317. 1CH 24:5. NEW YEAR’S SKETCH
1Ch_24:5. New Year’s Sketch
"Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?"’971Ch_24:5
Our text is an appeal of David to the princes and congregation of Israel, on behalf of the temple which Solomon was engaged to erect for the Lord of Hosts. David, anxious that the splendid work should receive the combined attention of the nation at large, thus addressed them, see ver. 1-5. Then he urges upon them the appeal of the text, "Who then is willing," &c. God has set his heart on the erection of a spiritual temple’97an edifice composed of immortal beings. His Son is both the great basis, and the sole architect of it. He is appointed both to build the temple, and bear the glory. This temple, in its cost and splendor, is to exceed all erections that have ever been surveyed by men. or angels. In this temple, God is to have his abiding throne; and its happy worshippers are to enjoy its refulgent glories forever and ever. God has been rearing it from the period that Abel first offered his acceptable sacrifice. God erects this celestial structure through instrumental agency. He has honored man by thus employing him for his glory. Thousands of immortal souls are laboring together with God, whose meat and drink is to do his will, and to assist in raising the walls of this edifice. And thousands of thousands are anxiously praying and believing for that grand consummation, when the top stone shall be brought on with shouting, "grace, grace, unto it." Now, our spiritual David, even David’s Lord, appeals to you this evening. He addresses you from the excellent glory, and says, "Who then is willing," &c. Let us consider,
I. The Extent of the Divine Claims.
II The Grounds of the Divine Claims.
III. The Appeal on behalf of the Divine Claims.
I. The Extent of the Divine Claims.
1. God claims the surrender of our entire selves.
Notwithstanding we are estranged, aliens, rebels, &c. In a state of hostility, &c. Now, every thing given to God, while we are thus, is rejected by him. A rebel’s homage he rejects’97a rebel’s service he will not own. No, first of all he requires ourselves. "My son, give me thine heart." He claims our affections, of love, delight, and confidence. "Thou shall love," &c. "Delight thyself," &c. "Commit thy way to him, trust also in his name."
He claims the homage of the mind. That the intellect be sanctified, &c. That we know God, admire, &c.; celebrate his perfections; laud and bless his name, &c.
He claims the obedience of the life That we fear always before him. That we keep his commandments, &c., to do them. Walk in his statutes. Make his law our rule of life. Endeavor always to please him. Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God. Now, there is only one way of acceptance, by surrendering ourselves to God through faith in the Lord Jesus. Christ is our altar, as well as sacrifice; on this we must place ourselves trusting only to Jesus for pardon, justification, and eternal life. Having surrendered ourselves, he requires,
2. The consecration of our talents.
Now, men have diversity of talents. The great mass is devoted to sin, to pleasure, and the world. God requires that our talents should be sanctified to his service. Have we the talent of large mental capacity? Nowhere is there such scope for it as in the cause of religion. Have we the gift of eloquence? Piety presents a thousand topics for its practical exhibition. Behold a Newton, a Boyle, a Sir W. Jones, a Locke. With hundreds of others who devoted all their powers to the glory of God He requires,
3. Our influence.
That is, our power with, and over, others. All persons have some amount of this. That authoritative, yet affectionate father possesses it. That tender and loving mother has it. That elder brother’97that friend has it. Almost every one has some of it. The father possessed of the dumb child brought him to Jesus. Andrew brought Simon, his brother, to Jesus. The woman of Samaria fetched her neighbors to come and see the Messiah. Now, God requires our influence.
4. He requires our time.
When we are engaged in the regular duties of life, we are glorifying God, who has enjoined diligence and industry. Time, therefore, must be devoted to the purposes which God has appointed. And you will observe, that sacred things must have the precedency. "Seek first, the kingdom," &c. "My voice thou shalt hear in the morning." Time is our seed-sowing opportunity. We are to sow to the Spirit, and for eternal life.
5. He requires our property.
God claims all the gold and silver as his own. Men have it as he may deposit it. Some less, others more. Now, we are only stewards to occupy for him, till Christ come. This often keeps the heart from him. See the young man, &c. When grace influences the soul it will melt before it. See Act_2:44. The gold of Sheba must be given to Christ. Let us then,
II. Consider the Grounds of the Divine Claims.
1. Then the relationship in which God stands to you.
These claims are the claims of Deity. The Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. Myriads of angels adore him, &c. This Deity is your Father; the author of your being. In him you live and move, &c. He gave your bodies all their members’97fashioned you in secret. He endowed your souls with all their faculties. He stamped upon you the impress of immortality.
2. There are the obligations arising from his boundless goodness to you.
I have referred to him as the author of your being. Now, trace his connection with you from the dawn of your existence, to this hour. Surely goodness and mercy have followed you, &c. From his wardrobe you have been constantly clothed. From his table you have been regularly fed. His air you breathe’97every instant you are enjoying his mercies.
3. Then there are the demands arising from redeeming grace.
"Ye are not your own," &c. God says, "Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee."
4. There is an appeal to your welfare.
God addresses your self-love. Do you not love life? "Hear, and your souls shall live." "Whoso findeth me findeth life." Do you love refined pleasure? "Her ways are ways," &c. Do you not desire to be interested in a benignant providence? "Who shall harm you," &c. Do you not wish for a peaceful death? "Mark the upright," &c. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Are you not solicitous for a glorious eternity? "Then shall the king say," &c. These, then, are the advantages of consecrating yourselves to the Lord. Notice,
III. The Appeal on behalf of the Divine Claims.
Now, this appeal is,
1. To your voluntary choice.
No compulsion in religion; no coercing men into piety; no accidental godliness. It must be of your own choice. So God placed the tree of knowledge, &c., before our first parents. So Joshua appealed to the Israelites. "Behold I have set before you life and death." So Jesus invited all men, &c. Said to the rejectors, you will not come, &c. This appeal is,
2. To all of you.
It is a general appeal, no exception. Who then? I ask you who are young, will you, &c. There is certainly a peculiar blessedness about early piety. You have time, energies, an enlarged sphere before you. I ask you, who are middle-aged, you parents and masters. It will bless your households’97expel the plague spot’97keep away the destroying angel, &c. I ask the old, the gray-headed. I know you cannot do much; but your soul may be saved. It is not too late to avoid eternal death. Now, I ask you, each and all. "Who then is willing," &c. This appeal is,
3. For your present decision.
"This day." The past is irreparable’97the future is uncertain. God wants you to consecrate yourselves now. "To-day, if ye will hear his voice." The first Sabbath evening in this year invites you to begin a new course, &c. "Now then, Who is willing," &c.
Application
Shall I dare to hope that one poor sinner has felt the force of this address, and is now waiting to perform this act of self-dedication. Do you ask how it is to be done. Notice,
1. You must do it with serious deliberation. Of all engagements it is the most momentous. Do not be like the foolish king, &c. Or the wayside hearers.
2. Do it with earnest determination. It will require fervor of soul. You will have difficulties, enemies, &c. Holy resolution is indispensable.
3. Do it in humble dependence upon Divine grace. He will draw you, keep you, hold you up. But you must look entirely to God’s mercy, and Christ’s merits.
4. You must do it forever. Having put your hands to the plough, they must never be withdrawn
Autor: JABEZ BURNS