Welcome to The Spurgeon Blog
Both Reformed and Calvinistic Baptists can trace their history back to the Puritan and Particular Baptists in Great Britain. Of those Baptists none was more well known than Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Even today Spurgeon is regarded as one of the most articulate voices of the doctrines of grace. He was a man for his time and a man ahead of his time. And while this blog is called the “Spurgeon Blog”, it is not about exalting a man. In fact, Spurgeon once said:
“Remember, dear brethren and sisters, if you would be preserved from falling, you must be schooled in humility, and keep very low before the Lord. When you are half-an-inch above the ground, you are that half-inch too high. Your safety is to be nothing. Trust Christ, but do not trust yourself. Rely on the Spirit of God, but do not rely on anything that is in yourself.”
This blog exists to pursue thought and discussion of Reformed theology from a Spurgeon perspective. Spurgeon never saw the worth of theology independent from right living. Join with me in that endeavor – to know and to do, all to the glory of God!
Ruth 2:14-23
Since our recording equipment is not operating, here is my sermon from February 19th in manuscript format:
Ruth 2:14-23
A Shadow of Christ
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
(Ruth 2:14-23 ESV)
Have you ever been so hungry that you could, borrowing a cliché from my childhood, “eat the broad side of barn”? Most of the time a quick trip to a restaurant or refrigerator will take care of that problem. But what if every day was like that? What if you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from? What if there was no family or church body to help, no savings to tap into, and no social service programs to provide assistance? What if every day was a struggle just to survive? Believe it or not, there are places in our world where what I just described is a reality. Many people in our country are blind to such things because even the poorest among us are considered affluent by the world’s standards.
Go back approximately 3000 years ago to when the book of Ruth was written. Israel (during the time of the Judges) was basically an agrarian society. Famine was commonplace in the ancient world. In Israel’s case famine was a direct result of the nation’s disobedience; but widespread famine, and its resulting hunger, was a reality. Today a person is considered wealthy by the amount of money they possess. Back in Ruth’s time a person was considered wealthy by being food secure. Remember this account from the book of Genesis?
Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.
(Genesis 47:13-21 ESV)
In the time of Joseph and Pharaoh, food became the currency of the day. Those who controlled the ability to produce food had power and wealth. Those who weren’t able to buy food often became the servants of those who could provide for them. But even that wasn’t a sure thing. The daily activity of many people revolved around procuring food. This is the situation Naomi found herself in upon her return fromMoab. Perhaps Naomi, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth had received some charity from relatives when they showed up in Bethlehem. But it is obvious by Ruth’s request to glean from the fields that no amount of charity was going to sustain them.
The text doesn’t tell us why it was Ruth alone who set out to glean for grain. Perhaps Naomi was physically incapable, or she was in state of despair caused by coming back to Bethlehem in shame. Whatever the reason Ruth was alone in her efforts. Perhaps it was partly for this reason, along with the fact that she was a young unmarried woman, that Ruth caught Boaz’ attention. It would be rare for a young woman of Ruth’s age to be gleaning in the fields. Most woman of Ruth’s age would be married and raising children. It would be the man who would be working to provide food for the family. In the case of a widowed bride there would be her extended family, and if necessary the kinsman redeemer, who would provide for her. But Ruth had none of these advantages. She was a Moabite woman, not a member of the covenant people of Israel. She had no relationships in Israel– no one to be concerned for her welfare. These things made Ruth stand out, if not made her an outright spectacle. Boaz’ tenderhearted demeanor proved itself by the things he did for Ruth.
Prelude to the Kinsman Redeemer
The main theme of the book of Ruth is the Christological implications of the Kinsman Redeemer role that was filled by Boaz. The role of the Kinsman Redeemer was to redeem the family name and/or property of a close male relative. This relative may have gone into debt and sold his land, or perhaps became an indentured servant. As in the case of Ruth, the close male relative may have died without leaving an heir and the means to purchase back his land and/or free his family. Since Israel was God’s covenant nation, it was never God’s plan to allow a family name to be blotted out. The role of the Kinsman Redeemer was two-fold. The first role was financial. If the close male relative was destitute, the Kinsman Redeemer was to purchase back his property or pay for his freedom (Lev. 25). If the close male relative was a brother who had died without an heir the Kinsman Redeemer was to fulfill the responsibility of Levirate Marriage (Deut. 25:5-10). In a Levirate Marriage the Kinsman Redeemer takes the dead brother’s wife and raises children in his brother’s name in order for his brother’s name not to be cut off from the people. Boaz’s role as Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer does not take place until chapter 3, but the prelude to that role takes place right here in chapter 2.
The Kinsman Redeemer is also a beautiful representation of Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at the reason that the human race needs both redemption and a redeemer.
