The Kindness of God

The Kindness of God
From Timeless Grace Gems
James Smith, 1855

In the midst of all, I bless God . . .
for Jesus Christ,
for free grace,
for a full salvation,
for a little comfort,
for a good hope,
for some sweet views,
for a glorious inheritance,
for an assurance of victory,
and for the promise of eternal triumph.

Nothing can . . .
separate from Jesus,
turn the current of his love, or
change the purposes of his grace.

His love is astonishing.

His ways are marvelous.

I change — he remains the same.

I sin — he pardons.

I cry — he hears and answers.

I ask for favors — and he kindly bestows them.

I fear — and he promises.

I wander — and he says, "Return."

I lament my folly — he whispers peace.

I feel poor and impoverished — he says, "All things are yours."

I imagine that I am alone — he says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I expect that he will abandon me — he asks, "How can I give you up?"

I cry, "Unworthy, unworthy!" He says, "Ephraim is a dear son, a pleasant child."

I sigh, "The Lord has forsaken and forgotten me!" He says, "I cannot, I will not forget you."

I fear I shall be overcome. He says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper."

I fear I shall lie down in darkness. He says, "The Lord shall be a light unto you."

I fear I have nothing. He says, "I have all things for you."

I say, "I can do nothing!" He says, "I will work all your works in you."

I say, "I am barren!" He says, "From me is your fruit found."

I cry, "I am thirsty!" He says, "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, to give drink to my people, my chosen ones."

I complain, "I am weary!" He says, "Come unto me, I will give you rest."

I feel dry and parched. He says, "I will be as the dew unto Israel."

I say, "I need food!" He says, "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."

I fear I shall die. He says, "He who eats me, even he shall live by me."

I say at times, "All these things are against me!" He says "All things shall work together for your good."

I say, "I shall surely be overcome!" He says, "Nothing shall by any means hurt you."

I say, I am often left alone!" He says, "Lo, I am with you always."

I fear lest he should utterly consume me. He says, "I will spare you as a man spares his own son that serves him."

I fear I shall bring a disgrace on his cause. He says, "I will make you an eternal excellency."

I say, "I am all deformity!" He says, "You are all beautiful, my love, there is no spot in you."

I say, "I shall see him no more!" He says, "I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice."

I say, "Surely the Lord cannot love such a wretch!" he says, I have loved you with an everlasting love."

I say, he cannot have chosen one so vile and base. He says, "I have chosen you, and will not cast you away."

I say, "I am a vessel in which there is no pleasure!" He says, "My delight is in her."

I say, "I am desolate and forsaken!" He says, "Your Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is his name, and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel."

I say, "I shall be left to myself at last!" He says, "I am a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

I say, "Set me as a seal upon your arm, as a seal upon your heart!" He says, "I will make you like a signet ring on my finger — for I have chosen you."

I cry, "Remember me, O Lord my God, for good!" He says, "You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

I cry, "Do not be terribly angry with us, O Lord!" He says, "I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you."

I say, "I beseech you, show me your glory!" He says, "Behold, I come quickly."

I cry, "Remember me with the favor which you bear unto your people!" He says, "As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted."

I cry, "Tell me where you graze your flock." And he says, "Follow the footsteps of the flock."

I cry, "O that it was with me as in days that are past!" He says, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me."

I cry, "My soul is among lions!" He says, "Come down with Me — from where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills."

I say, "O that I was sure that Jesus loved me!" He says, "You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse."

I say, "I moaned like a mourning dove!" He says, "Your lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb, honey and milk are under your tongue."

I say, "I am exposed, and lie open to the attacks of enemies on every side!" He says, "You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain."

I say, "Do not look upon me, because I am black!" He says, "You are beautiful, O my love!"

I say, "I am totally unfit to be the bride of Jesus!" He says, "Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of delights!"

I say, "How miserable I am! Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger." He says, "At our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved."

I say, "I fear that my numerous sins and powerful corruptions, will cool the love of Jesus!" He says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

I sigh, "I am feeble and sorely broken!" He says, "I will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax."

I say, at times, "He afflicts, and counts me for his enemy!" He says, "As many as I love — I rebuke and chasten! God deals with you as a son."

I inquire, "Where will all these things end?" he says, "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also."

Lord, what is man that you are thus mindful of him, or the son of man, that you should set your heart upon him?

Thus the Lord . . .
answers all my objections,
banishes all my fears, and
shows my doubts to be sinful.

His grace is wonderful,
his love is unparalleled, and
his mercy endures from generation to generation.

O why did Jesus show to me
The beauties of his face?
Why to my soul did he convey
The riches of his grace?

O how could he so sweetly smile
On such a wretch as I,
I who his name did once revile,
And his dear truth deny!

But 'twas because he loved my soul.
Because he died for me,
Because that nothing could control
His great, his firm decree!

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