So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Sermons
I. A PROPHETIC CONFIRMATION OF THE GOOD MAN'S EXPERIENCE. "Jahve was with you (has given you the victory) because ye were with him (held to him)" (Keil). So far fidelity to Jehovah had proved to be the condition of prosperity. Under his banner they had marched to victory; while they were true to him, he had been in the midst of them, and had been there to bless them. This is the common, indeed the constant, experience of the good. The service of God is always a success. It means rest of soul at all times; it means calmness and a wise joy in prosperity; it means resignation and comfort in the time of trouble; it means strength for duty and courage for temptation; it means excellency in life and hope in death. To be with God in the sense and spirit of self-surrender to his will is to have his gracious presence with us, shedding light and gladness on our path. This is the testimony of the good. II. A PROPHETIC PROMISE OF THE GOOD MAN'S HERITAGE. "If ye seek him, he will be found of you." Behind us is a part (larger or smaller) of our life, and we thank God for all that he has been to us as we have held on our way. But before us is another portion; it may be a very serious, it may be even a critical, passage of our life. We shall want not only our own resources at their best, and the kindest and wisest succour of our friends, but the near presence and effective aid of our heavenly Father. We shall want his guidance, that we may know the path we should take; his guardianship, that we may be preserved from the wrong-doings, from the errors and mistakes, into which we shall otherwise be betrayed; his illumination, that we may tightly discharge our duties and rise to the height of our opportunities; his sustaining grace, that we may bear ourselves bravely and meekly in the day of our adversity and defeat. All this we shall have if we seek it truly. And that means if we seek it (1) in moral and spiritual integrity, our heart being set on the service of Christ; (2) with our whole heart, earnestly and perseveringly; (3) believingly, building our hope on his Word. III. I PROPHETIC WARNING OF THE GOOD MAN'S DANGER. "If ye forsake him, he will forsake you." 1. There is a practical danger of spiritual and, therefore, of moral declension. Such is our nature, that we are apt to let love become cold; to allow zeal to wane and wither; to permit our best habits to be encroached upon by the pressure of lower cares and pleasures; to forsake God. The records of Christian experience contain only too many instances of such departure. 2. We have, then, to fear the withdrawal of God from us; the loss of his Divine favour, of his indwelling Spirit, of his benediction and reward. 3. Therefore let us watch and pray, that we enter not. into the outer shadow of condemnation. - C.
The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him. I. WHAT IT IS FOR THE LORD TO BE WITH HIS PEOPLE.1. Not His general or essential presence. 2. Nor His being with His creatures in a providential way; for so He is with all men. 3. Nor His special presence in a providential way with His own dear children. 4. But it is God's gracious presence, which Moses so earnestly entreated: "If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence"; and of which David deprecates the loss: "Cast me not away from Thy presence." To enjoy His presence in this sense means — (1) (2) (3) II. WHEN OR HOW LONG WILL GOD BE WITH HIS PEOPLE.? "While ye be with Him." 1. While you keep close to Him in a way of duty; while you are with Him in prayer particularly. 2. While we have communion with them that fear the Lord. God is with them that fear Him; and those who keep company with such persons may expect His presence. Spiritual conversation is like putting fuel to fire; and prayer is like the bellows which blows up the flame. 3. While ye be with Him in public worship and attend the ordinances of His house (Acts 2:1-3).Inferences: 1. The presence of God with His people is a most amazing instance of Divine goodness. 2. There is nothing so desirable to a gracious soul as the presence of God. (J. Gill, D.D.) 1. In conversion. 2. At the throne of grace. 