Spiritual Convalescence

Enlarge upon the reference of the text and of the whole chapter to the Lord’s ancient people, the Jews.

They are so much forgotten, and so often persecuted, and so generally despised, that we do well to think upon the prophecies of a glorious future, which the Lord God has spoken concerning them.

But the heritage of the natural and typical Israel belongs, in its spiritual meaning, to the spiritual Israel; and this promise is ours.

To those who lament their weakness the promise of the text is peculiarly cheering.

I. DIVINE STRENGTHENING PROMISED. “I will strengthen them in the Lord.”

1. It is painfully needed.

   • We are naturally weak as water.
   • After soul-sickness we are sadly feeble.
   • In the presence of great labors we feel our weakness.
   • We want strength for watching, walking, working, and warring.

2. It is freely promised. See also verse 6.

   • Justice might have left us to ourselves.
   • Tender love observes our need.
   • Infinite power abundantly supplies it.

3. It is divinely bestowed: “I will strengthen them.” Hence it is—

   • Certain in accomplishment.
   • Honorable in reception. How ennobling to receive strength immediately from the Lord Jehovah!
   • Unlimited in communication, if we have but faith to receive it.

4. It is gradually received. We go from strength to strength.

   • By use of the means of grace: prayer, communion with God, spiritual exercise, experience, etc.
   • By the silent operations of the Holy Spirit.
   • By the growth of each holy grace, and the increase of life within.

5. It is delightfully perceived.

   • An excellent illustration is that of a sick man recovering strength.
   • As in his case, so in ours,—
   • Appetite returns: we relish the Word.
   • Difficulties vanish: burdens grow light, etc.
   • Employment is desired: strength pines for exercise.
   • Expansive views are obtained. We walk abroad with delight, and leave the narrow chamber in which a sickly soul is shut up.
   • Pleasure is enjoyed, and gratitude is excited.

6. It is sufficiently continued.

   • God continues to strengthen us day by day.
   • He increases our strength as it is required.
   • He makes his strength more and more apparent in our weakness, until we know no power but his.

II. CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY PREDICTED. “They shall walk up and down in his name.”

1. They shall enjoy ease,—implied in walking up and down.

2. They shall possess freedom: it is the gait of liberty.

3. They shall be active for the Lord, in varied forms of service.

4. They shall persevere in such activity, walking up and down; and evermore crying joyously, “Onward and Upward!”

5. They shall consecrate that activity with care: “they shall walk in his name,“—doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

   • Sick souls shall exhibit the activities of convalescence when the Lord imparts strength to them. Those who are recovering from sickness know how happy such a condition usually is.

III. BOTH BLESSINGS GUARANTEED.

1. Here is the divine “I will” of omnipotent grace.

2. Here is the divine “they shall” of consecrated free-agency.

3. Here is the divine “says the Lord” of infallible faithfulness.

   • All these united make our text a glorious one.
   • Are you sick, sorry, weak? This sacred text is for you.
   • See where your strength lies! Look to the Strong for strength.
   • Believe in Jesus to obtain it! He is ready to bestow it.
   • When you have it—use it abundantly! Help the weak, bear the burdens of others, serve the Lord with gladness, and glorify God.

Words Of A Great Preacher

Sir Walter Scott relates in his autobiography that, when he was a child, one of his legs was paralyzed, and when medical skill failed, a kind uncle induced him to exert the muscles of the powerless limb by drawing a gold watch before him on the floor, tempting him to creep-after it, and thus keeping up and gradually increasing vital action and muscular force. So God deals with us in our spiritual childhood, and the weakness of our faith. How weak our efforts; how slow our movements! But spiritual vitality is elicited, developed, strengthened by those efforts and movements, slow and weak as they are.

Every man needs strength. We ask for daily bread: and we ask for it as a means of renewing our strength. We have as much need to ask for strength, as for deliverance from evil, and for the forgiveness of our trespasses. There are certain things to be done, certain things to be endured, and things to be resisted, which can be performed, and borne, and stood against, only by power of a certain kind, and by that power in a certain degree. Nor is strength needful merely for doing and for suffering. It is also necessary for enjoyment. Weakness is so much less of life. The feeble live but in a low degree.

Lack of strength is more serious than lack of any kind of outward possession. A weak rich man is in a far worse position than a strong poor man; and the strong poor man is really the wealthier. Weakness lessens work, reduces enjoyment, and greatly aggravates suffering of any kind. In many instances, moreover, it is the cause of wickedness,—leading directly to transgression, and exposing the individual to fierce and exceedingly dangerous temptations. So that, as a means of preserving ourselves against sin, we should ask daily for strength.

Every man needs strength; but no man has within him strength equal to the demands that are made upon him. He requires strengthening.

The Christian is no exception to this rule. He needs strength. His conversion was not translation to inactivity, to ease, and to unbroken quiet. His work is not the ceaseless singing of psalms while he reclines upon green pastures, and sits beside still waters. There are times when he lies down in green pastures; but he lies down wearied; and he lies down that he may rise again a stronger man, to enter upon fiercer battles, and to do harder work. We rest, not for resting’s sake, but that we may work again.

Brethren, a Christian’s strength can come only by his being strengthened. There is not within the man, as a man, nor within him as a Christian, any stock or store of strength given him at the commencement of his life. Day by day, stage after stage, first as a babe, then as a young man, and then as a father in Christ, does the man need strengthening. And what a glorious thing it is that, instead of our resources being given to us at the beginning of our Christian life, they are supplied to us as we need them. Does not this arrangement keep us in close communion with the Father of our spirits, and with the Source of all energy and wisdom? So that the very application to God, apart from the things which application always secures, tends to strengthen you.—Samuel Martin.