The Imminent Danger and the Only Sure Resource of This Nation # 5

The Imminent Danger and the Only Sure Resource of This Nation # 5

If the fast of this day is not confined to one day - but if, by his blessing, it may produce sincere repentance - then I am warranted to tell you, from His Word, that there is yet hope! You who tremble for God's ark, for the cause of God, whose eyes affect your hearts, who grieve for sin, and for the miseries which sin has multiplied upon the earth - take courage! Let the hearts of the wicked shake, like the leaves of the trees when agitated by a storm; (Isaiah 7:2) but you have no cause to tremble like them. The Lord God is your refuge and strength, your resting place, and your hiding place! Under the shadow of His wings - you shall be safe! (Psalm 46:1, Psalm 90:1, Psalm 119:114). 

1. He who loved you and died for your sins - is the Lord of glory! All power in heaven and in earth is committed unto Him. The Lord reigns - though the earth be ever so agitated. All creatures are instruments of His will. The wrath of man, so far as it is permitted to act, shall praise Him; and shall be made subservient to the accomplishment of His great designs! And the remainder of that wrath, of all their projected violence, which does not coincide with His wise and comprehensive plan, He will restrain! (Matt. 28:18, Psalm 99:1, Psalm 76:10). In vain they rage, and fret, and threaten! They act under a secret commission, and can do no more than He permits them! If they attempt it - He has his hook and a bridle in their mouths! When the enemies would come in like a flood - He can lift up a standard against them. As He has set bounds and bars to the tempestuous sea, beyond which it cannot pass, saying, "This far you may come and no further; here is where your proud waves halt!" (2 Kings 19:28; Isaiah 59:19; Job 38:10-11; Psalm 65:7).

You do well to mourn for the sins and miseries - of those who know Him not. But if you make the Almighty God your fear and your dread - He will be a sanctuary to you, and keep your hearts in peace! "Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas!" (Isaiah 8:13-14; Psalm 46:2).

2. Your part and mine is to WATCH and PRAY. Let us pray for ourselves, that we may be found waiting, with our loins girded up, and our lamps burning, that we may be prepared to meet His will in every event. (Mark 13:35; Mark 14:38). Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for God's church, which is dear to Him, as the pupil of His eye, for the spread of His gospel, and the extension of His kingdom - until His great name is known and adored from the rising to the setting of the sun, (Mal. 1:11) and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory!

Many splendid prophecies are yet unfulfilled; and He is now bringing forward their accomplishment. Light will undoubtedly arise out of this darkness. Let us earnestly pray for a blessing from on high, upon our counsels of government, and upon all subordinate authorities in church and state - that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and honesty, that true religion and good order may be established, and iniquity be put to shame and silence! Thus we may hope to be secured by the sure, though secret, mark of divine protection. The Lord will be our shield - though many should suffer or fall around us. The very hairs of our faith, and the power of His grace - He should permit us to share in common calamities, we may rely upon Him to afford us strength according to our day. He is always near to His people, a very present help in the time of trouble, and He can make the season of their greatest tribulations, to be the season of their sweetest consolations! (Ezekiel 9:4; Matt. 9:30; Deu. 33:25; 2 Cor. 1:5).

3. And let us pray in FAITH. Let us remember what great things the Lord has done in answer to prayer. When sin had given Sennacherib rapid success in his invasion of Judah, he did not know that he was no more than God's ax, or a saw in the hand of God. He ascribed his victories to his own prowess, and thought himself equally sure of capturing Jerusalem. But Hezekiah defeated him - upon his knees. He spread Sennacherib's blasphemous letter before the Lord in the temple and prayed - and the Assyrian army melted away like snow. (Isaiah 10:15, 37:14-36). When Peter was locked up and chained in prison - the chains fell from his hands, the locks and bolts gave way, and the iron gate opened - while the church was united in earnest prayer for his deliverance! (Acts 12:5-13).
We have had repeated proofs that God hears and answers prayer.

~John Newton~

(continued with # 6)