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I. HIS DISPOSITION.

1. It is the care and endeavour of a good man when he awakes to be still with God.

(1) The time.

(a) When not asleep, and so hindered by the necessities of nature. A godly man is careful to be with God in every performance and in every condition, both in regard to —

(i.) Habitual inclination. He is always with God in disposition and affection; and —

(ii.) Actual application. He is careful still to repair to God, and to draw near to Him, whensoever he can.

(b) As soon as I awake.

2. In what respects a Christian, when he is awake, may be said to be with God.

(1) By meditation.

(a) Our thoughts are precious things, being the immediate issue of our souls, and are not to be lightly bestowed by us, especially our first, thoughts. And on whom can we better bestow them than on Him that helps us to them, and without whom we are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think (2 Corinthians 3:5)?

(b) This is to be understood especially of such thoughts as are settled and deliberate and composed — such thoughts as a man sets himself to with intention, and suffers to abide in him; these are for the most part suitable and agreeable to the frame of his heart. Now, because a godly man has his heart full of heaven, and God, and goodness, and the graces of the Spirit, therefore are such things as these very often and early in his thoughts.

(2) By communion. Look at friends when they meet in a morning, they have their mutual greeting between them — a loving and friendly salute one of another: even so is it with its due proportions betwixt God and the soul, the soul speaking to Him, and He returning upon it by way of reciprocation.

(a)  Confession of sin.

(b)  Petition and supplication.

(c)  Praise and acknowledgment.

(3) By action and the businesses which are done by us; when we "awake to righteousness and sin net."

3. The ground and equity of it.

(1) Our waking thoughts are our first thoughts, and the first of everything is of right God's.

(2) Our waking thoughts are freshest thoughts; that is, the nimblest and quickest, and most active, and fullest of life. As God deserves the first, so He deserves the best.

(3) Our waking thoughts are our quietest, and freest from commotion: that is the fittest time and season for converse with God, wherein we have least distraction and perplexities and troubles from the world.

(4) Our waking thoughts are our purest and freest from pollution: these things are the fittest for God, which are most like to Himself.

II. HIS PRIVILEGE.

1. It secures from dangers (Psalm 26:1; Psalm 3:5; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 91:5; Psalm 23:4).

2. It quickens to duty; keeps the heart in a holy frame and temper all the day after.

3. It prevents from sin and temptation — at least the prevalencies of it.

III. HOW WE MAY ATTAIN TO THIS BLESSED CONDITION.

1. Walk with God in the day. The duties of religion are linked together, and come off more easily in the conjunctive performance of each other. Thus reading and hearing, and meditation and communion of saints, conscionably and religiously performed, do so much the better dispose to more immediate communion with God; and the actions of the day have their impressions and reflections upon the night.

2. Lie down with God in the evening. That which we think of last we shall be ready to think of first; and as we conclude the foregoing day, so we are likely to begin the following. Therefore it should be our care, as much as may be, to have God and the things of God in our thoughts when we set ourselves to rest. This is the happiness of a Christian that is careful to lie down with God, that he finds his work still as he left it, and is in the same disposition when he rises as he was at night when he laid to rest. As a man that winds up his watch over night, he finds it going the next morning; so is it also as I may say with a Christian that winds up his heart. This is a good observation to be remembered, especially in the evening before the Sabbath.

3. Observe God in the morning. A man that would be with God when he wakes must observe how God is with him. We shall find sometimes that God Himself doth awaken us, and does desire communion with us (Isaiah 50:4).

(T. Horton, D. D.)

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KJV: If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

WEB: If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.