But yet there is another, not less powerful than any, which deserves special mention. David praises God for the truth of his word4. "I do not see how I am to be perfected My nature is so vile." Wherefore a few witnesses, which the Lord deigns to suggest to my mind, I proceed to mention, from out the teaching of Christ concerning humility, such as perhaps may be enough for my purpose. Psalm 138:8, NASB: The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your faithfulness, LORD, is everlasting; Do not abandon the works of Your hands. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. Verse 17: And I was on trial, alone, because nobody else came to stand by me, but Jesus stood by me and strengthened me. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration St. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him; He also will hear their cry, and will help them.--Psalm cxlv. That act whereby another being knows my secret thoughts and inmost feelings is most certainly inexplicable.I. For if God's exhaustive knowledge of the human heart waken dread in one of its aspects, it starts infinite hope in another. Verse 8. AugustineOn the Good of MarriagePrayer Out of the Deep. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. 7 ad 3m II. He professes his confidence in GodDictionary of Bible ThemesPsalm 138:86708predestination8125guidance, promise8441goalsPsalm 138:7-81265hand of GodLibraryFaith in PerfectionIn the opening, I must remark that this is not the heritage of all mankind. I. So that whenever we are on the point of doing or saying anything cowardly, or mean, or false, or impure, or proud, or conceited, or unkind, the remembrance that God is looking on shall instantly flash across us and help us to beat down our enemy. AugustineOn the Good of MarriagePrayer Out of the Deep. THE PSALMIST'S TRIUMPHANT CONVICTION. 7. G. T. Shedd, D. D.)God's presenceArchbishop Temple. lxxxv. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. (2)Unseen world.(3)Everywhere. If that Being has gone down into these depths of human depravity, and seen it with a more abhorring glance than could ever shoot from a finite eye, and yet has returned with a cordial offer to forgive it all, and a hearty proffer to cleanse it all away, then we can lift up the eye in adoration and in hope. His discourse, the first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began from this. 2. For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. The word, "me," in the text, cannot be appropriated by any man, unless he, in some respects, resembles the character of David, who penned this psalm. He may be an uncommonly thoughtful person, and little of what is done within his soul may escape his notice; nay, we will make the extreme supposition that he arrests every thought as it rises, and looks at it; that he analyzes every sentiment as it swells his heart; that he scrutinizes every purpose as it determines his will; even if he should have such a thorough and profound self-knowledge as this, God knows him equally profoundly and equally thoroughly. 8). Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage [1454] . (Isa. Rejoice, ye saints of God, that you have a great High Priest who is passed into the heavens, who now appears in the presence of God for you. To reprove some prevalent impieties in human conduct.(1)Atheism.(2)Indifferentism.3. G. T. Shedd, D. D.: One of the most remark. Though the transgressor is ignorant of much of his sin, because, at the time of its commission, he sins blindly as well as wilfully, and unreflectingly as well as freely; and though the transgressor has forgotten much of that small amount of sin, of which he was conscious, and by which he was pained, at the time of its perpetration; though, on the side of man, the powers of self-inspection and memory have accomplished so little towards this preservation of man's sin, yet God knows it all, and remembers it all. But while all held their peace, the Son [441] said, AthanasiusSelect Works and Letters or AthanasiusCovenant Duties. Those who live much in a court acquire courtly manners. See how this works in us rest from fear. (Admonition 23.) 18 " Ep., cxxx. When I preached or taught or wrote letters, that was Jesus at work in me. The worst has been seen, and that too by the holiest of beings, and yet eternal glory is offered to us! From the just we learn justice; from the charitable we catch an infection of charity; from the generous we receive the instinct of generosity. "I am, as Thy creature, wholly dependent on Thee; without Thee, faith must die, and hope expire; without Thee, love must decay and perish. "But are you not afraid? lvii. And this perpetual though not always conscious sense of God's presence would, no doubt, if we would let it have its perfect work, gradually act on our characters just as the presence of our fellow-men does. xviii. OURSELVES. The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. AugustineOn the Good of MarriagePrayer Out of the Deep. The Lord Will Perfect That Which Concerns Me. To Dominicus, Bishop. