Category Archives: Evening’s With Spurgeon

“Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.”~ Genesis 46:3,4 ~ Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father’s sojourning, and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a… (more…)

“Only be thou strong and very courageous.”~ Joshua 1:7 ~ Our God’s tender love for His servants makes Him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it… (more…)

“The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”~ John 1:14 ~ Believer, You can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, “He is divine to me, if He be human to all the world beside. He has done that for… (more…)

“Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field . . . let us see if the vine flourish.”~ Song of Solomon 7:11,12 ~ The church was about to engage in earnest labour, and desired her Lord’s company in it. She does not say, “I will go,” but “let us go.” It is blessed working when Jesus is at… (more…)

“Acquaint now thyself with Him.”~ Job 22:21 ~ If we would rightly “acquaint ourselves with God, and be at peace,” we must know Him as He has revealed Himself, not only in the unity of His essence and subsistence, but also in the plurality of His persons. God said, “Let us make man in our own image let not man… (more…)

“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.“~ John 5:8 ~ Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the I pool, but no angel came, or came not for him; yet, thinking it to be his only chance, he… (more…)

“All the days of my appointed time will I wait.”~ Job 14:14 ~ A little stay on earth will make heaven more heavenly. Nothing makes rest so sweet as toil; nothing renders security so pleasant as exposure to alarms. The bitter quassia cups of earth will give a relish to the new wine which sparkles in the golden bowls of glory.… (more…)

“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.”~ Proverbs 16:20 ~ Wisdom is man’s true strength; and, under its guidance, he best accomplishes the ends of his being. Wisely handling the matter of life gives to man the richest enjoyment, and presents the noblest occupation for his powers; hence by… (more…)

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.”~ 1 Peter 1:23 ~ Peter most earnestly exhorted the scattered saints to love each other “with a pure heart fervently” and he wisely fetched his argument, not from the law, from nature, or from philosophy, but from that high and divine nature which God hath implanted in His people. Just… (more…)

“A very present help.” ~ Psalm 46:1 ~ Covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated. Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use. Believer, thou dost not make use of Christ as thou oughtest to do. When thou art in trouble, why dost thou not tell Him all thy… (more…)

“These all died in faith.”~ Hebrews 11:13 ~ Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord! It matters nothing how else they died, whether of old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, “they all died in faith.” In… (more…)

“I am the rose of Sharon.”~ Song of Solomon 2:1 ~ Whatever there may be of beauty in the material world, Jesus Christ possesses all that in the spiritual world in a tenfold degree. Amongst flowers the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the garden of the soul than the rose can in the… (more…)

“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God.”~ Psalm 139:17 ~ Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside His mind from us, has us always before His eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it,… (more…)

“The Lord taketh pleasure in His people.”~ Psalm 149:4 ~ How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His people’s interests which He does not consider, and there is nothing which concerns their welfare which is not important to Him. Not merely does He think of you, believer, as an immortal being, but as a mortal… (more…)

“All the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.”~ Ezekiel 3:7 ~ Are there no exceptions? No, not one. Even the favoured race are thus described. Are the best so bad then what must the worst be? Come, my heart, consider how far thou hast a share in this universal accusation, and while considering, be ready to take shame unto… (more…)

“The Lord is King for ever and ever.”~ Psalm 10:16 ~ Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but He is really and truly the Lord’s anointed! “It hath pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell.” God hath given to Him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, He is now head… (more…)

“Blessed is he that watcheth.”~ Revelation 16:15 ~ We die daily,” said the apostle. This was the life of the early Christians; they went everywhere with their lives in their hands. We are not in this day called to pass through the same fearful persecutions: if we were, the Lord would give us grace to bear the test; but the… (more…)

“If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.”~ Revelation 3:20 ~ What is your desire this evening? Is it set upon heavenly things? Do you long to enjoy the high doctrine of eternal love? Do you desire liberty in very close communion with God? Do you aspire to know the heights, and… (more…)

