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Charles Spurgeon's Daily DevotionalThis morning devotional prepared for September, 26th.
"The myrtle trees that were in the bottom."--Zechariah 1:8
The vision in this chapter describes the condition of Israel
in Zechariah's day; but being interpreted in its aspect towards
us, it describes the Church of God as we find it now in the
world. The Church is compared to a myrtle grove flourishing in a
valley. It is _hidden_, unobserved, secreted; courting no honour
and attracting no observation from the careless gazer. The
Church, like her head, has a glory, but it is concealed from
carnal eyes, for the time of her breaking forth in all her
splendour is not yet come. The idea of _tranquil security_ is
also suggested to us: for the myrtle grove in the valley is
still and calm, while the storm sweeps over the mountain
summits. Tempests spend their force upon the craggy peaks of the
Alps, but down yonder where flows the stream which maketh glad
the city of our God, the myrtles flourish by the still waters,
all unshaken by the impetuous wind. How great is the inward
tranquility of God's Church! Even when opposed and persecuted,
she has a peace which the world gives not, and which, therefore,
it cannot take away: the peace of God which passeth all
understanding keeps the hearts and minds of God's people. Does
not the metaphor forcibly picture the peaceful, _perpetual
growth_ of the saints? The myrtle sheds not her leaves, she is
always green; and the Church in her worst time still hath a
blessed verdure of grace about her; nay, she has sometimes
exhibited _most_ verdure when her winter has been sharpest. She
has prospered most when her adversities have been most severe.
Hence the text _hints at victory_. The myrtle is the emblem of
peace, and a significant token of _triumph_. The brows of
conquerors were bound with myrtle and with laurel; and is not
the Church ever victorious? Is not every Christian more than a
conqueror through Him that loved him? Living in peace, do not
the saints fall asleep in the arms of victory?
This afternoon devotional prepared for September, 26th.
"Howl, fir tree, for the cedar is fallen."--Zechariah 11:2
When in the forest there is heard the crash of a falling oak,
it is a sign that the woodman is abroad, and every tree in the
whole company may tremble lest to-morrow the sharp edge of the
axe should find it out. We are all like trees marked for the
axe, and the fall of one should remind us that for every one,
whether great as the cedar, or humble as the fir, the appointed
hour is stealing on apace. I trust we do not, by often hearing
of death, become callous to it. May we never be like the birds
in the steeple, which build their nests when the bells are
tolling, and sleep quietly when the solemn funeral peals are
startling the air. May we regard death as the most weighty of
all events, and be sobered by its approach. It ill behoves us to
sport while our eternal destiny hangs on a thread. The sword is
out of its scabbard--let us not trifle; it is furbished, and the
edge is sharp--let us not play with it. He who does not prepare
for death is more than an ordinary fool, he is a madman. When
the voice of God is heard among the trees of the garden, let fig
tree and sycamore, and elm and cedar, alike hear the sound
thereof.
Be ready, servant of Christ, for thy Master comes on a
sudden, when an ungodly world least expects Him. See to it that
thou be faithful in His work, for the grave shall soon be digged
for thee. Be ready, parents, see that your children are brought
up in the fear of God, for they must soon be orphans; be ready,
men of business, take care that your affairs are correct, and
that you serve God with all your hearts, for the days of your
terrestrial service will soon be ended, and you will be called
to give account for the deeds done in the body, whether they be
good or whether they be evil. May we all prepare for the
tribunal of the great King with a care which shall be rewarded
with the gracious commendation, "Well done, good and faithful
servant"
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