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I. FOLLOWING AFTER GOD IS THE MOTION OF THE SOUL —

1. In knowledge (Hosea 6:3). The knowledge of the only true God, as God and our God, is the principle and root of piety (John 17:8). Lift up thy voice and cry for it. Follow hard after it. Search for it as for silver. Dig for it as for hid treasures. Read daily. Pray fervently. Think seriously.

2. In faith. "Believe in God," saith our Saviour, "believe also in Me." If we believe firmly, we will follow hard after Him. Following hard and believing firmly, is following and believing with vigour, and ardour, and constancy.

3. In love. The love of God shed abroad in the heart kindles in it love to Him; and the love which it kindles, impatient lest it lose sight of Him, follows Him with ardour. It cannot bear the thoughts of distance. It wishes to be near Him, and to enjoy the comfort of His presence.

4. In hope. Are we in prosperity? Let us follow Him in hope of its continuance. Are we in adversity? Let us follow after Him in hope of its removal. Are we in darkness? Let us follow after Him in hope of light. Are we in danger? Let us follow after Him in hope of salvation.

5. In desire. Desire is the stepping of the soul in the way toward God, the fountain of our blessedness and glory; and the stronger and more lively desire is, our motion in following after Him will be quicker and faster.

6. In obedience. New obedience is the motion of the soul after God in the way of His commandments.

7. In communion. God looks down on His chosen following hard after Him, and they look up to Him. In speaking and hearing. He speaks, and they hear.

II. THE ARDOUR OF THE SOUL FOLLOWING AFTER GOD which the text expresses by the word "hard," includes —

1. Keenness in respect of desire.

2. Diligence in respect of means.

3. Vigour in respect of exertion. With all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.

4. Perseveringly in respect of continuance.

5. Affectionately in respect of complacency and delight. This is ardour in piety. What more concerning it can we say? Alas! it is above our experience. O that the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord were shed abroad more diffusively in our heart by the Holy Ghost! (John 7:87).

III. THE ENDS AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH PIOUS SOULS FOLLOW HARD AFTER GOD.

1. That they may see Him in His beauty and glory.

2. That they may be near Him.

3. That they may hear Him.

4. That they may be helped. They have weights to carry which are too heavy for their weakness, and exertions to make in obedience and self-denial which are above their strength. Of themselves they are nothing, and can do nothing but as succoured from above. Believing and feeling their own insufficiency, they would be always near their help.

5. That they may be enriched. God is rich, rich in mercy, rich in goodness, rich in grace; and in following after Him His people are enriched and filled with His goodness. The riches of His glory is their treasury; and Christ having the key that opens it, and authority and power over all it contains, their wants are supplied, and their souls filled with all the fulness of God.

6. That they may be preserved. Their adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. The world is a numerous and formidable party, devising their hurt. Yet are they in safety, because they follow hard after God their preserver.

7. That they may be brought to His kingdom and glory. He is the breaker up of their way before them, and that they might not err, or go wrong, and come short, He hath appointed the Captain of Salvation their leader and commander.

(A. Shanks.)

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KJV: My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

WEB: My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.