“The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”~ Song of Solomon 2:12 ~ Sweet is the season of spring: the long and dreary winter helps us to appreciate its genial warmth, and its promise of summer enhances its present delights. After periods… (more…)

“Lo, in the midst of the throne . . . stood a Lamb as it had been slain.”~ Revelation 5:6 ~ Why should our exalted Lord appear in His wounds in glory? The wounds of Jesus are His glories, His jewels, His sacred ornaments. To the eye of the believer, Jesus is passing fair because He is “white and ruddy”… (more…)

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night.”~ Psalm 91:5 ~ What is this terror? It may be the cry of fire, or the noise of thieves, or fancied appearances, or the shriek of sudden sickness or death. We live in the world of death and sorrow, we may therefore look for ills as well in the night-watches… (more…)

“Who is even at the right hand of God.”~ Romans 8:34 ~ He who was once despised and rejected of men, now occupies the honourable position of a beloved and honoured Son. The right hand of God is the place of majesty and favour. Our Lord Jesus is His people’s representative. When He died for them they had rest; He… (more…)

“Fight the Lord’s battles.”~ 1 Samuel 18:17 ~ The sacramental host of God’s elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, “Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast in their ranks,… (more…)

“The Amen.”~ Revelation 3:14 ~ The word AMEN solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, for ever is “the Amen” in all His promises. Sinner, I would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If you… (more…)

“And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.” ~ Genesis 32:12 ~ When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God’s protection, and as a master reason he pleaded, “And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.” Oh, the force of that plea! He was… (more…)

“We would see Jesus.”~ John 12:21 ~ Evermore the worldling’s cry is, Who will show us any good?” He seeks satisfaction in earthly comforts, enjoyments, and riches. But the quickened sinner knows of only one good. “O that I knew where I might find HIM!” When he is truly awakened to feel his guilt, if you could pour the gold… (more…)

“And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”~ Exodus 17:12 ~ So mighty was the prayer of Moses, that all depended upon it. The petitions of Moses discomfited the enemy more than the fighting of Joshua. Yet both were needed. No, in the soul’s conflict, force and fervour, decision and devotion, valour and vehemence, must join… (more…)

“Lift them up for ever.”~ Psalm 28:9 ~ God’s people need lifting up. They are very heavy by nature. They have no wings, or, if they have, they are like the dove of old which lay among the pots; and they need divine grace to make them mount on wings covered with silver, and with feathers of yellow gold. By… (more…)

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him.”~ Isaiah 3:10 ~ It is well with the righteous ALWAYS. If it had said, “Say ye to the righteous, that it is well with him in his prosperity,” we must have been thankful for so great a boon, for prosperity is an hour of peril, and it is… (more…)

“And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”~ Leviticus 1:4 ~ Our Lord’s being made “sin for us” is set forth here by the very significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made by the elders of the people. The laying of… (more…)

“The king’s garden.”~ Nehemiah 3:15 ~ Mention of the king’s garden by Nehemiah brings to mind the paradise which the King of kings prepared for Adam. Sin has utterly ruined that fair abode of all delights, and driven forth the children of men to till the ground, which yields thorns and briers unto them. My soul, remember the fall, for… (more…)

“Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.”~ Psalm 25:18 ~ It is well for us when prayers about our sorrows are linked with pleas concerning our sins when, being under God’s hand, we are not wholly taken up with our pain, but remember our offences against God. It is well, also, to take both sorrow… (more…)

“For there stood by me this night the angel of God.”~ Acts 27:23. ~ Temptest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of shipwreck, had brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case; one man alone among them remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured. Paul was the only man who had heart enough… (more…)

“Thy gentleness hath made me great.“~ Psalm 18:35 ~ The words are capable of being translated, “Thy goodness hath made me great.” David gratefully ascribed all his greatness not to his own goodness, but the goodness of God. “Thy providence,” is another reading; and providence is nothing more than goodness in action. Goodness is the bud of which providence is… (more…)

“I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”~ Psalm 23:4 ~ Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the… (more…)