First – mankind is bankrupt and sold into bondage.
I’m not referring to financial bankruptcy, but moral and spiritual bankruptcy. The first human being, Adam, was created in perfect fellowship with God. He lived in a perfect world and enjoyed personal fellowship with his Creator. God gave him a perfect compliment to himself, the woman, Eve. When Adam gave in to the temptation of the serpent he made a transaction. Adam traded something of infinite worth for something that was a fraud. We hear about scams all the time. People give over their money for something that seems to good to be true; whether it be a “genuine Rolex” sold out of the back of some guy’s station wagon, or high risk financial investments that turn out to be more risk than investment. Both of these “opportunities” bring the same result: wasted money. But Adam used a currency much more valuable than the United States dollar. Adam used the currency of eternal life and received, in return, eternal death. Adam bought into the lie that God was somehow holding out on him and that by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that he would somehow become just like God. The fraud that was perpetuated on Adam was infinitely worse than winding up with a fake Rolex or an empty bank account. Adam traded away the destiny of his soul; and not only that, he plunged the entire human race into spiritual bondage in perpetuity. The bible tells us that everyone is a sinner:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 ESV)
Sin makes us slaves of unrighteousness.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
(John 8:34 ESV)
Second – God provided a way to redeem mankind from the bondage of slavery.
Who needs a redeemer more than a slave? Can a slave ever be freed from slavery? The good news is “yes”, but only by someone who can pay the price of redemption.
“If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.
(Leviticus 25:47-49 ESV)
In relation to the Law of Moses, a person who became a slave can be redeemed for money. John Stevenson lays out a good outline on the role of the Kinsman Redeemer:
There were four qualifications which were necessary for a man to fulfill the role of Kinsman Redeemer. It was only when a man possessed these four qualities that he was permitted to perform this task.
1. He must be a Kinsman.
The passage is very explicit that this redeemer must be related to the one whom he is going to buy back out of slavery.
2. He must be Free himself.
A slave was unable to purchase another slave. A Kinsman Redeemer must be himself free of the debt and of the bondage which had fallen on the one who was to be redeemed.
3. He must be able to pay the Price.
If he did not have the necessary sum of money which was required to pay the purchase price, then he would not be able to redeem his relative.
4. He must be willing to pay the price.
It was not enough to have a kinsman who was able to accomplish the work of redemption. He must also be willing to may the sacrifice of paying the price.
Each of these qualifications was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus into the slave market of sin to purchase men from their bondage of sin. He alone met the qualifications of the Kinsman Redeemer.
Look at Hebrews 2:11-18.
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(Hebrews 2:11-18 ESV)
Note that Jesus Christ is our brother. He was born of a human mother. He is of the same race as we are. Not race as in the color of His skin, but race as far being a part of humanity. Jesus took on flesh and blood and faced the temptation of sin. Unlike us, Jesus did not give in to sin; He did not barter away both His right and His ability to meet the price of redemption.
The book of Ruth presents Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth, but also as a type of Christ, as our Kinsman Redeemer. What Boaz did for one family, Christ did for all who believe in Him.
Boaz satisfies Ruth’s physical hunger. Jesus satisfies our spiritual hunger.
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
(Ruth 2:14 ESV)
Boaz displayed compassion towards Ruth. He didn’t just say, “Look at the hard working young woman. I sure hope she’s able to find food to eat.” Boaz went the extra step and displayed grace.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
(John 6:35 ESV)
Jesus satisfies our hunger for spiritual food. Imagine a life in which you are guaranteed that every physical need you have is met. You would never have to worry about food, clothing, or a place to live. Would you sign up for that guarantee? What if that guarantee had a caveat that said you could have all these things but they would cost you your soul. Still sound like a great deal? Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer, provides for our eternal needs free and without cost.
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
(Revelation 21:6 ESV)
Boaz provided for Ruth’s protection and security. Jesus purchased our protection and security.
When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
(Ruth 2:15-16 ESV)
Boaz understood the dangers that a young woman would face if left alone to glean in the fields. Boaz was concerned for Ruth’s safety and well-being. For this reason he gave strict instructions that she was to be treated with respect. Boaz also gave orders that the workers were to leave some of the harvested grain on the ground for Ruth to pick up. In this way Boaz was providing for her ongoing need, not just the meal she enjoyed a few minutes earlier.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
(John 6:37-40 ESV)
When Jesus redeems us He does more than just grant us freedom. What good is freedom from sin if we are subject again to the bondage of sin? What good is salvation if it can be lost? Jesus promises to accept all those who come to Him. Not only that, it is the Father’s will all those that He gives to Son will be secure and that they will be raised up with the Son on the last day. Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer, not only accepts us; not only keeps us; but He will also raise us up with Him to glory.
