Sept. 22
Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook
BROAD RIVERS WITHOUT GALLEYS
"But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers
and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall
gallant ship pass thereby" Isa. 33:21
The Lord will be to us the greatest good without any of the drawbacks
which seem necessarily to attend the best earthly things. If a city is
favored with broad rivers, it is liable to be attacked by galleys with
oars, and other ships of war. But when the Lord represents the
abundance of His bounty under this figure, He takes care expressly to
shut out the fear which the metaphor might suggest. Blessed be His
perfect love!
Lord, if thou send me wealth like broad rivers, do not let the galley
with oars come up in the shape of worldliness or pride. If thou grant
me abundant health and happy spirits, do not let "the gallant ship" of
carnal ease come sailing up the flowing flood. If I have success in
holy service, broad as the German Rhine, yet let me never find the
galley of self-conceit and self-confidence floating on the waves of my
usefulness. Should I be so supremely happy as to enjoy the light of thy
countenance year after year, yet let me never despise thy feeble
saints, nor allow the vain notion of my own perfection to sail up the
broad rivers of my full assurance. Lord, give me that blessing which
maketh rich, and neither addeth sorrow, nor addeth sin.