777. EZR 8:22. SEEKING THE LORD, AND ITS ADVANTAGES

Ezr_8:22. Seeking the Lord, and Its Advantages

"The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him."’97Ezr_8:22.

Our text contains a great scriptural truth, applicable to all ages, countries, and persons. It is a truth which is corroborated by many parallel passages, and therefore expresses a subject of more than ordinary importance. There are two things clearly expressed in the text,’97man’s responsibility, and the different results of piety and sin. God’s hand shall be upon all those who seek him, and that for good, and his wrath is against those who forsake him. Observe, we are directed,

I. To seeking God and its advantages.

Seeking God denotes,

1. A consciousness of our need of him.

Men in general do not regard God,’97he is not in all their thoughts. Many feel as Pharaoh did, when he exclaimed, "Who is the Lord," &c. But the enlightened, convicted sinner, and the true Christian, feel that God is the fountain of their existence, and the only source of their peace and happiness. "Whom have I in heaven, but thee," &c. God is all and in all to the pious mind, and their need of him is every moment’s experience. 2. Earnest and fervent prayer to God.

Ezr_8:23. Seeking and praying are synonymous. Thus Christ taught his disciples. Ask, seek, knock, &c. Thus, too, Job says, Job_23:3, "Oh that I knew where I could find him," &c. We cannot find God but by earnest prayer and supplication, and he is ever near to all who call upon him. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord."

3. To seek the Lord is to come to him in the way of his appointment.

We may seek anxiously and fervently, but what will it avail if we seek in the wrong way? Thus heathen philosophers labored to know the true God. Thus, too, many anxious pagans. Many are like the devotional eunuch, they read, &c., but understand not. The word of God is, however, explicit and full on this subject. "Christ is the way, the truth, and the life." One God, and one mediator, &c. "No man cometh to the Father but by Christ."

4. To labor in all things to have his approbation.

To commit all to him,’97to refer all to him,’97to acknowledge him in all,’97and seek his blessing upon all our steps. To set the Lord always before us, and to labor to walk well-pleasing in his sight. Notice the advantages arising to those who thus seek him. "The hand of the Lord is upon all," &c.

1. The hand of his pardoning mercy.

To those who thus seek him, he says, "I, even I, am he who blotteth out your iniquities." "Seek ye the Lord," &c. Then it follows, "Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," &c.

2. The hand of his delivering power.

He delivers the souls of his people,’97raises them from the horrible pit, &c. Translates them from the kingdom of darkness,’97brings their spirits out of the prison of sin, and from the dominion of Satan. Rescues from the gall of bitterness, and the bonds, &c.

3. The hand of his providing goodness. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. He is their shepherd, and they shall not want. He leads them into green pastures, &c. "My God shall supply all you need," &c.

4. The hand of his heavenly guidance. The Lord leads and guides his people.

"He led them by the right way," &c. "The Lord shall lead thee continually," &c. "Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory."

5. The hand of his sustaining grace.

The Christian is weak and feeble; of himself insufficient; exposed to many enemies and perils. The saints of the Lord are therefore only absolutely secure in his hand. He keeps them by his mighty power,’97he preserves them for his kingdom and glory. We notice, there is often

6. The hand of his manifest providence. How clearly do we see this in the history of his church and people. It is said of one, "So long as he sought the Lord, the Lord made him to prosper." How many thousands have experienced that "godliness is profitable to all things," &c. Notice,

II. Forsaking God, and its attendant evils.

To forsake God is the opposite course to that we have described in seeking the Lord. It is refusing him homage and veneration. It is to disobey him, to live without his fear; to turn from the way of righteousness; to withdraw our hand from the gospel plough, &c. To draw back, to make shipwreck, &c. Now against these, his power and wrath are declared. See text. Power to punish, wrath to inflict a fearful and eternal doom. Power and wrath of God to cast both body and soul into hell fire. See Heb_10:22, &c. "A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."

Application

We learn,

1. The value of true religion. The good hand of the Lord upon us.

2. The awfulness of apostasy from the Lord.

3. The necessity of both vigilance and perseverance. See Heb_3:12; Heb_4:10-13.

4. Urge the unconverted to seek the Lord, and live.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS