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I. GOD DOTH SOMETIMES DESERT AND DEPART FROM HIS PEOPLE FOR A TIME. Not in regard of their union, but in regard of communion and manifestation. Though nothing is hid from the heat of this sun, yet our souls may be hid from the light of this sun: God doth sometimes depart from His own people. There are some graces that do not open nor show themselves but in the sunshining day of God's presence — thankfulness, joy, assurance. But there are other graces, that are best seen when God withdraws, and when God is absent — faith in God, and love to God especially.

II. THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE VERY SENSIBLE OF HIS DISPLEASURE. They look upon it as a very tedious thing; and most afflictions. "O Lord, how long?" Without the presence of God they have no enjoyment, their enjoyments are as no enjoyments: the presence of God with them is the top of all their enjoyments. If the sun be down, it is not all the torches and candles lighted up that will give you a day; and if God be gone, it is not all your creature comforts will give you joy.

III. IN THE TIME OF THOSE DEPARTURES THEIR GREAT DESIRE IS THAT GOD WOULD RETURN. What is the presence of God but the most desirable thing in the world? (Acts 3:19). God's presence is the saint's pleasure. God never returns empty-handed to His people. When He hath stricken them, He will let out more love unto them than ever before.

IV. WHEN THE LORD DOTH RETURN UNTO HIS PEOPLE, HE DOTH THEN REPENT HIM CONCERNING HIS SERVANTS.

1. God doth not repent by the changing of His affection, but by the changing of His dispensation.

2. God will more easily repent of His judgments than of His mercies.

3. How it may appear that when God returns unto His people, that then He will repent Him concerning His servants. Why that appears by the thing itself. If a man say he will go from such a town and never return again, and then do return, he doth repent him concerning the thing, by his return; and so concerning God (Jeremiah 18:7, 8).

4. But then, how shall we know in case God be absent, or God be departed, to know that God will return again? You may know it by your relations. If you be in covenant with God, God will return again to you though now He be absent; "Though He afflict you with rods, His lovingkindness will He not take away, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail."

V. WHAT SHALL WE DO THAT GOD MAY RETURN AGAIN?

1. Be sure of this, that you keep your door open, the door of your hearts open for Christ's return. When the master is abroad, the servant sits up to keep the door open for his coming in.

2. Be sure of this, that now in the time of Christ's absence you neglect no duty, though very unsavoury to you. The more unsavoury the duty now is unto you through the absence of Christ, the more acceptable unto Christ.

3. Be sure that you go and stand there where Christ used to be.

(W. Bridge, M.A.)

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KJV: Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

WEB: Relent, Yahweh! How long? Have compassion on your servants!