Psalms 147:16-17

Psalms 147:16-17. He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

I want you to notice how, in the olden days, good men felt God to be very near. They thought that all this was caused by God: "he giveth snow; he scattereth hoarfrost;" and they speak of "his ice, his cold." It is a poor progress that philosophers have made, to try to get us farther off from God than we used to be; but I bless his name that he is as near as ever he was to those who believe in him. They can see his working, and feel the touch of his hand. But what a wonder-working God this is who uses snow to warm the earth, and makes the frost to act like ashes,-yea, who makes bread out of ice, for when there is no frosty weather, the harvests are not half so good; but the very frosts break up the clods, and help to create bread for men! The Lord works by contraries. Perhaps, at the time that he means to save you, you will think that he is destroying you. If he means to heal you, he will wound you. If he means to lift you up, he will throw you down. Learn to understand his method, then, for this is the mode of his working.