July 29

I will go in the strength of the Lord God. - Psalms 71:16.

THIS resolution of the Psalmist shows us that he believed all that is said in the Scriptures of God, as to his being able to meet all his wants. He says, therefore, in another place, “Once have I heard this, yea, twice, that power belongeth unto God.” “Speak we of strength?” says Job; “lo, he is strong.” There are mighty men to be found, and there are mightier angels; but he is the Almighty. We can work, but we must have instruments to work with; he can work without instruments. Then, again, we must have materials to work upon; but he can work without materials. He can produce what he requires; he can “call things which are not,” and they appear; he says, “Let there be light, and there was light.” We can do some things, but we know he can do every thing. We are soon exhausted and weary, and require a cessation of labour, and repose; but “he fainteth not, neither is weary.” We can use means, and can aid others; but we cannot really add vitality or strength: otherwise, the physician would not fail with his patient; otherwise, the mother would not suffer her darling to decline upon a bed of sickness, or follow him to the grave. But as to God,-

“If half the strings of life were broke,

He can our flesh restore.”

He can recall our frame, he can recolour our cheeks, he can renew our strength as the eagle’s. Who was it that enabled Abraham to offer up his son, and that enabled Daniel to enter the lions den? Who enabled the martyrs to sing and triumph at the stake? We must bring our faith to the greatness of his power as well as his goodness, and learn to sing, with the apostle, “Now, unto him that is able to keep us from falling;” “Now, unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,-unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

But, while his resolution shows his belief of God’s power, it also shows that God’s strength was accessible and apprehendable; and this is the case. “Let him take hold of my strength,” says God. God not only makes known his strength, but he tell us, so to speak, that it is at our service on all occasions, and presses us to make use of it. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” “Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength;” and, says the apostle to the Hebrews, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.” “Let us have grace:” then it was to be had. And the same apostle says, “And be renewed in the spirit of your minds;” “Be filled with the Spirit;” “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”

Then, all this is within our reach, and within our power,-not our natural power, not our personal power, but in that of another, who is intimately and perfectly one with us.