God's Terrible Answers

‘“* By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God!” — Psatm lIxv. 5.

THAT is a disturbing paradox, the gracious Lord answering in terrible response. We have some difficulty in thinking of grace expressing itself in terror. It is the same strange conjunction which the Apostle John unveils to us in the Apocalypse. He saw ‘a Lamb in the midst of the throne,”’ and yet out of the throne proceeded lightnings! If only some mild, soft light had streamed from the throne it would have seemed altogether congenial — but lightnings! It is like the sound of harpers breaking into thunder. It is like “‘ the soft whisper of a going ’’ over the tops of the trees merging into the rumblings of an earthquake. A strange fellowship is this of grace expressing itself in ‘‘ terrible things.”

But the great thing to remember is just this — that the terrific thing can be the vehicle of grace. The seemingly wild thing. can carry a very gentle thing. The lightning can enshrine the heart of the Lamb. Our apparent antagonisms are often the very servants of our strength. If we had never been opposed we should never have found our power. Our capacity is discovered in our seasons of deprivation. We come into self-possession along terrible roads. God moves through wintry snows to the coveted harvests. Why should the frost be counted necessary in the process of rearing the golden grain? Well, that is the appointed way. We find our honey in the carcases of the lions which we have slain. A lion often crouches between us and the feast! The wilderness stretches between us and Canaan! The springs of abiding joy are up in the mountains of rectitude, and there is the hard climb before we can have the delicious draught. We even have to “strive to enter into rest.’’ God most assuredly answers our prayers, but we travel to our bounty by the way of “terrible things.”

But who is going to grumble at wintry December if it helps to bring the fruits and flowers of June? Mark this word of Robertson, of Brighton: ‘‘ The most valuable book I possess is a remembrance of trials at which I repined, but which I have found were sent in answer to my prayer to be made a minister.” God graciously heard his prayer, but He answered in “terrible things’? which conveyed the desired strength. We do not find our real robustness in the green pastures and by the still waters, but when He leadeth us in ways of righteousness for His’name’s sake. On those high, steep roads, where the winds are cold and biting, we; find our health and our crowns.