Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

September 13, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also filleth the pools." — Psalm 84:6 · KJV

This teaches us that the comfort one person obtains may often serve another, just as the wells would be used by the company that came after. We read some book full of consolation, which is like Jonathan's rod, dripping with honey; and we think, our brother has been here before us and dug this well for us as well as for himself. Many a devotional book has been a well a pilgrim dug for himself, yet it has proved just as useful to others. We notice this especially in the Psalms — such as the one that begins, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" Travelers have been delighted to see the print of a human foot on a barren shore, and we love to see the waymarks of pilgrims as we pass through the vale of tears. The pilgrims dig the well, but, strangely enough, it fills from the top, not the bottom. We use the means, but the blessing does not spring from the means; we dig a well, but heaven fills it with rain. "The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord." The means are connected with the end, but they do not of themselves produce it. See here how the rain fills the pools, so that the wells become useful as reservoirs for the water; the labor is not lost, yet it does not do away with the need of divine help. Grace may well be compared to rain — for its purity, for its refreshing and life-giving influence, for its coming from above alone, and for the sovereignty with which it is given or withheld. May our readers have showers of blessing, and may the wells they have dug be filled with water! Oh, what are means and ordinances without the smile of heaven? They are as clouds without rain, and pools without water. O God of love, open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing!