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Morning and Evening

January 20, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way." — Psalm 119:37 · KJV

There are various kinds of vanity. The fool's cap and bells, the world's mirth, the dance, the music, and the cup of the reckless — all these men know to be empty; they wear their true name on their forehead. Far more treacherous are those equally empty things, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. A man may chase vanity as truly in the office as in the theater. If he spends his life amassing wealth, he passes his days in an empty show. Unless we follow Christ and make our God the great object of life, we differ only in appearance from the most frivolous. Clearly there is great need of the first prayer of our text: "Quicken thou me in thy way." The psalmist confesses that he is dull, heavy, sluggish, all but dead. Perhaps, dear reader, you feel the same. We are so sluggish that even the best motives cannot quicken us apart from the Lord Himself. What — will hell not quicken me? Shall I think of sinners perishing and not be stirred? Will heaven not quicken me? Can I think of the reward awaiting the righteous and stay cold? Will death not quicken me? Can I think of dying and standing before my God and still be slothful in my Master's service? Will not Christ's love constrain me? Can I think of His dear wounds, can I sit at the foot of His cross, and not be stirred with fervency and zeal? It seems so! No mere consideration can quicken us to zeal; God Himself must do it — hence the cry, "Quicken thou me." The psalmist pours out his whole soul in earnest pleading; body and soul unite in prayer. "Turn away mine eyes," says the body; "Quicken thou me," cries the soul. This is a fitting prayer for every day. O Lord, hear it in my case this night.