“Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still.” (Psa. 4:44Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. (Psalm 4:4).) What a blessed word! We lose considerably, both in reading and hearing, from not conferring with our own hearts upon the truth we may have received, or at the time felt to be applicable to us.
The ant is set before us as an example of one who prepares for the winter. Now we find that God provides us with provisions for some dreary time that is coming; but instead of being like the ant, when the winter comes, want comes on us like an armed man (Prov. 6:1111So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. (Proverbs 6:11)); it is not only winter, ‘but we have no food, and all because we only enjoyed ourselves (which sleep expresses) during the summer. Nothing reveals this to us, if we at all judge ourselves, so much as the great difference between us in summer and in winter; in the former we seem to enjoy everything, we could almost imitate the lark; but when winter, the frost and pitiless blast supervene, all the supposed spiritual joy of the summer’s day is gone, and we can talk and think only of the inclemency of the air which surrounds us. This painful discrepancy or exposure of our want would not occur if we really had stored provisions, suited for the exigence to which we are exposed. The apostle could say that he had learned in whatsoever state he was therewith to be content; he knew how to be abased and how to abound; he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. (See Phil. 4:11-1311Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:11‑13).) I believe the soul ought to say, when it takes in any truth, “Some- day I shall want it, now let me see how it fits me, and whether I have it from God; in a word, that I have made it as much my own as the money in my purse-as the strength by which I can do anything, or any other acquisition of which I have real possession.” Better a soul should feel how unprovided he is for winter, than that he should lie down and try to slumber over it. It is very hopeful when a soul feels how it has neglected to provide for the day of trial; that if ever a summer again occurs he will not, through God’s grace, fail to make use of it.
Receiving truth without pondering or self-judgment, only leaves the soul, in the end, more barren; simply for this reason, that you weaken your appreciation of anything if you find that it only charmed you, but had no place of abiding use or benefit to you.
How happy one might be, pondering alone the thoughts and ways of our Lord. Stormy days will come; but if we are diligent now we shall only prove, in those dreary times, the truth and excellence of His counsels. A clean animal must ruminate; feeding well will not do, the other must follow.
Meditate and find the true applicability of all you hear and learn to yourself, and what one really learns (certainly in Divine things) one never forgets.
Be a large dictionary to yourself, to explain every word the Lord may drop into your soul, and be able to tell the meaning.