November 24

Their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. - Deuteronomy 32:31.

OTHERS besides the Lord’s people have their rock; they make many things their rock; but, as Moses here says, “Their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.” Do they ever recommend their rock in trouble? However fond people may be of the world they never speak well of the world.

Not one of them in death recommends the world to those that visit them. Not one of them speaks well, of their own experience of what they have realized from their connection with it. But the wicked have been obliged to bear their testimony to “our Rock.” Balaam exclaimed, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.” If this be the testimony of the wicked, of those who are enemies to God and to his people, what must be the testimony of those who are the friends of God? They can speak from experience, and this carries force with it.

There is nothing like this to give effect to our addresses to others. When we speak from experience, we speak clearly and with confidence. We can say, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” Such are likely to speak with earnestness. It will come from the heart. They are the persons who know what a miserable condition it is to be absent from God; and they who have made trial of a reconciliation with God are the men to speak of his faithfulness. Yes, they who have tasted that God is gracious can say to others: “O taste, and see how good the Lord is.”

We should, therefore, think well and speak well of his name, and recommend him to all around, taking care of this one thing, that while we recommend religion to others, we are examples of it ourselves. Some often speak in favour of it who would be doing much more service to it by being silent. Much more harm than good is done when the mouth says one thing, and the temper and conduct say another. What would be thought of an individual who would recommend a medicine to others, while yet they could see disease staring in his own face? Would not they say to such a person, “We don’t believe one word of what you are saying. You have no confidence in the prescription yourself; try it upon yourself, and then you will be better able, from its influence, to recommend it to us?”

Let us see to it, then, that our conduct is such as becomes the Gospel of Christ. Then we cannot say too much in praise of our Rock. And thus “a word spoken in season, how good is it!”