Psalm 27:8 When you said, Seek you my face; my heart said to you, Your face, LORD, will I seek. One of the sweetest marvels of nature is "the echo." It is nature's poetry that charms and captivates the mind. Standing, some years back, on a lone mountain side, with giant peaks towering up above on every side, I broke the intense silence with a shout. There was a moment's pause, and then those silent mountains found tongue. From side to side a very artillery was maintained. Echo awoke echo, and a second only gave birth to a third. But there is another echo — that of the heart; the soul's response to the call of God. We have such in the text. Let us consider — I. THE CALL. 1. It is one we often find it very difficult to hear. For the world is not as a silent glen, or lone mountain side, but a very Babel of confused noises. 2. Still it is not impossible to hear it. The ear rightly attuned will hear it, clear as a silver bell, ringing out its note above the surrounding din of business and common cares. 3. But some have never yet heard it, and those who do, hear it in different degrees. There are some persons naturally calm and contemplative, that "dwell with Mary at the Master's feet," and who seem ever to hear it; but there are others, anxious to hear it, but the very clatter of their preparations fill the ear to the exclusion of the Saviour's Word. 4. It comes to us by different instrumentalities. By His Word. The means of grace — the Sabbath especially. The Mercy Seat. The manifold goodness of God in His providence. By trials. By the influence of the Spirit. II. THE ECHO. 1. It is one of the heart. "My heart said," etc. You may read the Word, utter the prayer, keep the Sabbath, and yet there be no heart in it. Like a waxwork figure moved by machinery, you may nod, and smile, and lift up your hands, and yet not have one iota of life. Let us ask how has it been with us in the past? 2. Now let me give some closing counsels. Be ever listening to hear the voice. When you hear it give the echo at once. "When Thou saidst, Seek ye," etc., "My heart said," etc. When the voice says to you, "Pray," pray at once. Rest assured you shall, if you seek the Lord's face, never be disappointed. "I have never said to the seeking seed of Jacob, Seek ye My face in vain." (A. G. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.WEB: When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "I will seek your face, Yahweh." |
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