and for urging him apparently against his will? "O woman, great is thy faith;" not, great is thy humility, thy importunity, thy perseverance—these were great, but faith was the root of them all. This, therefore, was what he admired in her, and this is the one thing needful for us. This alone will keep us steady to our purpose; this alone will carry us through all our difficulties. This insures our final success; this crowns us with praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And he said unto her, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt." So will he say to you. And you will be inexcusable indeed, if you do not avail yourselves of the largeness of the offer, and ask and receive, that your joy may be full.