July 26

Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook

A CHANGE OF NAME

   "And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me
   Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names
   of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by
   their name." Hosea 2:16, 17

   That day has come. We view our God no more as Baal, our tyrant lord and
   mighty master, for we are not under law, but under grace. We now think
   of Jehovah, our God, as our Ishi, our beloved husband, our lord in
   love, our next-of-kin in bonds of sacred relationship. We do not
   reverence Him less, but we love Him more. We do not serve Him less
   obediently, but we serve Him for a higher and more endearing reason. We
   no longer tremble under His lash, but rejoice in His love. The slave is
   changed into a child, and the task into a pleasure.

   Is it so with thee, dear reader? Has grace cast out slavish fear and
   implanted filial love? How happy are we in such an experience! Now we
   call the Lord's Day a delight, and worship is never a weariness. Prayer
   is now a privilege, and praise is a holiday. To obey is Heaven; to give
   to the cause of God is a banquet. Thus have all things become new. Our
   mouth is filled with singing, and our heart with music. Blessed be our
   heavenly Ishi for ever and for ever.