November 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Proverbs 1:20–33

Devotional

God’s love is all the more conspicuous when it shines in the midst of his judgements. How bright is that lone beam of sunshine that smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; how beautiful is the oasis that blooms in the wilderness of scorching sand; so bright and so beautiful is God’s love in the midst of his wrath.

When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, he punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a severe famine. But while he did this, he took care that his own chosen ones should be secure. Even if all other brooks dried up, yet there would be one reserved for Elijah. And when that fails, God will still preserve for him a place of nourishment and support. Not only that, but also the Lord did not have just one “Elijah”; he had a remnant according to the election of grace who were hidden by fifties in a cave! Even though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed—and fed from Ahab’s table too!—by his faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah.

Let us from this draw the inference that, come what may, God’s people are safe. Let earthquakes convulse the solid earth, let the skies themselves be torn in two, yet even in the middle of the wreck of worlds the believer will be just as secure as he is in the calmest hour of rest. If God does not save his people under heaven, then he will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven will be the place of their reception and their safety.

Be confident then, even when you hear of wars and rumours of wars. Don’t let any agitation distress you, but be pacified from all fear of evil. No matter what comes upon the earth, you will be secure beneath the broad wings of Jehovah. Steady yourself upon his promises; rest in his faithfulness, and bid defiance to the bleakest future, for there can be nothing in it disastrous for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of listening to the voice of wisdom.

[July 6]

Extracted from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (public domain), language modernized by Larry E. Wilson.