The self-knowledge, remember, must come in the one way or the other. I will ask you three questions suggested by the words themselves, and according to your answer to these three questions, shall be Charles Haddon SpurgeonSpurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859Question of the Contemplative LifeI. Now, in this condition of things, God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? 18, 19. 1, 2. It is a simple question of time; a simple question whether it shall come here in this world, where the blood of Christ "freely" flows, or in the future world, where "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."(W. When David said the Lord will perfect that which concerns him, he wasnt praying to God. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. If God makes your son His son also, what do you lose or what does he himself lose? OURSELVES. That of siding with Him against evil (vers. vi. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. Thomas AquinasOn Prayer and The Contemplative LifeEpistle Xlvii. We become unconscious of everything by long use. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. It is the ever-enduring mercy of the Lord on which he stays himself by means of continued faith and prayer. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius John Edgar McFadyenIntroduction to the Old Testament. God has made us so. Our hearts will put us in mind of God's eye being upon us every now and then involuntarily. It is perfectly plain from the elevated central point of view where we now stand, and in the focal light in which we now see, that no man can be justified before God upon the ground of personal character; for that character, when subjected to God's exhaustive scrutiny, withers and shrinks away. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. Nor did God create these each by himself, and join them together as alien by birth: but He created the one St. This thought is expanded and enforced by its application to all measures of space. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. Chapter i. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. His omnipresence. "He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He bringing me home, Timothy, and I'm going to see his face. GOD ACCURATELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY KNOWS ALL THAT MAN MIGHT, BUT DOES NOT, KNOW OF HIMSELF. He professes his confidence in GodDictionary of Bible ThemesPsalm 138:86708predestination8125guidance, promise8441goalsPsalm 138:7-81265hand of GodLibraryFaith in PerfectionIn the opening, I must remark that this is not the heritage of all mankind. His discourse, the first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began from this. v. 22). It is a simple question of time; a simple question whether it shall come here in this world, where the blood of Christ "freely" flows, or in the future world, where "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."(W. It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. That of a prayerful seeking of the Divine guidance (ver. G. T. Shedd, D. D.: One of the most remark. From the just we learn justice; from the charitable we catch an infection of charity; from the generous we receive the instinct of generosity. xlix. A Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. Self-consciousness has been the problem of the philosophic mind in all ages; and the mystery is not yet unravelled. 8). God has made us so. vi. It is easy for us to talk to God when there is a problem or issue and more often than not, God hears us. 19 III. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. The Lord told David he should be a king. Do as the man did with the bad banknote, throw it down on the highway or into a ditch, and run away from it. Nay, more, this process of self-inspection may go on indefinitely, and the man grow more and more thoughtful, and obtain an everlastingly augmenting knowledge of what he is and what he does, so that it shall seem to him that he is penetrating so deeply into those dim and shadowy regions of consciousness where the external life takes its very first start, and then he may be sure that God understands the thought that is afar off, and deep down, and that at this lowest range and plane in his experience he besets him behind and before.II. To Dominicus, Bishop. David praises God for the truth of his word4. 7. Give thanks to Him and praise His name! That of a prayerful seeking of the Divine guidance (ver. Therefore the first natural bond of human society is man and wife. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. Our relation toward such a God should be 1. The text, however, itself, is its own guard. He is present in all things, yet distinct from all things.Practically, this subject serves three important purposes. The answer is the same. You can speak to your womb and effect the promises of God concerning your womb through the spoken Word. "Alas!" 18, 19. (Isa. Wherefore a few witnesses, which the Lord deigns to suggest to my mind, I proceed to mention, from out the teaching of Christ concerning humility, such as perhaps may be enough for my purpose. III. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius John Edgar McFadyenIntroduction to the Old TestamentLinksPsalm 138:8 NIVPsalm 138:8 NLTPsalm 138:8 ESVPsalm 138:8 NASBPsalm 138:8 KJVPsalm 138:8 Bible AppsPsalm 138:8 ParallelPsalm 138:8 Biblia ParalelaPsalm 138:8 Chinese BiblePsalm 138:8 French BiblePsalm 138:8 German BiblePsalm 138:8 CommentariesBible Hub, (2)Indifferentism.3. If it be God's plan for you for life you will carry it through. