Last month I posted Why should You be like a stranger? May our hearts burn with us! – a prayer based on Jeremiah 14:7-9. My reading of M'Cheyne's sermon "Why Is God a Stranger in the Land" had prompted that post.

In rereading The Memoir of William Hepburn Hewitson (1812-1850) by John Baillie I once again came across a reference to that same Jeremiah passage.

Given the widespread and prevailing state of lethargy and lukewarmness in much of the Church today, given we are in time of trouble, here is the question we must continue to ask, the question and request which we must take with boldness and importunity to the throne of God day and night:

O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? – Jeremiah 14:8, KJV

From the Memoir:

Mr Hewitson had himself learned not to "limit the Holy One of Israel." In a letter of this period, addressed to Mr Dickson, how vividly he stands out before us the man of prayer and of expecting faith ! He writes:—

 
I've been reading through the "Memoir and Remains of R. M. M'Cheyne." Though I was somewhat familiar with M'Cheyne, it's become evident that M'Cheyne's attitude toward prayer is one we should emulate, by the grace of God at work in us.

I thought this particular portion to be a fitting follow up to Jehoshaphat's prayer for it reminds us once more of our need to seek God's face and God's wisdom constantly.

I ought to pray in every thing. 'Be careful for nothing, but in every thing . . . by prayer and supplication, make your requests known unto God.' Often I receive a letter asking to preach, or some such request. I find myself answering before having asked counsel of God. Still oftener a person calls and asks me something, and I do not ask direction. Often I go out to visit a sick person in a hurry, without asking His blessing, which alone can make the visit of any use. I am persuaded that I ought never to do any thing without prayer, and, if possible, special, secret prayer.

from "Memoir and Remains of R. M. M‘Cheyne" by Andrew Bonar (The Banner of Truth Trust: Edinburgh, reprinted 1966, 1973, from the enlarged edition first published in 1892), 157-158.

Holy Father, show us our need to make our requests known to You in every thing by prayer and supplication. Your Son Jesus Christ has made the way for us to do so by His death on the cross. Your Holy Spirit is working in us so we might desire and do so. May we never rely on our own wisdom but continue to seek You, for You are the only wise God. May we never do anything without prayer, and, if possible, special, secret prayer. Amen.

My posts/prayers this past week have focused on our attitude toward the Word of God as we've looked at Nehemiah 8:1-8:

• May we gather as one man to hear Your Word (Nehemiah 8)
• Give us ears to be attentive to Your words alone (Nehemiah 8:3)
• one sign of revival: attentiveness to the Word of God (Whitefield's Journals)

Nehemiah 8:1  And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2  So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4  And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7  Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8  They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Too much of the Church has departed from the preaching of the Word of God. So many no longer have a hunger or thirst for the Word of God. We are so often attentive to any and all things but the Word of God.

I would like to continue on in the same vein by presenting here the account of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' address at the jubilee meeting of the Scottish Evangelistic Council on May 9, 1980 in Glasgow (from Iain Murray's "David Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Volume Two: The Fight of Faith, 1938-1981," Banner of Truth: 1990, reprinted 2004, 733-734).

According to his own words, ML-J was "not a well man" at the time: "My friend, Mr Murdoch persuaded me to come and I thank God He has given me the health and strength to be here." ML-J died the following March.

Here's Murray's description of the events of that day:

    But they were not assembled, he [ML-J] went on, to talk about the past. The best way to celebrate a jubilee was to consider what the SEC was to do at the present time. The need of the hour, he believed, was for the prophetic note, to show what the Bible has to say to the present world situation. This brought him to his text, the twelve verses of Psalm 2, upon which he proceeded to preach for almost the whole of the following hour, beginning with the word, 'Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing . . .' .

    I cannot attempt to describe the sermon. The tape is available and should be heard by every reader of these pages. [Murray gives Ian M. Densham, 15 Ayr Terrace, St Ives, TR26 1ED, UK as the contact information to obtain this tape; I don't know if this is current or not. If you're interested, you may wish to contact the Banner of Truth Trust.] The frail, dying man was, in truth, am ambassador from heaven. Knowing the message he had to deliver, and the time he would need, I believe he tried to husband what strength he had but there was no holding back. The message took over the man and every last vestige of energy was poured out in both word and action. The divine wrath, of which the Psalm speaks, was to him a terrible, present reality and he asked the congregation:

    The final verse of the Psalm was alive with light and power as he pleaded, with failing voice, 'Kiss the Son, lest he be angry . . . Blessed are all they that put their trust in him'.

(end quote)

As Dr. Lloyd-Jones said:

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5  For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6  But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7  or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

14  But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”