Spurgeon: July AM
* 07/08/AM
"Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth."
--Judges 16:6
Where lies the secret strength of faith? It lies in the food
it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is--an emanation
of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God; and
faith says, "My God could not have given this promise, except
from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain His Word will
be fulfilled." Then faith thinketh, " Who gave this promise?"
It considereth not so much its greatness, as, "Who is the author
of it?" She remembers that it is God who cannot lie--God
omnipotent, God immutable; and therefore concludeth that the
promise must be fulfilled; and forward she advances in this firm
conviction. She remembereth, why the promise was given ,--
namely, for God's glory, and she feels perfectly sure that God's
glory is safe, that He will never stain His own escutcheon, nor
mar the lustre of His own crown; and therefore the promise must
and will stand. Then faith also considereth the amazing work of
Christ as being a clear proof of the Father's intention to
fulfil His word. "He that spared not His own Son, but freely
delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things?" Moreover faith looks back upon the
past , for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories
have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed
her; nay, that He never did once fail any of His children. She
recollecteth times of great peril, when deliverance came; hours
of awful need, when as her day her strength was found, and she
cries, "No, I never will be led to think that He can change and
leave His servant now. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and He
will help me still." Thus faith views each promise in its
connection with the promise-giver, and, because she does so, can
with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life!"