earthly good, having chosen it as his portion, expresses his great
maintaining communion with God will provide us with what we need to face death and eternity beyond the grave. If we continue waiting on God every day and throughout the day, we will grow more experienced and, as a result, more skilled in the profound practice of communion with him. This will make our final days our best days, our last works our most fruitful works, and our final comforts our sweetest comforts.
In light of this, take the prophet's advice to heart: Turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually (Hosea 12:6).
The Third Discourse:
Showing How to Close Every Day with
God
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
This verse may be understood either figuratively, referring to the soul's repose in the assurance of God's grace, or literally, referring to the body's rest under the protection of his providence. I prefer to embrace both interpretations, giving the Scripture its full meaning.
1. The Psalmist, having given priority to God's favour above any earthly good, having chosen it as his portion, expresses his great satisfaction in the choice he has made. While many others make
themselves restless with the fruitless question, "Who will show us any good?" and exhaust themselves chasing vanities, David finds complete peace by casting himself upon God's good will. He prays, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." Any good short of God's favour cannot satisfy us, but his favour alone is enough, even without the world's approval. The moon, stars, and all the artificial lights of the world cannot create a day without the sun; but the sun alone can make a day without them.
These were David's sentiments, and they are shared by all the saints. Finding no rest in the defiled, flooded world, like Noah's dove, he flies to the ark—the type of Christ—and declares, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul" (unto thy Noah is the phrase in the original, as Noah's name means rest), Psalm 116:7.
If God lifts up the light of his countenance upon us, it not only fills us with holy joy—"putting gladness into the heart more than they have whose corn and wine increase" (verse 7)—but also settles us in holy rest. "I will now lay me down and sleep." God is my God, and I am pleased; I am satisfied. I look no further, I desire no more. "I dwell in safety," or, in confidence. Walking in the light of the Lord, I lack nothing, nor do I sense any deficiency. At the same time, I fear no evil, nor do I anticipate any danger. The Lord God is both my sun and my shield—a sun to enlighten and comfort me, and a shield to protect and defend me.
Lessons to Learn:
Those who are assured of God's favour can and should enjoy a holy serenity and security of mind. Both are promised together in the precious words of Isaiah 32:17:
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
There is immediate satisfaction in doing what is right, and ultimately, there is quietness in the enjoyment of good and assurance in the freedom from evil.
a. A holy serenity is one blessed fruit of God's favour. "I will now lay me down in peace and sleep." While we are under God's displeasure, or in doubt about his favour, how can we truly enjoy ourselves? Until this great matter is settled, the soul cannot be at rest. Does God have a controversy with you? Do not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids until you have resolved the issue. Humble yourself and make sure of your friend—your best friend. Proverbs 6:3: "Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend."
When you have made peace with God and have clear assurance that you are accepted by him, then you may wisely and justly say what the carnal worldling foolishly said without reason: "Soul, take thine ease;" for in God, and in the covenant of grace, you have goods laid up for many years—goods laid up for eternity. Luke 12:19: "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry."
Are your sins forgiven? Do you have an interest in Christ's mediation? Does God, through Christ, now accept your works? Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart. Ecclesiastes 9:7: "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works." Let this calm every storm and create peace in your soul.
When God is our covenant God, we have enough; indeed, we have everything. Though the gracious soul desires more of God, it never desires more than God. In him, it finds perfect contentment and rest. In him, it is at home, at peace. If we are satisfied with his lovingkindness—abundantly satisfied—there is enough to refresh the weary soul and fill every sorrowful heart. Jeremiah 31:25: "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." He fills the hungry with good things—indeed, the best things— and being filled, they can find rest forever, and their sleep here shall be sweet.
b. A holy security is another blessed fruit of God's favour. "Thou, Lord, makest me to dwell in safety." When the light of God's countenance shines upon me, I am safe, and I know I am safe. Therefore, I am at ease, for "with thy favour wilt thou compass me as with a shield." Psalm 5:12: "For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield."
When I am under the protection of divine favour, even if a host of enemies encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. In this, I will be confident. Psalm 27:3: "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Whatever God has promised me, I can trust and rest in, and that is enough to keep me secure, no matter what difficulties or dangers I face in fulfilling my duty.
Even if the earth itself is removed, we will not fear. Psalm 46:2: "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." We will fear no evil—not even in the valley of the shadow of death, in the territory of the king of terrors himself—because God is with us. "For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
What the rich man imagines his wealth to be—a strong city and a high wall—is what the good man's God truly is. Proverbs 18:10-11: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." The Almighty will be your gold and your defence. Job 22:25: "Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver."
Nothing is more dangerous than feeling secure in a sinful way, and people crying, "Peace, peace," to themselves while they remain under the ruling power of a vain and carnal mind. Oh, that sinners who are at ease would be made to tremble! Nothing is more foolish than placing our security on the world and its promises, for they are all vanity and a lie. But nothing is more reasonable, or more advantageous to us, than for godly people to confidently build on the promises of a good God. For those who remain on the path of duty, it is possible to be quiet and free from the fear of evil—knowing no true evil shall befall them, no real harm, nothing that will not ultimately work for their good. Such people know that while they remain loyal to God as their King, they are under his protection—the protection of Omnipotence itself—which allows them to defy all malign powers. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Even the heathen recognised that every honest, virtuous person could lay claim to a kind of security. The poet Horace famously described it: Integer vitae scelerisque purus—"An upright man, free of guilt, needs no weapon to defend himself." Such a man could remain fearless even if the world collapsed around him. How much more should Christians, who hold fast to their integrity, lay claim to this confidence! For "who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"