by Charles Spurgeon
"This is what the Lord says: Make this valley full of ditches. For you will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink." 2 Kings 3:16,17
The armies of the three kings were famishing for lack of water—God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing. Here was a case of human helplessness—not a drop of water could all the valiant men procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth. Thus often the people of the Lord are at their wits' end; they see the vanity of the creature, and learn experimentally where their help is to be found.
Still the people were to make a believing preparation for the divine blessing; they were to dig the ditches in which the precious liquid would be held. The church must by her varied agencies, efforts, and prayers, make herself ready to be blessed; she must make the ditches, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in faith, in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend.
By-and-by there was a singular bestowal of the needed blessing. Not as in Elijah's case, did the shower pour from the clouds—but in a silent and mysterious manner the ditches were filled. The Lord has His own sovereign modes of action—He is not tied to any manner and time, as we are—but does as He pleases among men. It is ours thankfully to receive from Him, and not to dictate to Him.
We must also notice the remarkable abundance of the supply—there was enough for the need of all. And so it is in the gospel blessing; all the needs of the congregation and of the entire church shall be met by the divine power in answer to prayer; and above all this, victory shall be speedily given to the armies of the Lord. What am I doing for Jesus? What trenches am I digging? O Lord, make me ready to receive the blessing which You are so willing to bestow.
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