William Mason

The Lord God Is My Strength

“The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hind’s feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”—Habakkuk 3:19

‘The righteous are as bold as a lion.’ The words of wisdom are not like the pithy sayings of the heathen, which merely describe states and things to which men never arrive nor enjoy; but they assure us, such and such has been, and still is the knowledge and experience of God’s saints. So children of wisdom are taught their privileges, and their souls are drawn out in prayer and diligence, that they may also partake of the fulness of the blessings described. Whence is the boldness and courage of the righteous derived? See the young stripling David, how boldly he advances to the mighty giant Goliath, with an insignificant weapon in his hand, yet assured of success. For the faith of Omnipotence was in his heart, and these soul-encouraging words in his mouth: ‘I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts.’ 1 Sam. 17:45.

Faith receives all its courage and strength from its author Jesus. It is armed with Omnipotence; therefore he saith, ‘all things are possible to him who believeth.’ So Paul, ‘I can do all things.’ Why? Because he was a great apostle? No: prophets and apostles are all of one mind, even with the weakest believer: ‘It is Christ who strengthens me.’ ‘The Lord God is my strength.’ Are our hearts weak and low, ready to sink and faint; are our graces upon the decline; are our enemies strong, and our troubles increased? To whom should we fly, but to our almighty Lord and Saviour. For this very end he makes his people’s ‘feet like hinds feet;’ swift to run from danger, and to fly to him for safety; also ‘to run the way of his commandments with great delight.’

Such happy souls shall also walk with composure and comfort upon the high places of safety and security, above the reach of their implacable foes. Oh those are sweet seasons, when we mount up with wings as eagles; soar aloft in the exercise of faith, dwell high in the contemplation of love, converse much with Jesus in glory, though on earth in the body. How safe are the people of God: how joyful should they be in faith, how confident in hope, how fervent in love! ‘For they shall dwell on high, their defence shall be the munition of rocks; their bread shall be given them, and their waters shall be sure.’ Isa. 33:16

Salvation is for ever nigh

The souls that fear and trust the Lord, 

And grace descending from on high,

Fresh truth and glory shall afford.

William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”