Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: July 4

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Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: July 4


Today is: Thursday, December 26th, 2024 (Show Today's Devotion)

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Morning

“
Vain is the help of man.”

2Ch_28:16-19

2Ch_28:18

AT that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

and had taken many towns and villages and they dwelt there.

2Ch_28:18

The kingdom had flourished greatly under Jotham, but the Lord who raised it up could just as easily bring it down. Those who will not be humble must be humbled. Remark the expression,—”he made Judah naked.” Sin strips man of all his beauty, exposes him to contempt, and robs him of protection. The smallest powers were able to oppress Judah; insignificant nations, which had been tributaries to it before, did with it as they pleased.

2Ki_16:7-11

2Ki_16:8-9

Trust in man is an expensive business, for those we look to will be pretty sure to look to their own interests, and will not serve us unless they can serve themselves at the same time. Carnal confidences lead men to rob God: Ahaz thought nothing of stripping the temple in order to purchase the aid of his great patron, who cared nothing for him, but only for the plunder he could obtain by the war.

2Ki_16:11

Foolish indeed was this to borrow the altar of a vanquished monarch. If his gods had been of any service to Benhadad, he would not have been crushed by the Assyrian. Idolaters are mad.

2Ch_28:20; 2Ch_28:22-25; 2Ch_28:27

2Ch_28:20

He quartered his troops upon him, and impoverished his people. Ahaz now felt the curse of trusting in man.

2Ch_28:22-23

And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.

This brand is set upon him, for it is a special sin when a man grows worse under affliction.

2Ch_28:24

Those who will not worship at God’s altar will set up a hundred shrines of their own; men who will not believe the gospel will yield credence to a thousand lying superstitions.

2Ch_28:27

He died impenitent and inglorious, and by a sort of holy censorship which appears to have been exercised over Judah’s dead kings, he was denied burial in the royal tombs.

Evening

“
To whom then will ye liken to God?”

Isa_40:12-31

While Ahaz was setting up his idols the eloquent rebukes of Isaiah were remembered by the godly remnant. With what energy does he extol the Lord and denounce all attempts to set him forth by symbols.

Isa_40:12-18

To confound idolaters, the prophet describes the process of god-making, that he may shame them out of such foolish worship.

Isa_40:19

The workman melteth or carveth

Isa_40:19

Think of worshipping a piece of wood plated by the goldsmith, which needs to be fastened in its place lest it fall or be stolen! Is not this insanity?

Isa_40:24

The greatest empires wither when God forbids their prospering; is he, then, like to an image of wood?

Isa_40:26

Let every star rebuke the worshipper of wood and stone.

Isa_40:31

Be it ours, then, to trust the unseen Lord, and never shall we fail. Glorious Lord, we believe; help thou our unbelief.



Fear not, nor longer be dismayed,

Lo, I, the mighty God, am nigh;

Thou shalt, each moment, feel my aid,

If thou wilt on mine arm rely.



Why shouldst thou fear, when I am thine—

When all I am, I am for thee?

If thou art weak, my strength divine

Is perfect in infirmity.



Without my help thou canst not stand,

But thee I will not leave alone;

I’ll hold thee up by my right hand,

Till thou shalt reach my heavenly throne.