Evening, September 28
Go To Morning Reading
“Go again seven times.”
1 Kings 18:43
Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may
have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not
possible that the Lord should be deaf when his people are earnest
in a matter which concerns his glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel
continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to
a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah’s courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no
word was spoken but “Go again.” We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy
times seven. Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel’s brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far
from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to
plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed:
her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never
relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to
flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have
learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and
so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are
thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed.
The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing.
Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching.
At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents
of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be
given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy
you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power
with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed
so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity,
and it shall be with you according to your desire.