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I. WHEN IT MAY BE SAID GOD WITHDRAWS AND BEHAVES AS A STRANGER TO HIS PEOPLE.

1. When He withholds His wonted acts of kindness to them.

2. When He threatens to remove from them the signs and symbols of His presence.

3. When, though continuing the ordinances and sacraments, He renders them profitless.

4. When the Divine providences are adverse.

5. When He denies them access to Himself.

II. WHY THE LORD DEALS THUS WITH HIS PEOPLE.

1. When they fall into gross sin and bring reproach on religion.

2. When they become earthly minded.

3. When they become slothful and formal in duty.

4. When they neglect or slight the Mediator, by whom we have access to God.

5. When they sin under or after great affliction.

6. When they do not cherish and entertain the influences of the Holy Spirit.

7. When they grow hardened and impenitent under provocation.

III. WHEN IT MAY BE SAID WE ARE PROPERLY EXERCISED UNDER SUCH A PAINFUL DISPENSATION.

1. When we are truly sensible of our loss, and that our sin is the cause of it.

2. When we place all our happiness in God's favour and presence.

3. When we engage all the powers of our souls to seek after God.

4. When we diligently embrace every opportunity for finding an absent God, and use every appointed means.

5. When we wrestle with Him in prayer to return.

6. When we are not satisfied with the best means, unless we find God in them.

IV. WHENCE IT IS THAT THE LORD, BEING AS A STRANGER TO HIS PEOPLE, OCCASIONS THEM SO MUCH CONCERN.

1. Because of the incomparable happiness arising from the enjoyment of His presence.

2. Because of the sad effects attending the loss of His presence.Infer:

1. There are but few true seekers of God among us.

2. The misery of these who are far from God now, and may be deprived of His presence forever.

3. The sad case of those whom God forsakes, never to return again.

(T. Hannam.)

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KJV: O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

WEB: You hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night?