Faith is to the Christian as Nehemiah was to Artaxerxes. (Neh. 2:11And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. (Nehemiah 2:1).) Of all the graces this is the Christian’s cupbearer. The Christian takes the wine of joy out of faith’s hand, rather than any other grace. It is Christ that we are allowed only to rejoice in. Christ’s blood is the wine that gladdens the heart of God by way of satisfaction to His justice, and, therefore, only that can bring true gladness into the heart of man. No grape of our own vine is pressed into this sweet cup.
Now, the Christian’s joy, flowing in from Christ, and not anything that the poor creature doth or hath. Hence it comes to pass, that faith brings in the Christian’s joy and comfort, because this is the grace that improves Christ, and what is Christ’s for the soul’s advantage. Faith is the good spy that makes the discovery of the excellencies in Christ, and then makes report of all to the soul it sees in Him and knows of Him. It is faith that broacheth the promises, turns the cock, and sets them a running into the soul. Till faith comes and brings news of the soul’s welcome, oh, how maidenly and uncomfortably do poor creatures sit at the table of the promises! Like Hannah, they “weep and eat not.” No, alas! they dare not be so bold; but when faith comes, then the soul falls to, and makes a satisfying meal indeed. No dish on the table but faith will taste of. Faith knows God sets them not on to go off untouched. It is, though an humble, yet a bold grace, because it knows it cannot be so bold with God in His own way as it is welcome. “I live by the faith of the Son of God.”—Gurnal.