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. Through Baptism God puts his name on us. AugustineOf Holy Virginity. The psalmist affirms . But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. vi. Though the transgressor is ignorant of much of his sin, because, at the time of its commission, he sins blindly as well as wilfully, and unreflectingly as well as freely; and though the transgressor has forgotten much of that small amount of sin, of which he was conscious, and by which he was pained, at the time of its perpetration; though, on the side of man, the powers of self-inspection and memory have accomplished so little towards this preservation of man's sin, yet God knows it all, and remembers it all. Hence he entreats God to see and disclose it, and then taking his hand to lead him in a way which, unlike the way of the wicked (Psalm 1:6), does not perish, but ends in everlasting life. G. T. Shedd, D. D.)God's presenceArchbishop Temple. If something is concerning or upsetting to you right now, know that God will take care of it. 2. The self-knowledge, remember, must come in the one way or the other. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. Then is the moment to choose whether or not we will live in the presence of God; then when the finger of conscience is pointing to Him and saying, "He is looking at you. A Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow-bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. Though the transgressor is ignorant of much of his sin, because, at the time of its commission, he sins blindly as well as wilfully, and unreflectingly as well as freely; and though the transgressor has forgotten much of that small amount of sin, of which he was conscious, and by which he was pained, at the time of its perpetration; though, on the side of man, the powers of self-inspection and memory have accomplished so little towards this preservation of man's sin, yet God knows it all, and remembers it all. If you look at it, you will see that there is in its bowels a full description of a true Christian. The word perfect can be used in various ways. In the day when I cried Charles KingsleyOut of the DeepWherefore a Few Witnesses, which the Lord Deigns to Suggest to My Mind32. "Forsake not the work of Thine own hands." 1, 2. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. We become unconscious of everything by long use. The right state of mind plainly is to have the thought of God's presence so perpetually at hand that it shall always start before us whenever it is wanted. But yet there is another, not less powerful than any, which deserves special mention. 1. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him Saint Bernard of ClairvauxSome Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of ClairvauxThat the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action. For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. v. 22). What encouragement the sinner has to seek God, seeing He is a God of such mercy. When we read the Gospels, we see that our Lord Jesus always took time to retreat to spend time in the presence of His Heavenly Father. S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. Every effect has a cause, and all spiritual faith is created by the Holy Ghost. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration St. I. No, the first day of creation was a guarantee of the five which followed it and of the grand rest day which crowned the week. Hear my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my petition. Justice, in this reference, is out of the question. "Whatever concerns me," says he, "the Lord will perfect.". iii. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. "He is so great that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, and so little that He can dwell in my heart.". Self-consciousness has been the problem of the philosophic mind in all ages; and the mystery is not yet unravelled. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life Leo the GreatWritings of Leo the GreatHow those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished. xviii. There is, therefore, nothing wrong in our forgetting that we are in the presence of God any more than there is anything foolish in our forgetting that we need air to breathe or light to see by, or that if we fall we may hurt ourselves: just in the same way as we very often, and quite rightly, forget that we are in the company of men who will take notice of our faults. Take heed unto me and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.--Psalm iv. Ps. 15. )PeopleDavid, PsalmistPlacesJerusalemTopicsAbandon, Accomplish, Age, Chief, Complete, Concerneth, Concerns, David, Endures, Endureth, Eternal, Everlasting, Fall, Forever, Forsake, Fulfil, Fulfill, Hands, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercy, Musician, O, Perfect, Psalm, Purpose, Steadfast, WorksOutline1. The worst has been seen, and that too by the holiest of beings, and yet eternal glory is offered to us! Said Milton, speaking of his travels abroad when a young man: "I again take God to witness that in all places where so many things are considered lawful, I lived sound and untouched from all profligacy and vice, having this thought perpetually with me, that though I might escape the eyes of men, I certainly could not the eyes of God."4. It is a simple question of time; a simple question whether it shall come here in this world, where the blood of Christ "freely" flows, or in the future world, where "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."(W. iii. 6. The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. 24).