April 14

Morning

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. — Ps 22:7

Mockery was a great ingredient in our Lord’s woe. Judas mocked Him in the garden; the chief priests and scribes laughed Him to scorn; Herod thought Him nothing; the servants and the soldiers jeered at Him, and brutally insulted Him; Pilate and his guards ridiculed His royalty; and on the tree all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at Him!

Ridicule is always hard to bear but when we are in intense pain—it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick. Imagine the Savior crucified, racked with anguish far beyond all mortal conception, and then picture that motley multitude, all wagging their heads and mocking in bitterest contempt, the poor suffering victim! Surely there must have been something more in the crucified One than they could see, or else such a great and mingled crowd would not unanimously have honored Him with such contempt. Was it not evil confessing, in the very moment of its greatest apparent triumph, that after all it could do no more than mock at that victorious goodness which was then reigning on the cross? O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” how could You die for men who treated You so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yes, love beyond degree.

We, too, have despised You in the days of our unregeneracy; and even since our new birth we have often set the world on high in our hearts and yet You bleed to heal our wounds, and die to give us life. O that we could set You on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Your praises over land and sea until men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject You!

Evening

Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him. — Isa 3:10

It is well with the righteous always. If it had said, “Tell the righteous that it will go well for them in their prosperity,” we must have been thankful for so great a blessing, for prosperity is an hour of peril, and it is a gift from heaven to be secured from its snares. Or if it had been written, “Tell the righteous that it will go well for them when under persecution,” we must have been thankful for so sustaining an assurance, for persecution is hard to bear.

But when no time is mentioned, all time is included. God’s “shalls” must be understood always in their largest sense. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the day-star shines, in all conditions and under all circumstances—it shall be well with the righteous.

It is so well with the righteous man—that we could not imagine it to be better, for he is well fed—for he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus; he is well clothed—for he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ; he is well housed—for he dwells in God; he is well married—for his soul is knit in bonds of marriage union to Christ; he is well provided for—for the Lord is his Shepherd; he is well endowed—for heaven is his inheritance.

It is well with the righteous—well upon divine authority; the mouth of God speaks the comforting assurance. O beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ill but we laugh them all to scorn. Blessed be God for a faith which enables us to believe God—when the creatures contradict Him. It is, says the Word, at all times well with you, you righteous one; then, beloved, if you cannot see it, let God’s Word stand you in stead of sight; yes, believe it on divine authority more confidently than if your eyes and your feelings told it to you! Whom God blesses—is blessed indeed; and what His lip declares—is truth most sure and steadfast.