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I. TO SECURE THIS SHOULD BE THE OBJECT OF OUR INTENSE DESIRE AND ENDEAVOR.

1. Because the Lord so desires it. See his name here, "the mighty God of Jacob." What a poor mean wretch Jacob too often was! And yet how God compassionated, pitied, uplifted, and saved him! What does not such a redeeming God deserve and demand!

2. For the sake of our fellow-men. It is the world's great and crying need - that the Lord God should dwell among them. It is heaven where "the tabernacle of the Lord is with men."

3. For our own sake. For God's "loving-kindness is better than life." God is the soul's exceeding Joy.

II. WHERE WE SHOULD MAKE THIS ENDEAVOR.

1. In our own heart. Until he have a place, a habitation, there, it is no good our trying to find him a place elsewhere.

2. In our homes. Let our own family be the scene of our first aggressive work.

3. In the branch of the Church to which we belong. The Church should be God's rest forever; he would have it so (ver. 13). But it too often is not. And until the Church is right, the world will remain wrong. To have a better world we must have a better Church.

4. In our own neighborhood. All who dwell around ought to be the better for our dwelling in their midst. "Let your light so shine," etc.

5. Throughout the world. The missionary cause should be dear to our heart.

III. HOW WE SHOULD GO TO WORK.

1. By personal self-surrender to Christ. This stands at the threshold of all our work. Nothing can be done till this is done.

2. By believing prayer, importunate and persevering, and by holy example and faithful testimony.

3. By consecration of our substance to this work.

4. By continual self-denial.

5. By perpetual trust in Christ.

6. By firm, holy, and abiding resolve. (Vers. 2-4.) - S.C.

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KJV: Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

WEB: until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."