Evening, May 27

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as
   I am?"

  2 Samuel 9:8

   If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David's kindness, what shall we be
   in the presence of our gracious Lord? The more grace we have, the less
   we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our
   impurity. Eminent saints have scarcely known to what to compare
   themselves, their sense of unworthiness has been so clear and keen. "I
   am," says holy Rutherford, "a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead
   carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw." In another
   place he writes, "Except as to open outbreakings, I want nothing of
   what Judas and Cain had." The meanest objects in nature appear to the
   humbled mind to have a preference above itself, because they have never
   contracted sin: a dog may be greedy, fierce, or filthy, but it has no
   conscience to violate, no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a
   worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love
   its master, and is faithful unto death; but we forget the goodness of
   the Lord, and follow not at his call. The term "dead dog" is the most
   expressive of all terms of contempt, but it is none too strong to
   express the self- abhorrence of instructed believers. They do not
   affect mock modesty, they mean what they say, they have weighed
   themselves in the balances of the sanctuary, and found out the vanity
   of their nature. At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking
   hillocks; but viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed. Let it be
   published in heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set his
   heart's love upon such as we are. Dust and ashes though we be, we must
   and will "magnify the exceeding greatness of his grace." Could not his
   heart find rest in heaven? Must he needs come to these tents of Kedar
   for a spouse, and choose a bride upon whom the sun had looked? O
   heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our
   sweet Lord Jesus.