Morning, September 13
Go To Evening Reading
“Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also
filleth the pools.”
Psalm 84:6
This teaches us that the comfort obtained by a one may often prove serviceable to another; just as
wells would be used by the company who came after. We read some book
full of consolation, which is like Jonathan’s rod, dropping with honey. Ah! we think our brother has been here
before us, and digged this well for us as well as for himself. Many
a “Night of Weeping,” “Midnight Harmonies,” an “Eternal Day,” “A Crook in the Lot,” a “Comfort for Mourners,” has been a well digged by a pilgrim for himself, but has proved quite
as useful to others. Specially we notice this in the Psalms, such
as that beginning, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” Travellers have been delighted to see the footprint of man on a barren
shore, and we love to see the waymarks of pilgrims while passing through
the vale of tears.
The pilgrims dig the well, but, strange enough, it fills from the
top instead of the bottom. We use the means, but the blessing does
not spring from the means. We dig a well, but heaven fills it with
rain. The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety
is of the Lord. The means are connected with the end, but they do
not of themselves produce it. See here the rain fills the pools, so
that the wells become useful as reservoirs for the water; labour is
not lost, but yet it does not supersede divine help.
Grace may well be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing
and vivifying influence, for its coming alone from above, and for
the sovereignty with which it is given or withheld. May our readers
have showers of blessing, and may the wells they have digged be filled
with water! Oh, what are means and ordinances without the smile of
heaven! They are as clouds without rain, and pools without water.
O God of love, open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing!