ways that yield strength to the soul. In Prov. 10:29, 'The way of the Lord is
of profaneness, pride, hypocrisy, neutrality, formality, and apostasy, these are none of the ways of God; they are unrighteous ways, cursed ways, and they bring nothing but curses and crosses upon all that walk in them. Those that walk in these ways are nowhere secure, but are every moment liable to the thunderbolts of divine displeasure.
2. And secondly, The ways of God are soul-refreshing ways. Oh, they yield the soul abundance of refreshing and sweetness that walks in them. In Jer. 6:16, 'Ask for the old way, the good old way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest,'—מרגוע, margoang, 'ye shall find refreshing to your souls,' as the original hath it. If a man's soul be tired and weary, the ways of the Lord will refresh it; if it be dead and dull, the ways of the Lord will quicken it; if he be fainting, the ways of the Lord will be as a cordial to him.
3. And then, thirdly, The ways of the Lord, as they are soul-refreshing ways, so they are transcendent ways, ways that transcend all other ways. What is darkness to light? What are pebbles to pearls? What is dross to gold? No more are the choicest ways of the creature to the ways of God: Isa. 55:8, 9, 'My ways are not as your ways, nor my thoughts as your thoughts; but as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my thoughts above your thoughts, and my ways above your ways.' What is said of wisdom, Prov. 3:15, 'that she is more precious than rubies, and that all the things we can desire are not to be compared to her,' the same may be affirmed of the ways of God. Oh! they are more precious than rubies, and all other ways are not to be compared to them.
4. And then, fourthly, The ways of God are soul-strengthening ways, ways that yield strength to the soul. In Prov. 10:29, 'The way of the Lord is strength to the upright,' ('magnos'): from gnazaz, the way of the Lord maketh strong. The original word, עוז signifies to confirm, to make strong. Oh, the ways of the Lord confirm upright hearts, they make upright hearts strong, strong to withstand temptations, strong to conquer corruptions,