Milo

23 APRIL (PREACHED 23 APRIL 1775)

Although …

‘Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.’ 2 Samuel 23:5
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 23:1–5

The beginning of this chapter is commended to our notice as the last words of David—the last words of a man of eminent spirituality, so as to receive the title of ‘the man after God’s own heart’ [Acts 13:22], and of one who had been long and variously exercised. He had been in troubles from his youth—sometimes so pressed that he almost despaired—yet always seasonably supported. In this verse he is speaking of the two points which, respecting his personal concern, lay nearest his heart—his family and his soul. The truths he here contemplates and the manner of his expression afford room for more discourses than one. At present, and by way of introduction to what I may offer hereafter from the passage, I shall endeavour to give you a brief exposition upon the word and to raise a few observations for general use. May the Lord command his blessing.
Although. From this word and the case referred, compared with the general case of Scripture, I would observe that the people of God, however situated or circumstanced, have each their trials. David was a child, a prophet, of God. He was a warrior and a king. He had great riches and great honours. But still he had an ‘although’.
Let this encourage some. Why do you complain as though none were exercised like yourself (1 Peter 5:9)? Let it teach others what to expect. You may possibly for a little while think yourselves well in all points—but whether believers or not, you will find a cross. Pray that trials may be sanctified. Escape them you cannot.

FOR MEDITATION: ‘Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him’ (Hebrews 5:8–9, NIV).

SERMON SERIES: 2 SAMUEL 23:5, NO. 1 [1/4]

April 22

“He knoweth the way that I take.” (Job 23:10)

BELIEVER! What a glorious assurance! This way of thine—this, it may be, a crooked, mysterious, tangled way—this way of trial and tears. “He knoweth it.” The furnace seven times heated—He lighted it. There is an Almighty Guide knowing and directing our footsteps, whether it be to the bitter Marah pool, or to the joy and refreshment of Elim.
That way, dark to the Egyptians, has its pillar of cloud and fire for His own Israel. The furnace is hot; but not only can we trust the hand that kindles it, but we have the assurance that the fires are lighted not to consume, but to refine; and that when the refining process is completed (no sooner—no later) He brings His people forth as gold.
When they think Him least near, He is often nearest. “When my spirit was overwhelmed, then thou knewest my path.”
Do we know of ONE brighter than the brightest radiance of the visible sun, visiting our chamber with the first waking beam of the morning; an eye of infinite tenderness and compassion following us throughout the day, knowing the way that we take?

The world, in its cold vocabulary in the hour of adversity, speaks of “Providence”—“the will of Providence”—“the strokes of Providence.” PROVIDENCE! what is that?

Why dethrone a living, directing God from the sovereignty of His own earth? Why substitute an inanimate, death-like abstraction, in place of an acting, controlling, personal Jehovah?

How it would take the sting from many a goading trial, to see what Job saw (in his hour of aggravated woe, when every earthly hope lay prostrate at his feet)—no hand but the Divine. He saw that hand behind the gleaming swords of the Sabeans—he saw it behind the lightning flash—he saw it giving wings to the careening tempest—he saw it in the awful silence of his rifled home.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!”

Thus seeing God in everything, his faith reached its climax when this once powerful prince of the desert, seated on his bed of ashes, could say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.”
—Macduff.

April 22nd

The light that fails

We all with open face beholding … the glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18.

A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone. In the first phases of Christian life disheartenments come, people who used to be lights flicker out, and those who used to stand with us pass away. We have to get so used to it that we never know we are standing alone. “All men forsook me: … notwithstanding the Lord stood with me” (2 Tim. 4:16–17 ). We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails. When ‘big’ men go we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go; the one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves.
Allow nothing to keep you from looking God sternly in the face about yourself and about your doctrine, and every time you preach see that you look God in the face about things first, then the glory will remain all through. A Christian worker is one who perpetually looks in the face of God and then goes forth to talk to the people. The characteristic of the ministry of Christ is that of unconscious glory that abides. “Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while He talked with him.”
We are never called on to parade our doubts or to express the hidden ecstasies of our life with God. The secret of the worker’s life is that he keeps in tune with God all the time.

22 APRIL (PREACHED OLNEY FAIR DAY, 17 APRIL 1775)

Go with a pail

‘And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ Revelation 22:17
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 47:1–12

What they are called to: water of life. This, no doubt, stands for the communication of every grace from Jesus Christ. He is the fountain, John 7:37–39. It is compared to water, for it is plenty. There is abundance of grace—a fountain, a river, an ocean (Isaiah 44:3). Water is used for cleansing, refreshing, as in Ezekiel 36:25 and Isaiah 41:17. Freeness—water is open to all. If people beg wine they take a small vessel, but if they ask for water they go with a pail. So you need not straiten yourself, but open your mouth wide.
It is water of life. It makes alive (Ezekiel 47:9), it keeps alive, it is a pledge of life everlasting (John 4:14).
Are these things so? Then once more, sinners, take heed how you refuse—it is at the peril of your souls. If you will stand out, a time will come when you will want a drop of water to cool your tongues. You are athirst—what more can you want? The fountain is pointed out and you are invited. Do you say as the woman in John 4:11? The ordinances are buckets with which you shall draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). The Lord shall give you refreshing draughts in prayer.

FOR MEDITATION: But remember, when you have drunk you must drink again. Do not live upon present tastes, but rejoice that the fountain is made over to you. Believers, let us keep close to this fountain. O let it not be said of us as in Jeremiah 2:13 [For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water]. As you have received Christ Jesus, so walk in him—your first beginnings and your increase must be in the same way. Thus you shall go on from strength to strength and at last be brought to the fountainhead, where you shall thirst no more.

SERMON: REVELATION 22:17 [6/6] [EASTER MONDAY EVENING]

April 21st

Now don’t hurt the Lord!

Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? John 14:9.

Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us—astounded at how un-simple we are. It is opinions of our own which make us stupid; when we are simple we are never stupid, we discern all the time. Philip expected the revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in the One Whom he knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be, it is now; we look for it presently, in some cataclysmic event. We have no reluctance in obeying Jesus, but it is probable that we are hurting Him by the questions we ask. “Lord, show us the Father.” His answer comes straight back—‘There He is, always here or nowhere.’ We look for God to manifest Himself to His children: God only manifests Himself in His children. Other people see the manifestation, the child of God does not. We want to be conscious of God; we cannot be conscious of our consciousness and remain sane. If we are asking God to give us experiences, or if conscious experience is in the road, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus because they are not the questions of a child.
“Let not your heart be troubled”—then am I hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? If I believe the character of Jesus, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to perturb my heart, any morbid questions to come in? I have to get to the implicit relationship that takes everything as it comes from Him. God never guides presently, but always now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the emancipation is immediate.