“Let the people renew their strength.”

TEXT: Isaiah 41:1
All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by itself. “Thou renewest
the face of the year,” was the Psalmist’s utterance. Even the trees, which wear not themselves with
care, nor shorten their lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the hidden
treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day
they are full of sap fresh drawn from the earth. Neither can man’s life be sustained without renewal
from God. As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair
the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or
by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances. How depressed are our graces when means are
neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of
God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream;
for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon him as the flowers wait upon the dew. Without
constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of
heaven, or even for the strifes within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that hath
not sucked up fresh sap, and grasped the rock with many intertwisted roots. When tempests arise,
woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the
haven. If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle
desperately for the mastery over us; and so, perhaps, a painful desolation, and a lamentable disgrace
may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in humble entreaty, and we shall
realize the fulfilment of the promise, “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”