BEHOLD THE DISPENSATION OF THE LORD'S PROVIDENCES, dear ones

"Look when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?" -II Kings 6:32 [KJV]

It is blessed to watch every dispensation of the Lord's providence, as well as His grace; for Jesus is in all. So that when messengers of heaviness come, and with sad tidings, as in this instance of the prophet, if we shut to the door as they enter, and suffer them to open their commission, we shall hear the sound of their master's feet behind them, confirming every one. There are no events which can happen to a child of God, but they ought to be thus dealt with. They are like letters personally directed, and speak, in their whole contents, the causes for which the king's post hath brought them; and they cannot be mistaken, if they are well read, and pondered over; for they point to the individual, as the prophet's servant to Jehu. "To which of all us, (said Jehu) is this errand?" The answer was, "To thee, O captain!" II Kings 9:5.  

Now, my soul, learn hence how to receive all the messengers of thy Lord. Shut the door upon them, and detain them, until thou hast well studied, and perfectly understood their commission. Oh! my Lord Jesus in all Thine afflicting providences, cause me to hear my master's feet following every one. "I know, LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in very faithfulness causeth me to be troubled." I know, Lord, also, that they are graciously commissioned, and the issue must be blessed. And I know, Lord, that even during their exercise, however sharp, they will be sweetly sanctified, if, through Thy blessing upon them, they cause my poor heart to cleave the closer to Thee. So long then, dear Lord, as Thou causest me to entertain right conceptions of these soul exercises, let me never shrink from shutting the door, that I may the more earnestly meditate upon Thy messages; and if I see Christ in every one, and blessings in every one, sure I am, the issue of no one will ever be doubtful.  

I shall then learn the same precious lesson that Job did, and through Thy grace, like him, make it practical: and bless a taking God, as well as a giving God: for, let the Lord take what else He may from me, never, never will He take Christ from me; and while I have Him, in Him I shall possess all things. Oh! for grace so to receive all the sable messengers of my Lord, as to hear my master's feet behind them. Sure I am, that when their black covering is removed, I shall behold a fulness of blessings which they have brought with them under their garments. Like the angel to Peter in the prison, they may smite roughly on the side; but the very stroke will cause the chains to fall from my hands, and open the prison doors, to give liberty and joy. Acts 12:7. 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)  

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