Spurgeon: June PM
* 06/29/PM
"Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of
Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was
done in the land, God left him, to try him, that He might know
all that was in his heart."
--2 Chronicles 32:31
Hezekiah was growing so inwardly great, and priding himself
so much upon the favour of God, that self-righteousness crept
in, and through his carnal security, the grace of God was for a
time, in its more active operations, withdrawn. Here is quite
enough to account with the Babylonians; for if the grace of God
should leave the best Christian, there is enough of sin in his
heart to make him the worst of transgressors. If left to
yourselves, you who are warmest for Christ would cool down like
Laodicea into sickening lukewarmness: you who are sound in the
faith would be white with the leprosy of false doctrine; you who
now walk before the Lord in excellency and integrity would reel
to and fro, and stagger with a drunkenness of evil passion. Like
the moon, we borrow our light; bright as we are when grace
shines on us, we are darkness itself when the Sun of
Righteousness withdraws Himself. Therefore let us cry to God
never to leave us . "Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from us!
Withdraw not from us Thine indwelling grace! Hast Thou not said,
'I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any
hurt it, I will keep it night and day'? Lord, keep us
everywhere. Keep us when in the valley, that we murmur not
against Thy humbling hand; keep us when on the mountain, that we
wax not giddy through being lifted up; keep us in youth, when
our passions are strong; keep us in old age, when becoming
conceited of our wisdom, we may therefore prove greater fools
than the young and giddy; keep us when we come to die, lest, at
the very last, we should deny Thee! Keep us living, keep us
dying, keep us labouring, keep us suffering, keep us fighting,
keep us resting, keep us everywhere, for everywhere we need
Thee, O our God!"