Thus Far
"Thus far has the Lord helped us" (I Sam. 7:12).
The words "thus far" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet "thus far the Lord helped us!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health; at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea; in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation--"thus far the Lord helped!"
We delight to look down a long road of trees. It is delightful to gaze from one end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys.
Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely, there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "thus far."
But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes "thus far," he is not yet at the end; there are still distances to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death.
Is it over now? No! there is more yet--arising in Jesus' likeness, seeing the face of Jesus, and sharing fellowship with the saints; and experiencing the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, and infinite joy. So dear believer, "be strong and take heart", Psalm 27:14, and with thanksgiving and confidence lift your voice in praise, for:
"The Lord who "thus far" has helped you
Will help you all your journey through."
When read in Heaven's light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will "thus far" unfold to our grateful eyes! --C. H. Spurgeon
The Alpine shepherds have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing to one another an evening farewell. The air is so crystalline that the song will carry long distances. As the dusk begins to fall, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths, singing, "Thus far the Lord helped us. Let us praise His name!"
And at last with a sweet courtesy, they sing to one another the friendly farewell: "Goodnight! Goodnight!" The words are taken up by the echoes, and from side to side the song goes reverberating sweetly and softly until the music dies away in the distance.
So let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging God's weary travelers. And may the echoes grow into a storm of hallelujahs that will break in thundering waves around His sapphire throne. Then as the morning dawns, we will find ourselves on the shore of the "sea of glass", Revelation 4:6, crying out with the redeemed host of heaven, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! (Revelation 5:13).
"This my song through endless ages,
Jesus led me all the way."
AND AGAIN THEY SHOUTED; "HALLELUJAH!" Revelation 19:3
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