MATTHEW HENRY- 1662-1714

I am back to the long hairs again. Maybe because I have so little hair left! Their hair may have been long, in the style of their day, but the Puritans were students and teachers of God's word. Actually,by Henry's time late in the Puritan era, most were wearing wigs. Of all the great men in that era, few have remained an influence among evangelicals in general. An exception, because of his commentary on the whole Bible is Matthew Henry! His commentary (in both full and abridged form), is still widely consulted today. We salute this helpful brother who personally wrote everything all the way into part of Romans. The rest was finished by others, largely from study notes he had accumulated. Spurgeon highly recommends him, as does George Whitefield, and I add my voice to theirs. Read the Bible first of all, and read Matthew Henry.

THANKING GOD FOR THE RAIN

We have been in a severe drought in the deep South. Recently many churches around have been praying for rain.(please see my article at cyberwordoftruth on Rain) Our Georgia governor, Sonny Purdue, called a prayer meeting for rain, and was scorned by many in the news media, especially some of the weather people, who evidently believe that "mother nature" gives rain; or that it is purely a weather pattern thing. Well, I wasn't laughing, but praying with Sonny for rain, as many other Christians were. God has heard our prayers, and instead of being the driest year in Georgia history, the recent rain brought lakes up a little, and made 2007 the second or third driest year ever. We still need, and pray for, more rain as the new year begins, but rely on the Sovereign God of all the universe to give it to us. When I see the beautiful rain, I can't help but think of my dear wife's flowers when the raindrops are on them. This picture was taken earlier, before the drought, but always gives me hope that God has not forgotten His people, yes, praise His Name, "For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45).