5 JULY (1868)
The minstrelsy of hope
‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us.’ Psalm 67:6–7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 5:1–5
Once on a time certain strong laborers were sent forth by the great King to level a primeval forest, to plow it, to sow it and to bring him back the harvest. They were stout-hearted, strong and willing enough for labor, and well they needed all their strength and more. One stalwart laborer was named Industry—consecrated work was his. His brother Patience, with muscles of steel, went with him and tired not in the longest days, under the heaviest labors. To help them they had Zeal, clothed with ardent and indomitable energy. Side by side there stood his kinsman Self-denial and his friend Importunity. These went forth to their labor and they took with them, to cheer their toils, their well-beloved sister Hope; and well it was they did, for the forest trees were huge and needed many sturdy blows of the ax before they would fall prone upon the ground.
One by one they yielded, but the labor was immense and incessant. At night when they went to their rest, the day’s work always seemed so light, for, as they crossed the threshold, Patience, wiping the sweat from his brow, would be encouraged, and Self-denial would be strengthened, for they heard a sweet voice within sing, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. They felled the giant trees to the music of that strain; they cleared the acres one by one; they tore from their sockets the huge roots; they dug the soil; they sowed the corn and waited for the harvest, often much discouraged, but still in silver chains and golden fetters by the sweet sound of the voice which chanted so constantly, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us.’
They never could refrain from service, for she could never refrain from song. They were ashamed to be discouraged, they were shocked to be despairing, for still the voice rang out clearly at morn and eventide—‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. You know the parable; you recognize the voice: may you hear it in your souls today!
FOR MEDITATION: Think about the importance of hope’s relationship to joy (Romans 5:2; 12:12; 15:13), patience (Romans 8:25; 15:4), peace (Romans 15:13), love (1 Corinthians 13:7) and faith (Hebrews 11:1). The Christian’s hope is not only good (2 Thessalonians 2:16) but better (Hebrews 7:19); but to lack hope is a sad state to be in (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 194.
The minstrelsy of hope
‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us.’ Psalm 67:6–7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 5:1–5
Once on a time certain strong laborers were sent forth by the great King to level a primeval forest, to plow it, to sow it and to bring him back the harvest. They were stout-hearted, strong and willing enough for labor, and well they needed all their strength and more. One stalwart laborer was named Industry—consecrated work was his. His brother Patience, with muscles of steel, went with him and tired not in the longest days, under the heaviest labors. To help them they had Zeal, clothed with ardent and indomitable energy. Side by side there stood his kinsman Self-denial and his friend Importunity. These went forth to their labor and they took with them, to cheer their toils, their well-beloved sister Hope; and well it was they did, for the forest trees were huge and needed many sturdy blows of the ax before they would fall prone upon the ground.
One by one they yielded, but the labor was immense and incessant. At night when they went to their rest, the day’s work always seemed so light, for, as they crossed the threshold, Patience, wiping the sweat from his brow, would be encouraged, and Self-denial would be strengthened, for they heard a sweet voice within sing, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. They felled the giant trees to the music of that strain; they cleared the acres one by one; they tore from their sockets the huge roots; they dug the soil; they sowed the corn and waited for the harvest, often much discouraged, but still in silver chains and golden fetters by the sweet sound of the voice which chanted so constantly, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us.’
They never could refrain from service, for she could never refrain from song. They were ashamed to be discouraged, they were shocked to be despairing, for still the voice rang out clearly at morn and eventide—‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. You know the parable; you recognize the voice: may you hear it in your souls today!
FOR MEDITATION: Think about the importance of hope’s relationship to joy (Romans 5:2; 12:12; 15:13), patience (Romans 8:25; 15:4), peace (Romans 15:13), love (1 Corinthians 13:7) and faith (Hebrews 11:1). The Christian’s hope is not only good (2 Thessalonians 2:16) but better (Hebrews 7:19); but to lack hope is a sad state to be in (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 194.
5 JULY (1868)
The minstrelsy of hope
‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us.’ Psalm 67:6–7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 5:1–5
Once on a time certain strong laborers were sent forth by the great King to level a primeval forest, to plow it, to sow it and to bring him back the harvest. They were stout-hearted, strong and willing enough for labor, and well they needed all their strength and more. One stalwart laborer was named Industry—consecrated work was his. His brother Patience, with muscles of steel, went with him and tired not in the longest days, under the heaviest labors. To help them they had Zeal, clothed with ardent and indomitable energy. Side by side there stood his kinsman Self-denial and his friend Importunity. These went forth to their labor and they took with them, to cheer their toils, their well-beloved sister Hope; and well it was they did, for the forest trees were huge and needed many sturdy blows of the ax before they would fall prone upon the ground.
One by one they yielded, but the labor was immense and incessant. At night when they went to their rest, the day’s work always seemed so light, for, as they crossed the threshold, Patience, wiping the sweat from his brow, would be encouraged, and Self-denial would be strengthened, for they heard a sweet voice within sing, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. They felled the giant trees to the music of that strain; they cleared the acres one by one; they tore from their sockets the huge roots; they dug the soil; they sowed the corn and waited for the harvest, often much discouraged, but still in silver chains and golden fetters by the sweet sound of the voice which chanted so constantly, ‘God, even our own God, shall bless us.’
They never could refrain from service, for she could never refrain from song. They were ashamed to be discouraged, they were shocked to be despairing, for still the voice rang out clearly at morn and eventide—‘God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us’. You know the parable; you recognize the voice: may you hear it in your souls today!
FOR MEDITATION: Think about the importance of hope’s relationship to joy (Romans 5:2; 12:12; 15:13), patience (Romans 8:25; 15:4), peace (Romans 15:13), love (1 Corinthians 13:7) and faith (Hebrews 11:1). The Christian’s hope is not only good (2 Thessalonians 2:16) but better (Hebrews 7:19); but to lack hope is a sad state to be in (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 194.
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