Homilist Isaiah 64:5 You meet him that rejoices and works righteousness, those that remember you in your ways: behold, you are wroth; for we have sinned… I. THE GODLY MAN'S CONDUCT. 1. He worketh righteousness. He does not confine himself to any department of action, it may be manual, commercial, literary, scientific, professional; but in all he "worketh righteousness." He is right in all; rectitude, and not expediency, is his law. 2. He is happy in his work. He "rejoiceth and worketh." A man that worketh righteousness is sure to be happy; his affections will be harmonious, his conscience will smile on him, his God will bless him. There is no happiness, "but in work; and there is no happiness in work that is not the work of Thy ways." God has His ways and His methods of action, and they are manifold. He remembers God in His ways in nature, in the government of man, in the dispensations of redeeming grace. II. THE GODLY MAN'S COMPANION. "Thou (i.e. God) meetest him that rejoiceth." Such men have meetings with God. 1. Conscious meetings. All men meet with God, but they, are unconscious of it. The good man knows it; he can say, "God is in this place. 2. Loving meetings. He meets him as the father met the prodigal son on his return, overflowing with love and joy. 3. Preparatory meetings. He meets them to prepare them for a meeting with Him that shall be uninterupted, beatific, and eternal. Conclusion: What a noble life is the life of godliness! Godliness is "profitable unto all things, etc. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. |
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