3. In His public ordinances. II. WHEN IS GOD TO BE FOUND BY HIS PEOPLE THUS? When He is sought through the Lord Jesus Christ, "the way, the truth, and the life." (J. Gill, D. D.) I. TO PRESERVE IN OUR MINDS A REVERENT SENSE OF HIS BEING, PRESENCE, AND GOVERNMENT. II. TO KEEP CLOSE TO HIS LAWS. III. TO STAND ON HIS SIDE AGAINST THE OPPOSITE POWER OF DARKNESS AND SIN. (Abp. Seeker.) I. WHAT IS MEANT BY GOD WITH A CHURCH? Luther used to say that there was a "great deal of divinity in prepositions." This word "with" has diversity as well as divinity in its meaning. It means —1. To be present. God present, seeing and hearing all that is said and done. 2. Blessing. A helping, gracious presence. "The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man." 3. Divine protection. II. WHAT IS MEANT BY A CHURCH WITH GOD? 1. It is a Church faithful and fearless in proclaiming God's Word. "Strike, but hear!" said a philosopher to an angry disputant. "Laugh, strike, kill, but hear the Word of God!" is what the Church says to mockers and persecutors. 2. It is a holy Church. The Emperor of Rome issued a command that all houses, shops, and public institutions, ships or boats, named after members of the Royal Family, should be kept clean, or forego the right to the name. "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 3. A Church with God does God's work. A Church tries to be to men all that Christ was, the earthly organ of His Spirit, the instrument of "the mind of Christ." 4. It means a Church in which every member lives in personal communion with God. (J. M. Gibbon.) I. THE HAPPINESS OF THE JEWISH CHURCH AT THAT TIME. "The Lord is with you." God's presence as applied to all righteous people implies —1. An owning and acknowledging them to be His own peculiar people. God's love to His peculiar people includes in it all relations: that of a — (1) (2) (3) 2. His assisting them and prospering all the works that they put their hands to (1 Chronicles 11:9). 3. His protection and defence of them against all their enemies (Genesis 15:1; Zechariah 2:5; Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 46:7; Numbers 23; Romans 8:31).Inferences: 1. Let us notice what are the greatest mischiefs and who are the chief authors of all the evils which can possibly befall a kingdom, even they that would rob us of our God. 2. From hence we may learn the surest way to have our tranquillity and peace secured to us. 3. If we sincerely serve God, we may comfortably and securely rest upon Him to defend and protect us against all dangers (Proverbs 18:10; Matthew 10:29; Numbers 14:9). Luther tells a famous story of a Bishop of Magdeburg, against whom the Duke of Saxony was preparing to wage war; the bishop, having notice of it, betakes himself presently to his prayers and the reforming of his Church; and when one told him what mighty preparations were making against him, he replied, "I will take care of my Church, and then God will fight for and take care of me"; which, when the duke heard of, he disbanded his forces and acknowledged himself too weak to deal with that man who had engaged God on his side (Psalm 3:6). II. THE CONDITION UPON WHICH THE HAPPINESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE IS TO BE ENJOYED, while we are with Him. To be with God is to be a holy people. Clemens Alexandrinus speaks of a temple upon which was written, "No unholy thing must come near this place"; and this is God's inscription (Hebrews 1:13). Conclusion: 'Tis reported of the Prince of Orange at the Battle of Newport, that he said to his soldiers, when they had the sea on one side and the Spaniards on the other, "You must either eat up the Spaniards or drink up the sea"; so we must either conquer our lusts or drink down the devouring fire of God's wrath. Let us apply ourselves to the service of God sincerely, and then the "Lord will be with us." (E. Lake, D. D.) I. GOD MAY BE SAID TO BE WITH MEN — 1. In respect of the omnipresence of His essence (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-12). 2. In respect of personal union. "God was with him" (Acts 10:38). 3. In respect of the covenant of grace. 4. In respect of providential dispensations. This is twofold.(1) General; ordering, disposing, guiding, ruling all things, according to His own wisdom, by His own power, unto His own glory.(2) Special; attended with peculiar love, favour, goodwill, special care towards them with whom He is so present (Genesis 21:22; Joshua 1:5; Jeremiah 15:20; Isaiah 43:1, 2). This is the presence here intimated. II. A PEOPLE'S ABIDING WITH GOD IS TWOFOLD. 1. In personal obedience. 2. In national administrations. III. OBSERVATIONS. 1. All outward flourishing or prosperity of a people doth not always argue the special presence of God with them. The things required to make success and prosperity an evidence of the presence of God are —(1) That the people themselves prospered be His peculiar people.(2) That the whole work be good, and have a tendency to God's glory, wherein they are engaged.(3) Made useful and subservient to His glory. 2. Even great afflictions, eminent distresses, long perplexities, may have a consistency with God's special presence. ( J. Owen, D. D.) 1. What this special presence is, and wherein it doth consist. 2. What it is for us to abide with God, so as we may enjoy it.(1) We must have peace with Him in Jesus Christ.(2) To have His presence continued with us we must — (a) (b) (c) II. LOOK ON THIS PRESENCE OF GOD AS OUR MAIN CONCERNMENT (Psalm 4.). III. Whilst we have any pledge of the presence of God with us, LET US NOT BE GREATLY MOVED, NOR TROUBLED BY ANY DIFFICULTIES WE MAY MEET WITH. IV. LET US FIX OUR THOUGHTS ON THE THINGS WHICH LIE IN A TENDENCY TOWARDS THE CONFIRMING OF GOD'S SPECIAL PROVIDENTIAL PRESENCE WITH US. ( J. Owen, D. D.) 1. God is said to be with any people —(1) When He upholds among them His true religion and worship.(2) When He causes His Word to be preached and His will to be declared to them.(3) When He watches over them and defends them against their enemies, maintaining in a nation peace and prosperity; in short, when He grants to them all spiritual and temporal blessings. 2. A nation is with God —(1) When true religion is seen upon the throne, when God is there served and honoured, with a spiritual and reasonable service.(2) When those who are in authority employ it to enforce the observance of God's laws.(3) When they themselves observe them.(4) When subjects obey the laws.(5) When each person in his station concurs in promoting order, good morals, and piety.(6) When those who "minister at the altar" preach by their example; joining pure manners with sound doctrine.(7) When union reigns among those who are in authority, peace in the Church, and harmony in families, and when parents bestow their chief care upon making their children modest, humble lovers of truth and goodness. In short, when each person "sets God before his eyes," and renders to Him, in public and in private, love and obedience. II. AN AWFUL THREATENING. 1. There are several ways in which we may forsake God. But that against which it is most necessary to warn Christians is the forsaking of God by a wicked life, by dissolute manners, by living as if there were no God, or as if we were not to stand before Him in judgment. 2. God forsakes a people, thus unworthy of His presence, by the calamities and miseries with which He visits them. (S. Partridge, M.A.) I. IT MAY TEND TO RECOMMEND THIS DIVINE MAXIM IF WE CONSIDER — 1. The effect it had on him to whom it was addressed. 2. The blessing it brought down on those who regarded it. II. LET US CONFIRM THE PROPHET'S AXIOM. The Lord is with them, and with them alone, who are with Him. Consider — 1. The evils which would result from the blessing of God being on our labours while we are not with Him.(1) God's being with us is a proof of His approbation of our tempers and dispositions. When we are not with God we are not holy. If God were to convert the heathen by us while we are in such a state, those who were changed by our efforts would naturally infer that the tempers they see in us were those that please God. Thus God would be made to bear a false testimony to us.(2) Were God to be with us in this great work while we are not with Him, it would be to counteract His great design in calling us by His grace. God's grand design is to purify His people.(3) It would be the means of propagating a kind of religion totally different from the mind of Christ. The apostles illustrated their teaching by a holy life.(4) If God were to grant our missionaries success while they were not walking with Him, they would be totally incapable of nourishing up their converts when they had made them. 2. The pleasing results which would follow if God were to be with a people for so long a period as He was with this people.(1) Abundant means.(2) Aid to use these means aright. (D. Marshman.) 6232 rejection of God, results Entering the Covenant: with all the Heart The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness, and when Thou Art Called to Die in the Lord. The Secret of Effectual Prayer The Whole Heart Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above. Manner of Covenanting. The First Commandment Chronicles |
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