Photo by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Balou46
I’ve been
reading a book of sermons by Horatius Bonar. He was born in 1808 and died in
1889. He was a minister in the Church of Scotland but later joined the Free
Church after the “Disruption of 1843.” Along with sermons, he wrote hymns and
poems.
I came
across a Bible verse that moved me so much and a sermon he wrote about that
verse. Here is an excerpt from that chapter:
“He reached
down from heaven and rescued me; he drew e out of deep waters.” Psalm 18:16
“He is the
God of all grace; no, God is love; in him there is help, and with him is
plenteous redemption. He it is that redeems (us) out of all (our) troubles. It
is he who is above; it is he who sends from above; it is he who reaches down;
it is he who rescues us out of many waters.
This is the
God with whom we have to do! He is infinite in power and grace. To know him is
life eternal; to rest upon his love and power is the true strength and solace
of the soul! The knowledge of ourselves troubles us and casts us down; the
knowledge of this God relieves us and lifts us up.
The great
use of knowing ourselves is, not that we may be qualified for receiving and
being received by him, but that we may become more and more dissatisfied with
ourselves and more and more drawn to him who is altogether unlike us. That we
may become more and more emptied of everything. That we may be in a state for
containing him and his fullness.
For it is
our emptiness that attracts and makes us suitable for his fullness and it is in
knowing self that we are emptied of self. We decrease, he increases.”