Boaz provided for Ruth more than she deserved. Jesus provides for us more than we deserve.
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.
(Ruth 2:17-18 ESV)
An ephah of barley is equal to about half a bushel. That is a large amount of grain to be gleaned for one days work. Boaz more than provided for Ruth. This was purely and act of grace on the part of Boaz.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
(John 6:53-58 ESV)
As sinners the only thing we deserve is death and judgment. We do not deserve God’s forgiveness and grace. But to those who place their faith in Christ, they are granted God’s forgiveness and grace, plus much more. All who come to Christ are given the free gift of eternal life.
Boaz was a faithful Kinsman Redeemer according to the Law of Moses. Boaz would prove to be a great benefactor to Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. He was a type of Christ. Jesus is a more effective Kinsman Redeemer. He did not pay an earthly price of redemption, He paid a heavenly price. When Jesus laid his life down on the cross, and shed his blood, He satisfied the righteous requirement of the Law that the soul that sins must die (Ezekiel 18:20). But since He presented Himself as a perfect and acceptable sacrifice in the sight of God, He was able to secure forgiveness and eternal life for all who would place their trust in Him.
Chapter 2 concludes with Naomi rejoicing that Ruth had found favor with one of their close relatives. Naomi’s despondency since returning fromMoabwas starting to dissipate. Things were starting to look up.
If you’re a believer here this morning you have a good reason to look up. Consider what your Redeemer has done for you. Give Him thanks for His marvelous grace and the security you have in Him.
If you’re not a believer, then you have need of the Kinsman Redeemer this morning. Will you put off the bondage of slavery and seek release through the Lord Jesus Christ? I pray you will.
How Should Christians Deal with Christmas?
The Christmas season is a festive time of year for many people, secular or religious. It’s hard not to get into a good mood with all the decorations and cheerful music. For many Christians it is a time to remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim peace and goodwill towards men. But even among Christians there is a debate as to whether Christmas should be celebrated at all. The argument goes that the New Testament never commands the observance of any religious holidays. This short essay is not being written to argue for or against the observance of Christmas among Christians. I’ll leave that argument for another time. However, I do want to deal with the subject of Christmas competing with the Lord’s Day.
This year Christmas falls on a Sunday. Sunday has been established in the New Testament as the day of corporate worship for the body of Christ and is referred to as either the Lord’s Day or the Christian Sabbath. A positive case for Sunday-only worship can be found in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. There is no higher priority on the Christian’s weekly calendar than to gather for corporate worship on the day that God commands. The post-Christian society that we live in today has done a good job of watering down those things that God has commanded. There are churches that are substituting Christmas Eve services for Lord’s Day worship. It’s even done by some churches on Super Bowl Sunday! I’m not suggesting that a church that recognizes Christmas should not have a Christmas Eve observance. What I am suggesting is that nothing – not even Christmas falling a Sunday – should cause the canceling of Lord’s Day worship. Man does not have the authority to usurp what God has commanded.
If you are going to observe the Christmas holiday, I pray that you have a wonderful time remembering the birth of our Lord and spending time with friends and family; but I would urge you to think about what God expects – what God has commanded – about corporate worship on the first day of the week.
Daily Spurgeon, November 3rd
“Behold, he prayeth.” – Acts 9:11
Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him. Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul. Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of signs and tears; yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God, and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven. ”Thou puttest my tears into Thy bottle,” implies that they are caught as they flow. The suppliant whose fears prevent his words will be well understood by the Most High. He may only look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear.” Tears are the diamonds of heaven; sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah’s court, and are numbered with “the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high.” Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded. Jacob’s ladder is lofty, but our prayer shall lean upon the angel of the covenant, and so climb its starry rounds. Our God not only hears prayer, but also loves to hear it. ”He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.” True, He regards not high looks and lofty words; He cares not for the pomp and pageantry of kings; He listens not to the swell of martial music; He regards not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sign, the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory; He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom.
“Faith ask no signal from the skies,
to show that prayers accepted rise;
Our Priest is in His holy place,
And answers from the throne of grace.”
Daily Spurgeon, November 2nd
“I am the Lord, I change not.” – Malachi 3:6
It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed – all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality,of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian, when, amidst all the changes of this troubous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth – “I am the Lord, I change not.”
The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian’s hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God “there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Whatever His attributes were of old, they are now; His power, His wisdom, His justice, His truth, are like unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of His people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and He is their sure helper still. He is unchanged in His love. He has loved His people with “an everlasting love;” He loves them now as much as ever He did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, His love will wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that He changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love.
“Death and change are busy ever;
Man decays and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never;
God is wisdom, God is love.”
Daily Spurgeon, November 1st
“The Church in thy house.” – Philemon 2.
