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These words contain —

1. Advice given to a hopeful son.

2. By an excellent father.

3. Under most affecting circumstances.

I. THE COURSE PRESCRIBED.

1. TO know God. This implies —

(1) That mankind by nature do not know God.

(a)  They do not understand God's relations to mankind, as their rightful Sovereign; their Guide in difficulties; their Redeemer from evil; their Friend in necessities (Psalm 10:4).

(b)  They do not acknowledge God in these relations.

(c)  They do not enjoy God in these relations (Ephesians 2:12).

(2) That the knowledge of God must be sought to be enjoyed.

2. To serve God with a perfect heart and with a willing mind.

(1) By preserving attention to His guidance (Acts 3:22, 23; Hebrews 12:25).

(2) By habitual dependence on Christ's mediation (Colossians 2:6).

(3) By steadfastly resisting Satan (1 Peter 5:8, 9).

(4) By aspiring after spotless purity (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 3:14).

(5) By doing good to mankind for God's sake (Galatians 6:10; Romans 14:17, 18).

(6) Serve Him alone (Matthew 4:10).

(7) Seek to please Him in all things (Matthew 6:22; 1 Corinthians 10:33).

(8) Serve Him from a principle of grateful affection (Romans 12:1).

(9) And in cheerful hope (1 Peter 1:13).

3. Thus to know and serve God must be justly denominated a course of acceptable piety. It is acceptable piety —

(1) In opposition to the complimental piety of the Antinomian; for it includes actual service.

(2) To the affected piety of the hypocrite, for it includes sincerity of heart.

(3) To the erroneous piety of the superstitious, for it includes piety directed by the knowledge of God.

(4) To the servile piety of the Pharisee, for it includes service cheerfully rendered.

(5) To the inconstant pious intervals of unstable professors (Hosea 6:4).

II. THE ARGUMENTS BY WHICH IT IS URGED.

1. From the knowledge of God as our Observer.

2. From His goodness as our Redeemer.

3. From His just severity as our Judge.

(1) God cannot be imposed upon (1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 16:2; Ecclesiastes 12:14).

(2) Forsaking God is highly resented by Him, as implying ingratitude, treachery, and folly (Jeremiah 2:13, 19).

(3) Apostasy from God is justly punished with eternal banishment from Him (Job 21:14; Matthew 25:41).

Application:

1. You must serve God on earth, or you cannot live with Him in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

2. That you may serve God acceptably you must first know Him (Exodus 5:2).

3. The knowledge of God should be restlessly and confidently sought (Proverbs 2:3-5; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

(Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.)

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KJV: And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

WEB: You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.