August 5

He is able to succour them that are tempted. - Hebrews 2:18.

HERE we view the suffering Saviour succouring his tempted followers. Let us notice, First, The subjects of relief:-“Them that are tempted;” that is, as we have already noticed, by trial and by suffering. Such is the condition of his people; “Bonds and afflictions abide them.” Those who enter heaven can say, “I found trouble and sorrow.” Yes,

“The path of sorrow, and that path alone,

Leads to that world where sorrow is unknown.”

Observe, Secondly, The source of their relief, and how greatly they stand in need of succour and support to keep them from sinking in the day of adversity. This is that which David felt when he said, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” The Lord’s people are favoured to experience “peace and joy in believing” in the midst of their trials, so that the people of the world have wondered to behold them. The reason is, these worldlings can see their temporal losses, but they cannot see their spiritual gain; they can behold their burdens, and are amazed that these do not press their very lives down to the ground; but they cannot see “the everlasting arms underneath them.” They can hear their cries, but know not their comforts, their access to a, throne of grace, their share in “an everlasting covenant,” nor the communion which they have with their Lord and Saviour, and their earnests of that blessed state where all sorrow and sighing will cease, where God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Indeed, Christians themselves are often not aware of this beforehand, so that they are often amazed when trials come; for they find that as their day so their strength is; and they find that God gives them “grace to help in time of need;” so that, “in the multitude of their thoughts within them, his comforts delight their souls.” They are led to rejoice that all their sufferings come from him. The apostle, therefore, says, “If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ;” and there is, when there is none in the world. So he says again, “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth.” But how? “By Christ.” Hence says Micah, “This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian cometh into the land.” And thus said the Saviour himself, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace.” “The hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble.”

He is therefore called “the consolation of Israel.” And what Lamech said to his wife on the birth of Noah, as she was fondling him in her arms,-“This same shall comfort us,”-may the Christian say with regard to the Saviour, whatever his external trials or his internal exercises may be.