1/2 Spurgeon Today

“Let the people renew their strength.” — Isaiah 41:1

All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by
itself. “Thou renewest the face of the year,” was the Psalmist’s utterance.
Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their
lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the
hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has
planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap fresh drawn
from the earth.Neither can man’s life be sustained without renewal from
God. As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent
meal, so we must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of
God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table
of the ordinances. How depressed are our graces when means are
neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the
diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live
without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had
begotten it, it would wait upon Him as the flowers wait upon the dew.
Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of
hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strifes within. When
the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that hath not sucked up
fresh sap, and grasped the rock with many intertwisted roots.When
tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast,
nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven. If we suffer the good to grow
weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the
mastery over us; and so, mayhap, a painful desolation, and a lamentable
disgrace may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in
humble entreaty, and we shall realize the fulfillment of the promise, “They
that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”