David was encouraged to plead the word of promise in prayer

Posted : 2 Apr, 2013 07:29 AM

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction; for Your word has quickened me.





David was encouraged to plead the word of promise in prayer,

from the recollection of its comfort in his affliction. For the man of God is not exempted from affliction, but he is comforted in it

with God's comforts, flowing from the fountain-head. And truly

no comforts are like God's comforts, and there are none

beside His. They are indeed strong consolations, both in their

foundation and their influence; supporting-not only in the

prospect, but under the actual pressure of trouble, and fully

proportioned to the need of the most sinking calamity. Never

therefore are we left unsupported in such a time, or called to

drink a cup of unmingled tribulation. In the moments of our

bitterest sorrow, how are we compelled to stand amazed at

the tenderness, which is daily and hourly exercised towards

us! We have always some word exactly suited to our affliction,

and which we could not have understood without it; and "a

word" thus "spoken in due season, how good is it!" One word

of God, sealed to the heart, infuses more sensible relief, than

ten thousand words of man. When therefore the word assures

of the presence of God in affliction; of His continued pity and

sympathy in His most severe dispensations; and of their

certain issue to our everlasting good; must not we say of it,

This is our comfort in our affliction? How does the Savior's

love stream forth from this channel on every side; imparting

life, refreshment, strength to those, who but for this comfort

would have "fainted," and "perished in their affliction!" This

indeed was the end, for which the Scriptures were written; and

such power of consolation have they sometimes administered

to the afflicted saint, that tribulation has almost ceased to be a

trial, and the retrospect has been the source of thankful

recollection.

But first the word becomes life-then comfort. And those only,

who have felt the quickening power of the word, can realize its

consolations. Be thankful, then, Reader, if, when dead in sins,

it "quickened you;" and, when sunk in trouble, once and again

it has revived you. Yet do not think, that it is any innate power

of its own, that works so graciously for you. No. The exhibition

of the Savior is the spring of life and consolation. It is because it "testifies of Him," "the consolation of Israel"-"afflicted in all

our afflictions"-and never failing to uphold with "grace

sufficient for us." It is not, however, the word without the Spirit,

nor the Spirit generally without the word; but the Spirit by the

word-first putting life into the word, and then by the word

quickening the soul. The word then is only the instrument. The

Spirit is the Almighty agent. Thus the work is the Lord's; and

nothing is left for us, but self-renunciation and praise.



by

Charles Bridges

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