Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness. What a contrast do these words felon with what goes before. The men of the world and Himself; their satisfaction and His. This Psalm not to be applied exclusively to Christ. Much tells of Him, but much also of ourselves today. Note — I. THE HIGH ATTAINMENT OF THE REAL CHILD OF GOD. He gets it now; now he beholds God's face in righteousness. Christ's righteousness, not his own, even the best of it. And we behold God's face thus when we appropriate for ourselves what Christ has done. If we have done this we shall live holily, because under the influence of Christ. II. THE INTERESTING EXPECTATION. "I shall be satisfied." How much of that likeness have I now? Ask yourselves that. The awaking, it includes both transformation and translation. Holiness and eternal life at the Resurrection. III. THE SOLEMN ASSURANCE. "I will behold" — very bold: "I shall be satisfied." "I hope and trust" — seems kicked out of doors. "I will," and "I shall." Now, intimacy with God, personal intimacy with God, is the only thing that can warrant such an assurance. Whatever you may know of doctrine, and whatever your walk may be with regard to morality (the more of it the better), I tell you, in the name of the living God, that you cannot — must not — dare not — claim this "will" and "shall" unless you know something about intimacy with God. Believe me, beloved, in that which I have often stated to you — this is the vitality of religion. (Joseph Irons.) Parallel Verses KJV: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. |
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