July 18

"Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear."—Psalms 10:17.

It is a just sentiment, that when the sun of the believer's hopes, according to common calculations, is set, to the eye of faith it is still visible, when much of the rest of the world is in darkness; the high ground of faith is illuminated with the brightness of religious consolation. In this Psalm we have a dark cloud of affliction, beautifully gilded with the enlivening beams of hope — the sun shining in the midst of a shower, and imprinting on the gloomy firmament the rainbow of mercy. Observe

THE CHRISTIAN'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PAST

GOODNESS OF GOD. There are three things mentioned of believers. Their character — “the humble.” A sight of the evil of sin, and a view of the holiness of God, will induce humility. We have much to make us humble. Humility, like the plough, fits us for the seed of mercy. The husbandman digs up the clogs to prepare the soil for the plants that are to be fixed in it, that they may thrive, bud, and bloom, and bring forth fruit. Their desire. As is the man, so are his desires — as is the fountain, so will be the streams. The believer’s desires are principally for the soul; they are spiritual in their nature, and heavenly in their tendency. Their privilege. Their desire is heard. They have a Friend in the court above — a kind Intercessor; this is proved from Scripture testimony and personal experience.

THE CHRISTIAN’S CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE GOODNESS OF GOD. Consider

What God does in his people. “Thou wilt prepare their heart.” This implies that the heart is naturally unprepared. Proverbs 16:8. It is like an uncultivated wilderness, filled with weeds, thorns, and briars, having no flowers to bloom and shed their fragrance; but God prepares it, by softening it for the reception of the seed of the kingdom. The heart is by nature hard, cold, and insensible as the stone; he prepares it by melting it down, that it may receive the impress of his image, and feel the power of his grace. He prepares it for prayer, meditation, and all the divine ordinances; he prepares it for inward conflicts and outward trials, for the path of sorrow, the valley of death, and the realms of glory.

What God does for his people. “Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.” God first puts desires into the heart, and then hears and answers them. How many can testify to the truth of this! We may do much, by Divine aid, in the way of preparation; God prepares the heart in the use of the means. Especially when in the sanctuary, let us inquire whether our hearts are prepared. There is much truth in the remark, that the harp must be tuned well, if its cords are to harmonize, and refresh the ear with melodious strains; so there are preparatory exercises requisite to tune the heart for spiritual services.