(W. Thoughtfulness soon degenerates into distrust, and holy anxiety easily rusts into unbelief. xlix. Those who are always hearing pure and high principles set forth as the guides of life learn to value and to know them even faster than they can learn to live by them. Then he pauses a moment, as if some doubt or question had entered his mind, and he adds, "Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever;" and then, with an upward look of intense devotion, addressing his words to the Lord, he prays, "Forsake not the works of thine own hands." It is common-sense the common-sense of religion. His omniscience. He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him Saint Bernard of ClairvauxSome Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of ClairvauxThat the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action. [2105] And these without all controversy we take to be humble. xviii. There are many things which concern me; but what they are I leave to the Lord to determine; for I often find, as many others have told me is true of them likewise, that I much concern myself about things which, after all, do not really concern me, and about which, therefore, I need not trouble. A Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. That of welcoming the Divine searching (vers. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. And lest the presence of God should be too much for us, Christ has taken human nature on Him, and has provided that He will be always with us as long as the world shall last. thou establish my soul in it more and more. 12), while the devil was exulting against us;--then God, in His loving-kindness, not willing man made in His own image to perish, said, Whom shall I send, and who will go?' able characteristics of a rational being is the power of self-inspection. So, too, by living in the presence of God and, as it were, in the courts of heaven, we shall assuredly learn something of a heavenly tone, and shake off some of that coarse worldliness, that deeply ingrained selfishness, that silly pride and conceit which now spoils our very best service. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. If you look at it, you will see that there is in its bowels a full description of a true Christian. He professes his confidence in GodDictionary of Bible ThemesPsalm 138:86708predestination8125guidance, promise8441goalsPsalm 138:7-81265hand of GodLibraryFaith in PerfectionIn the opening, I must remark that this is not the heritage of all mankind. This is the communion with Him, and with Christ, which unquestionably helps the struggling, the penitent, the praying, more than anything else. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love ." - 1 John 4:18 ESV. vi. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. Because Thou "wilt perfect"; therefore "forsake not the works of Thine own hands." (1)Innumerable.(2)Constant.II. ad probam IV. It is perfectly plain from the elevated central point of view where we now stand, and in the focal light in which we now see, that no man can be justified before God upon the ground of personal character; for that character, when subjected to God's exhaustive scrutiny, withers and shrinks away. There is no reason to mourn a son as lost who is a religious, still less to fear for his delicacy of constitution. Self-consciousness has been the problem of the philosophic mind in all ages; and the mystery is not yet unravelled. They are ever before David as an object of adoring wonder, not by day only, but by night; not merely in the watches of the night, but even in his sleep. : While the Americans were blockading Cuba, several captains endeavoured to elude their vigilance by night, trusting that the darkness would conceal them as they passed between the American war-ships. You are listening to the voice of Bill Johnson from a sermon given some years ago, and Johnson is poisoning his flock with the heretical doctrine of kenosis. AugustineOf Holy Virginity. 15. And though we thought that we had suffered loss from the tardiness of their coming, yet we find gain from their more abundant charity; seeing that from this delay in point Saint Gregory the Greatthe Epistles of Saint Gregory the GreatThe Coming Revival"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. And lest the presence of God should be too much for us, Christ has taken human nature on Him, and has provided that He will be always with us as long as the world shall last. There is no reason to mourn a son as lost who is a religious, still less to fear for his delicacy of constitution. The simple question, then, which meets us is, Wilt thou know thyself here, and now, that thou mayest accept and feel God's pity; or wilt thou keep within the screen, and not know thyself until beyond the grave, and then feel God's judicial wrath? Those who live much in refined and educated society acquire refinement insensibly. 1, 2. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple St. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life Leo the GreatWritings of Leo the GreatHow those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished. The separate, personal thinking of God toward every one of us.(1)Innumerable.(2)Constant.II. Our relation toward such a God should be 1. Today, the LORD will perfect that which concerns me and my family. So that whenever we are on the point of doing or saying anything cowardly, or mean, or false, or impure, or proud, or conceited, or unkind, the remembrance that God is looking on shall instantly flash across us and help us to beat down our enemy. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. So, too, by living in the presence of God and, as it were, in the courts of heaven, we shall assuredly learn something of a heavenly tone, and shake off some of that coarse worldliness, that deeply ingrained selfishness, that silly pride and conceit which now spoils our very best service. The self-knowledge, remember, must come in the one way or the other. 1, 2. My Prophetic Prayer Points for Today (My PPP) O God, I thank You for being my Shepherd in the previous months. GOD ACCURATELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY KNOWS ALL THAT MAN KNOWS OF HIMSELF. The daily prayer in the closet, the endeavour to keep the attention fixed when praying with others, either in our regular services or in family worship.
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