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love ." - 1 John 4:18 ESV. The daily prayer in the closet, the endeavour to keep the attention fixed when praying with others, either in our regular services or in family worship. God Will Perfect That Which Concerns Me The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever do not abandon the works of your hands. The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. Corresponding judgments await those who, shrinking from that all-seeing eye, with a repugnance predominant and increasing, must abide its searchings for ever. 5, 6. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." 1. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. The daily prayer in the closet, the endeavour to keep the attention fixed when praying with others, either in our regular services or in family worship. Into providence. It is perfectly plain from the elevated central point of view where we now stand, and in the focal light in which we now see, that no man can be justified before God upon the ground of personal character; for that character, when subjected to God's exhaustive scrutiny, withers and shrinks away. the regular habit of reading the Bible at a fixed time, the occasional reminders of ourselves that God is looking on, these are our chief means of learning to remember His presence. The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. Chapter i. He does it because it is the good pleasure of His will to do it. If that Being has gone down into these depths of human depravity, and seen it with a more abhorring glance than could ever shoot from a finite eye, and yet has returned with a cordial offer to forgive it all, and a hearty proffer to cleanse it all away, then we can lift up the eye in adoration and in hope. "Whatever concerns me," says he, "the Lord will perfect.". From the just we learn justice; from the charitable we catch an infection of charity; from the generous we receive the instinct of generosity. And this will generally be just when we are tempted to do wrong, or perhaps just when we are actually beginning to do it: some secret sin of which no one knows or dreams perhaps, some self-indulgence, which we dare not deny that God condemns. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. So, too, by living in the presence of God and, as it were, in the courts of heaven, we shall assuredly learn something of a heavenly tone, and shake off some of that coarse worldliness, that deeply ingrained selfishness, that silly pride and conceit which now spoils our very best service. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. And some will pass through great affliction and some will experience a great many wants. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius John Edgar McFadyenIntroduction to the Old TestamentLinksPsalm 138:8 NIVPsalm 138:8 NLTPsalm 138:8 ESVPsalm 138:8 NASBPsalm 138:8 KJVPsalm 138:8 Bible AppsPsalm 138:8 ParallelPsalm 138:8 Biblia ParalelaPsalm 138:8 Chinese BiblePsalm 138:8 French BiblePsalm 138:8 German BiblePsalm 138:8 CommentariesBible Hub, (2)His knowledge of us is entire, complete.2. II. Get a grip at this, thou troubled one, and by a personal faith say, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow-bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. THE EARNEST PRAYER ACCOMPANYING THIS CONFIDENCE. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him Saint Bernard of ClairvauxSome Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of ClairvauxThat the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action. vi. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made John CunninghamThe Ordinance of CovenantingIntroduction. The mercy of the creature is finite; the mercy of Jehovah is infinite. I will ask you three questions suggested by the words themselves, and according to your answer to these three questions, shall be Charles Haddon SpurgeonSpurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859Question of the Contemplative LifeI. [2105] And these without all controversy we take to be humble. Hilary of PoitiersThe Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers, PsalmsThe piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. v. 22). S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. "Show me as much as I can stand, Lord." So what did God show him. His discourse, the first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began from this. GOD ACCURATELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY KNOWS ALL THAT MAN MIGHT, BUT DOES NOT, KNOW OF HIMSELF. (1)Innumerable.(2)Constant.II. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. Then is the moment to choose whether or not we will live in the presence of God; then when the finger of conscience is pointing to Him and saying, "He is looking at you. 8). 19 III. 2. 8). GOD ACCURATELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY KNOWS ALL THAT MAN KNOWS OF HIMSELF. If God makes your son His son also, what do you lose or what does he himself lose? The Coming Andrew MurrayThe Ministry of IntercessionForasmuch as Each Man is a Part of the Human Race1.