Spurgeon: April PM
* 04/10/PM
"For there stood by me this night the angel of God."
--Acts 27:23
Tempest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of
shipwreck, had brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case;
one man alone among them remained perfectly calm, and by his
word the rest were reassured. Paul was the only man who had
heart enough to say, "Sirs, be of good cheer." There were
veteran Roman legionaries on board, and brave old mariners, and
yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than they all. He
had a secret Friend who kept his courage up. The Lord Jesus
despatched a heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation
in the ear of His faithful servant, therefore he wore a shining
countenance and spake like a man at ease.
If we fear the Lord, we may look for timely interpositions
when our case is at its worst. Angels are not kept from us by
storms, or hindered by darkness. Seraphs think it no humiliation
to visit the poorest of the heavenly family. If angel's visits
are few and far between at ordinary times, they shall be
frequent in our nights of tempest and tossing. Friends may drop
from us when we are under pressure, but our intercourse with the
inhabitants of the angelic world shall be more abundant; and in
the strength of love-words, brought to us from the throne by the
way of Jacob's ladder, we shall be strong to do exploits. Dear
reader, is this an hour of distress with you? then ask for
peculiar help. Jesus is the angel of the covenant, and if His
presence be now earnestly sought, it will not be denied. What
that presence brings in heart-cheer those remember who, like
Paul, have had the angel of God standing by them in a night of
storm, when anchors would no longer hold, and rocks were nigh.
"O angel of my God, be near,
Amid the darkness hush my fear;
Loud roars the wild tempestuous sea,
Thy presence, Lord, shall comfort me."