Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

October 10– Evening

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

“I [the Lord] will deliver and redeem you out of the hand of the wicked and terrible.”

—Jeremiah 15:21

Note the glorious personality of this promise. The Lord says “I will” do this or that. Jehovah himself intervenes to deliver and redeem his people. He pledges himself personally to rescue them. His own arm will do it so that he alone will have the glory. There is no word here of any effort of our own needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is considered. The only actor here is the Lord himself; he shines like the sun in the heavens in its all-sufficient splendor.

Why then do we calculate our abilities and consult with flesh and blood to heal our wounds? Jehovah has enough power without borrowing ours. Peace, you unbelieving thoughts! Be still and know that the Lord reigns. We don’t even find here any mention of secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers. He takes on the work alone and needs no human aid. We look around for companions and relatives to no avail; if we lean upon them, they are broken reeds at best, unwilling when able and unable when willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, we would do well to wait on him alone.

Finally, who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied more than feared. And who are the terrible ones? They are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we succumb to sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed; but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants will be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him to be indigestible; and when the world devours the church, it soon wishes to spit her out. In all times of fiery trial, let us keep our heads and hearts in patient faith. [M&E]