Feb. 22
PAST DELIVERANCE BEGETS FAITH
"David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of
the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of
the hand of this Philistine" I Sam. 17:37
This is not a promise if we consider only the words, but it is
truly so as to its sense; for David spoke a word which the Lord
endorsed by making it true. He argued from past deliverances that he
should receive help in a new danger. In Jesus all the promises are Yea
and Amen to the glory of God by us, and so the Lord's former dealings
with His believing people will be repeated.
Come, then, let us recall the Lord's former lovingkindnesses. We
could not have hoped to be delivered aforetime by our own strength;
yet the Lord delivered us. Will He not again save us? We are sure He
will. As David ran to meet his foe, so will we. The Lord has been with
us, He is with us, and He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee." Why do we tremble? Was the past a dream? Think of the
dead bear and lion. Who is this Philistine? True, he is not quite the
same, and is neither bear nor lion; but then God is the same, and His
honor is as much concerned in the one case as in the other. He did not
save us from the beasts of the forest to let a giant kill us. Let us
be of good courage.