Is there a Church in this house? Are parents, children, friends, servants, all members of it? Or are some still unconverted? Let us pause here, and let the question go round – Am I a member of the Church in this house? How would father’s heart leap for joy, and mother’s eyes fill with holy tears, if from the eldest to the youngest all were saved! Let us pray for this great mercy until the Lord shall grant it to us. Probably it had been the dearest object of Philemon’s desires to have all his household saved; but it was not at first granted him in its fulness. He had a wicked servant, Onesimus, who, having wronged him, ran away from his service. His master’s prayers followed him, and at last, as God would have it, Onesimus was lead to hear Paul preach; his heart was touched, and he returned to Philemon, not only to be a faithful servant, but a brother beloved, adding another member to the Church in Philemon’s house. Is there an unconverted servant or child absent this morning? Make a special supplication that such may, on their return to their home, gladden all hearts with good news of what grace has done! Is there one present? Let him partake in the same earnest entreaty.
If there be such a Church in our house, let us order it well, and let all act as in the sight of God. Let us move in the common affairs of life with studied holiness, diligence, kindness, and integrity. More is expected of a Church than of an ordinary household; family worship must, in such a case, be more devout and hearty; internal love must be more warm and unbroken, and external conduct must be more sanctified and Christ-like. We need not feat that the smallness of our number will put out of the list of Churches, for the Holy Spirit has here enrolled a family-church in the inspired book of remembrance. As a Church let us now draw nigh to the great Head of the one Church universal, and let us beseech Him to give us grace to shine before men to the glory of His name.
Daily Spurgeon, October 31st
“Renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him, will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lop of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without a real and true manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let they personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to they God for help. Remember, David, when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with, “Renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life – “Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the way-side, and you will be ready when He passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from Him, cease not to cry, “Renew a right spirit within me.”
Daily Spurgeon, October 30th
“I will praise Thee, O Lord.” – Psalm 9:1
Praise should always follow answered prayers, as the mist of earth’s gratitude rises when the sun of heaven’s love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of they supplication? Then praise Him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to Him who hath answered they prayer and given thee the desire of they heart. To be silent over God’s mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who, after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God, is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise, which quickens the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his Master’s service. To bless God for mercies received is also the way to benefit our fellow-men; “the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.” Others, who have been in like circumstances, shall take comfort if we can say, “Oh! magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.” Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be revived, as they listen to our “songs of deliverance.” Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. They too shall “sing in the ways of the Lord,” when they hear us magnify His holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, are never weary of singing the new song, “Worthy is the Lamb.”
Daily Spurgeon
“After this manner therefore pray ye: our Father, which art in heaven,” &c. – Matthew 6:9
This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence – with the spirit of adoption. ”Our Father.” There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, “I will arise and go unto my Father.” This child-like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father “in heaven,” and ascends to devout adoration - “Hallowed be Thy name.” The child lisping, “Abba, Father,” grows into the cherub crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure outgrowth of filial love and reverent adoration – “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God – “Give us this day our daily bread.” Being further illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful; hence he entreats for mercy - “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:” and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance - “Lead us not into temptation.” The man who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. ”Forgive us our debts;” that is justification. ”Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;” that is sanctification in its negative and positive forms. As the result of all this, there follows a triumphant ascription of praise - “Thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever and ever. Amen.” We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends of the earth, and of His dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray.
Daily Spurgeon
“I have chosen you out of the world.” ~ John 15:19
Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace, or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eschol; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan’s wood, when but touched, enlighten the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Eat, and fear not a surfeit; live upon the choice dainty, and fear not that it will be too delicate a diet. Meat from the King’s table will hurt none of His courtiers. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God. When you have mounted as high as election, tarry on its sister mount, the covenant of grace. Covenant engagements are the munitions of stupendous rock behind which we lie intrenched; covenant engagements with the surety, Christ Jesus, are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits.
“His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the raging flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
This still is all my strength and stay.”
If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and the Father promised that he would give me the Son to be part of the infinite reward of the travail of His soul, then, my soul, till God Himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe. When David danced before the ark, he told Michal that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace, and leap for joy of heart.
The Scripture as a means of grace
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
If we are not to be carried away by varied and strange teachings it is reasonable to conclude that we should be grounded in singular and familiar teaching. Singular in that there is one source. Familiar in that we should be well acquainted with that source. For Christians the singular and familiar source is the Bible – the Word of God. In Reformed settings we often talk of the ordinances of the church (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) as means of grace in that they spiritually strengthen those who participate in them. Here we read the author of Hebrews considering the Word of God itself a means of grace. We are strengthened and sustained by the Word (Deut. 8:3; Mat. 4:4). Remember that as you consider the great gift God has given us in His Word.
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