“I will be a light to you” by Joseph Alleine

“The LORD God says to His people: My wisdom shall be your counselor. If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of Me, and it shall be given him (James 1:5). I will be your deliverer. When you are in darkness, I will be a light to you. I will make your way plain before you (Isaiah 48:19; 57:14).

You are short-sighted, but I will be eyes to you (Isaiah 52:6-7; 29:6). I will watch over you, to bring upon you all the good I have promised (Jeremiah 31:28 with 32:24), and to keep off all the evil you fear, or at least turn it into good (Psalm 91:10, 14; Jeremiah 24:5).

You shall have your food in its season and your medicine in its season; mercies, afflictions, and everything suitable, all in their season (Psalm 23:2-3; 1 Peter 1:6; Isaiah 27:7-9). I will outwit your enemies and make their oracles to speak but folly (Isaiah 19:11-15).

The old serpent shall not deceive you. I will acquaint you with his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). The deceitful hearts you fear shall not undo you. I will reveal their wiles. I know how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgement to be punished (2 Peter 2:9).

Trust in Me with all your hearts, and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I am God, who performs all things for you (Psalm 57:2).

I will forfeit the reputation of My wisdom if I do not make you to acknowledge, when you see the end of the Lord (James 5:11)– though at present you wonder at and do not understand the meaning of My proceedings– that all My works are in weight, in number, in time, and in order (Ecclesiastes 3:14); if I do not cause you to cry out, ‘Manifold are Thy works; in wisdom hast Thou made them all’ (Psalm 33:4; 104:24; 145:10).

My justice shall be your revenger and rewarder (2 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Timothy 4:8). Fear not to approach; fury is not in Me (Isaiah 27:4). My justice is not only appeased towards you, but engaged for you.

I am so fully satisfied in the sacrifice of My beloved Son that justice itself, which was as a flaming sword drawn against you, now greatly befriends you; and that which was an amazing, confounding terror shall now become your relief and consolation (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; 5:8; Psalm 96:10-13; 97:1 with 99:1).

Under all your oppressions, here shall your refuge be (Psalm 6:9; 103:6). Let Me know your grievances, and My justice will right your wrongs and reward your services (Psalm 146:7; Hebrews 6:10). You may conclude upon your pardons, conclude upon your crowns, conclude upon reparation for all your injustices, and all from the sweet consideration of My justice (1 John 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 2:23), the thought of which to others is as the horror of the shadow of death.

If you sin, despair not; remember, I am just to forgive you. If you are at any pains or cost for Me, do not count it as lost, for I am not unrighteous to forget you. I am the righteous Judge who has laid up for you, and will set upon you, the crown of righteousness.

Are you reviled, persecuted, or defamed? Forget not that I am righteous to render tribulation to those who trouble you; and to you who are troubled, rest in Me. Though all your services and sufferings do not deserve the least good at My hands, yet as I have freely passed My promised to reward them, so I will as justly keep it.

My omnipresence shall be company for you (1 Chronicles 22:18; Joshua 1:5, 9: Isaiah 41:10). Surely I will be with you to bless you. No bolts, no bars, no bonds, nor banishment shall remove you from Me, nor keep My presence and the influences of heaven from you (Genesis 39:21, 23).

I am always with you (Matthew 28:20); in your darkest nights, in your deepest dangers, I am close at hand, a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1; 34:18). I am not a God who is afar off or asleep or on a journey when you need My counsel, My ear, or My aid.

I am always nigh unto those who fear Me.”

–Joseph Alleine, The Precious Promises of the Gospel, Ed. Don Kistler (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Publications, 1665/2000), 18-21.