Spurgeon: July PM
* 07/16/PM
"Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to
favour her, yea, the set time is come. For Thy servants rake
pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof."
--Psalm 102:13,Psalm 102:14
A selfish man in trouble is exceedingly hard to comfort,
because the springs of his comfort entirely within himself, and
when he is sad all his springs are dry. But a large-hearted man
full of Christian philanthropy, has other springs from which to
supply himself with comfort beside those which lie within. He
can go to his God first of all, and there find abundant help;
and he can discover arguments for consolation in things relating
to the world at large, to his country, and, above all, to the
church. David in this Psalm was exceedingly sorrowful; he wrote,
"I am like an owl of the desert, I watch, and am as a sparrow
alone upon the house top." The only way in which he could
comfort himself, was in the reflection that God would arise, and
have mercy upon Zion: though he was sad, yet Zion should
prosper; however low his own estate, yet Zion should arise.
Christian man! learn to comfort thyself in God's gracious
dealing towards the church. That which is so dear to thy Master,
should it not be dear above all else to thee? What though thy
way be dark, canst thou not gladden thine heart with the
triumphs of His cross and the spread of His truth? Our own
personal troubles are forgotten while we look, not only upon
what God has done, and is doing for Zion, but on the glorious
things He will yet do for His church. Try this receipt, O
believer, whenever thou art sad of heart and in heaviness of
spirit: forget thyself and thy little concerns, and seek the
welfare and prosperity of Zion. When thou bendest thy knee in
prayer to God, limit not thy petition to the narrow circle of
thine own life, tried though it be, but send out thy longing
prayers for the church's prosperity, "Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem," and thine own soul shall be refreshed.