Spurgeon, Evening, 28th May
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.Lamentations 3:21
Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency.
Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in
the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present;
thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup
of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity
for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of
comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings
so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a
wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron,
she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled
with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah's experience: in the
previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of
soul: "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled
in me;" and now this same memory restored him to life and
comfort. "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope."
Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with
one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a
general principle, if we would exercise our memories more
wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match
which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There
is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in
order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully
rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the
present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the
throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime.
Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to
rehearse his deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of
recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of
mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as
Coleridge calls it, "the bosom-spring of joy," and when the
Divine Comforter bends it to his service, it may be chief
among earthly comforters.
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