Then they cried'

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"They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary 
way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and 
thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they 
cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He 
delivered them out of their distresses." 
Psalm 107:4-6

Until they wandered in the wilderness; 
until they felt it to be a solitary way;
until they found no city to dwell in;
until hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them;
there was no cry. 

There might have been 
a prayer,
a desire,
a feeble wish, and
now and then a sigh or a groan. 

But this was not enough. Something more was
needed to draw forth loving-kindness out of the
bosom of the compassionate Head of the Church.

A cry was needed—a cry of distress, a cry of soul
trouble, a cry forced out of their hearts by heavy
burdens. A cry implies urgent need—a perishing 
without an answer to the cry. It is this solemn 
feeling in the heart that there is no other refuge 
but God.

The Lord brings all His people here—to have no 
other refuge but Himself. Friends, counsellors, 
acquaintance—these may sympathize, but they
cannot afford relief. There is . . .
no refuge,
nor shelter,
nor harbour,
nor home 
into which they can fly, except the Lord. 

Thus troubles force us to deal with God in a 
personal manner. They chase away that half-
hearted religion of which we have so much; 
and they drive out that notional experience 
and dry profession that we are so often 
satisfied with. They chase them away as 
a strong north wind chases away the mists; 
and they bring a man to this solemn spot—that 
he must have God to support him—and bring
him out of his trouble.

But what a mercy it is when there is a cry! 

And when the Lord sends a cry in the trouble, 
He is sure in his own time and way to send 
deliverance out of it.

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