March 20

He performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. - Job 23:14.

WE are here assured that our afflictions are not casual or accidental. Nothing in any of our trials occurs by chance. With us there may be contingencies, seeing we are not acquainted with the plan to be developed and executed in the arrangements of an all-wise Providence; but all events are “determined by him who sees the end from the beginning, and who is working all things after the counsel of his own will.” Nothing transpires without him. He strikes no random blows: his arrows never miss their object. He is performing the thing that is appointed for us; and the appointment is in all respects perfectly equitable.

The Lord has not only a right to ordain, but in doing so he cannot pervert justice. He is not only too wise to err, but too good to be unkind. He who is bringing to pass the appointments of his providence so loved us as not to spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. And we are not only allowed but invited, yea, required, to cast all our cares on him, with the assurance that he careth for us. Let us take this principle with every allotment, with every circumstance of life, and say, “The cup which my Father giveth me, shall I not drink it?” It is “the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.” “I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performeth all things for me.” It is also intimated that these afflictions are not peculiar. “Many such things are with him;” and when writing to the Thessalonians the apostle says, “The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world.”

Providence will not in any case deviate from the treatment of all the other branches of the household of faith; “for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” To which of the saints, in Scripture or history, can we turn in refutation of this decision:-“What son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?” But consider, these appointments of the rod are remedial, and not penal. They are corrections; and are inflicted, not by the sword of the Judge, but by the rod of a Father. Believers sometimes misapprehend them, and, fearful of their being messengers of justice, may say unto God, “Do not condemn me.” But the apprehension is groundless; we are “chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world.” And, besides, the apostle has declared that it is “through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” says the Saviour himself: “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

And with respect to the final results of these dispensations,-these “light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”-while our heavenly Father is performing the thing that is appointed for us, we know that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”