Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 6:12,13
My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): God’s promises are made to the spiritual children of Abraham (Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:7), and none of them can possibly fail of accomplishment. “For all the promises of God are in Him―namely Christ―are yea, and in Him amen,” 2 Corinthians 1:20. They are deposited in Christ, and in Him they find their affirmation and certification, for He is the sum and substance of them.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): They are all confirmed by the oath of God. He has not only given his people His word, and His hand and seal, but His oath. And here, you will observe, he specifies the oath of God to Abraham, which, being sworn to him as the father of the faithful, remains in full force and virtue to all true believers.
JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791): Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham, Galatians 3:7. They who are partakers of his faith, these, and these only, are the sons of Abraham, and therefore heirs of the promises made to him.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): Now to these spiritual Israelites, or ‘seed’ of Abraham, were the word of God, the promises of God concerning spiritual and eternal things made.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Let us also remember, that the condition of us all is the same with that of Abraham. All things around us are in opposition to the promises of God: God promises immortality; we are surrounded with mortality and corruption; He declares that He counts us just; we are covered with sins; He testifies that He is propitious and kind to us; outward judgments threaten His wrath. What then is to be done? We must with closed eyes pass by ourselves and all things connected with us, that nothing may hinder or prevent us from believing that God is true―the promises of God ought to be most highly valued.
FRANCIS RIDLEY HAVERGAL (1836-1879): Because the promise of the Lord can never, never fail.
JOHN GILL: The promises of God are exceeding great and precious, very ancient, free, and unconditional, irrevocable and immutable, and are admirably suited to the cases of His people―they include in them things temporal, spiritual, and eternal; things temporal, as that His people shall not want, that their afflictions shall work for good, and that He will support them under all their troubles; things spiritual, as that He will be their God, which takes in His everlasting love to them, and His gracious presence with them, and His protection of them; and that all grace shall be wrought in them, and every blessing of grace bestowed on them: and things eternal, as everlasting glory and happiness…The promises of God are sure and certain, being made by the God of truth, and being in Christ, and the performance of them being for the glory of God by the saints.
SAMUEL CLARKE (1684-1759): A thorough acquaintance with the promises would be of the greatest advantage in prayer.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to Him and saying, “Do as Thou hast said.” Prayer is the promise utilized.
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): The subject of Scripture promises is a vast and most interesting one. I doubt whether it receives the attention which it deserves in the present day. Few Christians realize the number, and length, and breadth, and depth, and height, and variety of the precious “shalls” and “wills” laid up in the Bible for the special benefit and encouragement of all who will use them.
A. W. PINK: The promises of God are numerous: relating to this life and also that which is to come. They concern the needs of the body as well as those of the soul.
C. H. SPURGEON: God never gives His children a promise which He does not intend them to use―If you are not familiar with them, I should advise you to get a little book called Clarke’s Precious Promises, where you will find them all arranged.
ISAAC WATTS (1674-1748): The worthy author of that collection, whom I have long known with esteem and honour, has chosen to reduce all the most useful and important promises of the Word of God into order, and set them before us…The disposition of them is elegant and regular; so that it is an easy matter to find something suited to the frame of our souls, or our present wants on every occasion; and that soul who knows what a suitable promise is worth in an hour of darkness or temptation, will never think such a work as this, and such a various treasure, can have sufficient value set upon it.
J. C. RYLE: Clarke’s Scripture Promises is an old book which is far less studied now, I suspect, than it was in the days of our fathers.
C. H. SPURGEON: General Gordon, who was killed at Khartoum,* used to carry a copy in his pocket wherever he went, and he and many others have found it to be a great help to them.
ISAAC WATTS: Those who have little leisure for reading may find [it worthwhile] in keeping this book always near them; and with the glance of an eye they may take in the riches of grace and glory, and derive many a sweet refreshment from hence, amidst their labours and travels through this wilderness. It is of excellent use to lie on the table in a chamber of sickness, and now and then to take a sip of the river of life, which runs through it in a thousand little rills of peace and joy.
CHARLES BRIDGES (1794-1869): What is it to be possessor of all the promises of God?
ISAAC WATTS: These are the constant food of a living Christian, as well as his highest cordials in a fainting hour. And in such a world as this, where duties perpetually demand our practice, and difficulties and trials are ever surrounding us, what can we do better than to treasure up the promises in our hearts, which are the most effectual persuasives to fulfil the one and sustain the other? Here are laid up the true riches of a Christian, and his highest hopes on this side of heaven.
BILLY BRAY (1794-1868): The promises of God are just as good as ready money all day.
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*Editor’s Notes: Clarke’s Scripture Promises was composed by Samuel Clarke and first published in 1720. British General Charles Gordon was killed in 1885 by the jihadist forces of Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the Mahdi (the messiah of Islam). After a ten month siege, the Mahdi’s followers captured Khartoum, and massacred the entire Egyptian garrison and several thousand Sudanese.
