1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God… The Lord God, even my God. It is possible for us to have thoughts of God that keep him wholly external to us, and altogether unrelated to us. And it may be feared that such are the thoughts of God usually cherished by men, Though they may have a certain influence on us, the full and saving power of God cannot be known until we have appropriated him, and come into direct and personal relations with him. A man finds God a living force upon thought, heart, life, and conduct when he calls him my God. The work of Christ is, in great part, the bringing about of this relation, and the persuasion of the man to recognize it fully. Man lost says, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, and hid myself. Man redeemed, and standing right with God, says, I flee unto thee to hide me. For thou art my God. I. How CAN GOD BE THUS PERSONALLY APPREHENDED? 1. By accepting the revelation of his fatherhood which he makes in Christ the Son, and entering into the privilege and duty which it involves. 2. By winning the trustful, thankful love of those who know they are forgiven and redeemed. 3. By maintaining those close and intimate communions with God which bring freshly to us the joy of his care. II. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SUCH PERSONAL RELATIONS? 1. On God's part. Just what God loves, and what he is sure to meet with the fullest bestowments of his grace, is man's love and trust expressed in the words my God. 2. On man's part. The relation becomes the most hallowing force exerted on the whole life. The man wants to be worthy of, wants to be like, his God. III. WHAT MAY IMPERIL SUCH RELATIONS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED? This may be treated in detail, or in the general principle. To say, my God," involves maintaining the trustfulness of full and obedient submission; and, therefore, the peril lies in some returning form of wilfulness. This separates us at once, in feeling, from God, so that the words "my God" will not rise to our lips. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. |
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