KenH
Well-Known Member
"These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season." Psalm 104:27
The meat which God's children long after, is to have the truth as it is in Jesus, in all its various branches, revealed with power to their heart. Not merely to see a certain truth in God's word--that is like a hungry beggar looking at savory provision through a window, from which he is barred out. Such a sight whets his appetite rather than satisfies it. The food that God's people are longing after, and the only thing which can assuage their spiritual hunger, is the truth as it is found in Christ. It must be manifested, revealed, discovered, and applied with power to their souls as dew, with unction, savor, sweetness, life, light, and liberty accompanying the word, so that truth falls as heavenly manna into their hearts. It is not sufficient that the Holy Spirit should create the appetite, but he must overshadow the soul with his divine influences, breathe abroad a heavenly savor, and fill it with some sensations of his presence, with some meltings of heart at the feet of Christ, and with some drawing forth of affection to God. Thus he communicates an inward reception of the truth, and an enjoyment of its sweetness and savor.
Notice that our verse says "give them." It is not to be taken out of the Bible because it may be read. It is not to be caught up as the minister throws it forth because it may be heard. It is not to be got out of books because they have been written, but it is to be bestowed by the holy hand of Jehovah himself. It is to be received in the posture of a penitent, in the attitude of a suppliant, as a sinner prostrate at the foot of the cross, without anything in self but wounds, condemnation, and guilt.
- excerpt from J.C. Philpot's Through Baca's Vale, October 26
The meat which God's children long after, is to have the truth as it is in Jesus, in all its various branches, revealed with power to their heart. Not merely to see a certain truth in God's word--that is like a hungry beggar looking at savory provision through a window, from which he is barred out. Such a sight whets his appetite rather than satisfies it. The food that God's people are longing after, and the only thing which can assuage their spiritual hunger, is the truth as it is found in Christ. It must be manifested, revealed, discovered, and applied with power to their souls as dew, with unction, savor, sweetness, life, light, and liberty accompanying the word, so that truth falls as heavenly manna into their hearts. It is not sufficient that the Holy Spirit should create the appetite, but he must overshadow the soul with his divine influences, breathe abroad a heavenly savor, and fill it with some sensations of his presence, with some meltings of heart at the feet of Christ, and with some drawing forth of affection to God. Thus he communicates an inward reception of the truth, and an enjoyment of its sweetness and savor.
Notice that our verse says "give them." It is not to be taken out of the Bible because it may be read. It is not to be caught up as the minister throws it forth because it may be heard. It is not to be got out of books because they have been written, but it is to be bestowed by the holy hand of Jehovah himself. It is to be received in the posture of a penitent, in the attitude of a suppliant, as a sinner prostrate at the foot of the cross, without anything in self but wounds, condemnation, and guilt.
- excerpt from J.C. Philpot's Through Baca's Vale, October 26