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It is a very happy circumstance when the commandment of our father and the law of our mother are also the commandment of God and the law of the Lord. Happy are they who have a double force to draw them to the right—the bonds of nature and the cords of grace. God's law should be a guide to us — "When thou goest, it shall lead thee"; a guardian to us — "when thou sleepest" — when thou art defenceless and off thy guard — "it shall keep thee"; and a dear companion to us — "when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."

I. WE PERCEIVE THAT THE WORLD IS LIVING. How else could it be said — "It shall talk with thee"?

1. It is living, because it is pure truth. Error is death, truth is life. The tooth of time devours all lies. Truth never dies.

2. It is the utterance of an immutable, self-existing

God. So the Word is sure, steadfast, and full of power. It is never out of date.

3. It enshrines the living heart of Christ. The living Christ is in the book; you behold His face on almost every page.

4. The Holy Spirit has a peculiar connection with the Word of God. The work of the Spirit in men's hearts is done by the texts which ministers quote rather than by their explanations of them. Take care, then, how you trifle with a book which is so instinct with life.

II. WE PERCEIVE THAT THE WORD IS PERSONAL. "It shall talk with thee."

1. God's Word talks about men, and about modern men; about the paradise of unfallen manhood, the fall, the degeneracy of the race, and the means of its redemption.

2. God's Word speaks to men in all states and conditions before God—to sinners and to the children of God.

3. God's Word is personal to all our states of mind. It goes into all details of our case, let our state be what it may.

4. God's Word is always faithful. You never find the Word of God keeping back that which is profitable for you. This suggests a little healthful self-examination. "How does the Word of God speak to my soul?"

III. WE PERCEIVE THAT HOLY SCRIPTURE IS VERY FAMILIAR. "Talk with thee." To talk signifies fellowship, communion, familiarity. Scripture speaks the language of men; it comes down to our simplicity; it is familiar as to all that concerns us; it answers inquiries.

IV. WE PERCEIVE THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS RESPONSIVE. "With thee," not "to thee." Talk with a man is not all on one side. To talk with a man means answering talk from him. Scripture is a marvellously conversational book; it talks and it makes men talk.

V. WE PERCEIVE THAT SCRIPTURE IS INFLUENTIAL. When the Word of God talks with us, it influences us. All talk influences more or less. This book soothes our sorrows, and encourages us. It has a wonderfully elevating power. It warns and restrains. It sanctifies and moulds the mind into the image of Christ. It confirms and settles us.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

WEB: When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.