Spurgeon Meditations

 

Understandest thou what thou readest?

Act 8 30

We should be abler teachers of others and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost the Author of the Scriptures is He who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them we should constantly ask His teaching and His guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John in his vision at Patmos saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first--"I wept much." The tears of John which were his liquid prayers were so far as he was concerned the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore if for your own and others' profiting you desire to be "filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding remember that prayer is your best means ofstudy: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and theinterpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and likeJohn you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed,after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by anearnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down onhis knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee ofprayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine inrevelation which is useful for you to understand, which will notfly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You mayforce your way through anything with the leverage of prayer.Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give ahold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forcesopen the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get thetreasure hidden within.% 02/22/PM The Lord is slow to anger and great in power." --Nahum 1:3 Jehovah "is slow to anger." When mercy cometh into the world she driveth winged steeds; the axles of her chariot-wheels are red hot with speed; but when wrath goeth forth it toileth on with tardy footsteps for God taketh no pleasure in the sinner's death. God's rod of mercy is ever in His hands outstretched; His sword of justice is in its scabbard held down by that pierced hand of love which bled for the sins of men. The Lord is slow to anger, because He is GREAT IN POWER. He is truly great in power who hath power over himself. When God's power doth restrain Himself then it is power indeed: the power that binds omnipotence is omnipotence surpassed. A man who has a strong mind can bear to be insulted long and only resents the wrong when a sense of right demands his action. The weak mind is irritated at a little: the strong mind bears it like a rock which moveth not though a thousand breakers dash upon it and cast their pitiful malice in spray upon its summit. God marketh His enemies and yet He bestirs not Himself but holdeth in His anger. If He were less divine than He is He would long ere this have sent forth the whole of His thunders and emptied the magazines of heaven; He would long ere this have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions and man would have been utterly destroyed; but the greatness of his power brings us mercy. Dear reader what is your state this evening? Can you by humble faith look to Jesus and say Mysubstitute, Thou art my rock, my trust ? Then beloved be not afraid of God's power; for by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge the power of God need no more terrify you than the shield and sword of the warrior need terrify those whom he loves. Rather rejoice that He who is "great in power" is your Father and Friend.


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