D. Herbert

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WEANED FROM OUR OWN WILLS

“While we have such a depraved nature, and live in such a polluted world; while the roots of pride, vanity, self-dependence, self-seeking, are so strong within us, we need a variety of sharp dispensations to keep us from forgetting ourselves, and from cleaving to the dust” John Newton (ref#322, p187).

“Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness” (Isa 10:22 ESV).

“It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe, much less happy, but in proportion as we are weaned from our own wills, and made simply desirous of being directed by his guidance. This truth (when we are enlightened by his word) is sufficiently familiar to the judgment; but we seldom learn to reduce it into practice, without being trained awhile in the school of disappointment. The schemes we form look so plausible and convenient, that when they are broken we are ready to say, What a pity! We try again, and with no better success: we are grieved, and perhaps angry, and plan out another, and so on: at length, in a course of time, experience and observation begin to convince us, that we are not more able than we are worthy to choose aright for ourselves” John Newton (ref#322, p187-188).

“[I]n the list of your griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow He will deliver you, and somewhere He will provide for you. If men do not feed you, ravens will’ if the earth does not yield wheat, heaven will drop manna. He can make your source of distress the channel of delight” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, May 21st PM).

The Doubting Soul’s Soliloquy

O could I lift this heart of mine

Above these creature things,

I’d fly, and leave this world below,

As though on eagle’s wings.

[But ah! I feel no love at all,

Can neither praise nor pray;

O would the Lord but shine again,

And turn this night to day!]

But whither can I go to lodge

My sorrow and complaint?

Unless the Lord is pleased to shine,

I mope, I grieve, I faint.

I find my striving all in vain,

Unless my Lord is near;

My heart is hard; I’m such a wretch—

Can neither love nor fear.

I ask my soul this question then,

For here I would begin:

O do I feel a want of Christ

To save me from my sin?

The souls redeemed by precious blood

Are taught this lesson well;

‘Tis not of him that wills or runs,

But Christ who saves from hell.      

            D. Herbert (ref#224, song#676).

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THE THREE IN THE FURNACE

“’O LORD, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. [W]e will stand and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save’” (2 Chron 20:6,9 ESV).

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up’” (Dan 3:16-18 ESV).

“There was no doubt as to God’s power to save [the three]. Yet the way in which God would work out his plan was less clear. God’s power is sometimes extended in dramatic ways to deliver his people, as when he parted the Red Sea. [A]t other times, that same power is withheld, and his people are allowed to suffer” The ESV Study Bible (ref#125, p1592).

“The Lord’s power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Aug 12th AM).

Prayer Meeting

Behold, dear Lord, we come again,

To supplicate thy grace;

We feel our leanness and our wants;

We want to see thy face.

Thou know’st, dear Lord, for what we’re come;

Each heart is known to thee.

Lord, give our burdened spirits rest,

And bid us all go free.

We’ve nothing of our own to plead,

We come just as we are;

And who can tell but God may bless,

And drive away our fear?

While one is pleading with our God,

May each one wrestle too;

And may we feel the blessing come,

And cheer us ere we go.

Then shall we sing of sovereign grace

And feel its power within;

And glory in our Surety, Christ,

Who bore our curse and sin.

For this we come, for this we plead,

In spite of every foe;

Until thou give this blessing, Lord,

We would not let thee go

D. Herbert (ref#224, song #677).