Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom you choose, and cause to approach to you, that he may dwell in your courts… I. WHAT IS MEANT BY APPROACHING TO GOD. There was a time when the Lord came down and conversed with man, as one friend does with another, when no thunder, and lightning, and tempest accompanied him, and when no conscious guilt inspired the human breast with terror; and a time will come again, dark and disconsolate though our condition now be, when the veil shall be removed, and we shall so behold the glory of the Lord, as to be completely changed into the same image. Now, sin interposes a dark cloud betwixt us and our God, so that we can have but a very imperfect view of His glory and majesty. "We see as through a glass darkly." There are seasons, however, when the Christian is admitted, as it were, within the veil, when he sees the King in His beauty, and enjoys that delightful communion with Him, which is a foretaste of the heavenly bliss. II. WHEREIN THE HAPPINESS OF APPROACHING TO GOD CONSISTS. 1. It is the highest honour; far superior to every dignity, an honour compared to which all the pomp and splendour of earthly greatness dwindle into insignificance. 2. It is a pleasure. God is the chief good. He is the source of life, and joy, and happiness. To go, therefore, to Him, and draw our enjoyments pure from the fountain from which they flow, must be peculiarly gratifying to every person who can properly distinguish between good and evil. 3. It is highly profitable. III. OBSTACLES THAT PREVENT OUR APPROACHING TO GOD. 1. The corruption of our own heart. This may be regarded as the first and greatest of all, because while this continues unsubdued, we cannot advance a single step in our journey to heaven; whereas, if this be overcome, none of the rest will be able to obstruct our progress. 2. The world. (1) How many, oppressed with the cares of this life, are wholly unconcerned about the joys of the life that is to come! (2) How many are the slaves of unhallowed lusts! The world holds out to them the intoxicating cup of forbidden pleasures; they drink it, and the luscious draught diffuses its baneful influence over the soul. (3) How many are deterred from the service of God by the fear of suffering! They would willingly serve God if they could do it with safety; but they cannot think of submitting to difficulties and trials in His service. 3. Another obstacle in the way of our approaching to God, is Satan. He is the deceiver and the destroyer.Lessons — 1. They who do not approach to God will perish. 2. The value of the privilege we possess, of approaching to God in the ways of His appointment. 3. It is only through the mediation of Jesus Christ that we can approach to God. (John Ramsay, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. |
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