Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

May 27– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Why do you show regard to your servant, since I am as worthless as a dead dog?” 

—2 Samuel 9:8

If Mephibosheth, the disabled son of King Saul, was humbled like this by receiving David’s kindness, how should we react in the presence of our gracious Lord? The more grace we have, the less we will think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity. Eminent saints have scarcely known to what to compare themselves; they have a clear sense of unworthiness. Rutherford says, “I am a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw.”

Even the lowliest objects in nature appear to the humbled mind as preferred above itself because they have never contracted sin. A dog may be greedy, fierce, or filthy, but it has no conscience to violate, no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won over to love its master and then is faithful unto death. But we forget the goodness of the Lord and do not follow his call.

The term “dead dog” is the most expressive of all terms of contempt, but it is not too strong to express the self-abhorrence of trained believers. They are not trying to be modest; they have weighed themselves in the balances of the sanctuary and have discovered the emptiness of their own hearts. At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking mounds of dirt. But more than that, we are sinners— monsters indeed!

Let heaven be filled with wonder that the Lord Jesus has set his heart’s love upon such as we are. Though we are but dust and ashes, we must and will “magnify the exceeding greatness of his grace.” Couldn’t God’s heart be contented to remain in heaven? Why did he travel to the tents of Kedar to find a spouse, to choose a common bride with sun-weathered skin? O heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our sweet Lord Jesus! [M&E]