Thought upon thought From Thoughts
of God by John Macduff, 1864 How precious are your thoughts
unto me, O God! But now, O Jacob, listen to the
Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed
you, says, do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have
called you by name. You are mine. When you go through
deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of
difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire
of oppression, you will not be burned up. The flames will not
consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the
Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 through
3. What a library of precious thoughts! What an unlocking of the full
heart of God do these verses contain! In reading them we may
say indeed with the psalmist, Many, O Lord my God, are your
thoughts unto us. Each clause is in itself a volume. Well, may the Divine Speaker
begin with the words, do not be afraid. These tender thoughts
and tender assertions remind us of the gush of parental affection
when a child is in danger or is afraid, and when its most
loving earthly friend keeps assurance on assurance to quiet and lull
its misgivings. I have redeemed you, seems to
be the fountain thought of comfort in this cluster of exceeding
great and precious promises. No other blessing could have
been ours but for redeeming love. And as Christ is the Alpha, so
is He the Omega of all consolation. Hence, this inspired register
of spiritual privileges is terminated by the assurance, I am your Savior. The pendant chain of precious
thoughts has these two words for its support, Redeemer, Savior. And each separate link in the
intermediate line of blessing is connected with Him who is
the beginner and finisher of our faith. God indeed forewarns
us in the diversified symbols here employed that the trials
of His people are to be varied in kind as well as difficult
in degree. Waters, rivers, fires, flames,
yet we may well rise above them all under the sublime consciousness
that the chain from first to last is in the hands of Him who
died for us. We are here further assured,
not only that God is the author of our troubles, but that he
himself is in them all. That his thoughts are upon us
as we pass through the waters and walk through the fires. He
is minutely cognizant of all that befalls us and is alike
able and willing to grant us assistance and support. Others
cannot do so. It is in their case like watching
the bursting of the distant thunderstorm or the vessel plunging in the
distant sea without the ability to render assistance. But you
know my thoughts afar off. God is not only our refuge and
strength, but a present help in trouble. More than this, he
has set bounds to our trials. The rivers and streams will purify,
but not overflow or overwhelm. The fires will refine, but not
scorch or burn. He has too deep an interest in
those of whom he says, I have called you by your name, you
are mine. To allow our afflictions to go
further than he sees to be absolutely needful. Never are his thoughts
more fondly centered upon us than in a time of trouble. His
loving presence tempers the fury of the fiercest furnace flames.
His everlasting arms are underneath the deepest and darkest waves.
O Lord God Almighty, where is there anyone as mighty as you,
Lord? Faithfulness is your very character. You are the one who rules the
oceans. When their waves rise in fearful
storms, you subdue them.