“My People Doth not Consider”
By H. A. St. John
“My people doth not consider.” Isa. 1:3. To consider is to ponder, meditate, reflect, think closely and intently upon, literally, to sit down by. Let us sit down by seven things that the Lord in his Word has told us to consider. 1. “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” 1 Sam. 12:24. Never can mortal man fully fathom the great things the Lord has done for him. They cannot be reckoned up for number; they cannot be measured for greatness; they cannot be estimated for value. “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” It is an exhaustless theme to which we should often turn with delight. May we ever remember the “great things the Lord hath done” for us, that we may fear the Lord and ever serve him in truth and with all the heart. 2. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Heb. 3:1; 12:3. A wonderful theme indeed for our consideration! It is included among the great things the Lord has done for us. Herein is an infallible recipe for all weariness and faintness in the Lord’s service. How pleasant, how delightful, how fascinating the theme of the unsearchable riches of Christ, our Apostle, our High Priest, our Saviour, our all, and all ours. Let us consider Christ. 3. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1. Persons overtaken in a fault, who are departing from the path of rectitude, are subjects of special interest to the enemy of souls. His power will be exerted to the utmost upon the erring one, and upon the person who seeks to reclaim him, in order that the effort may prove abortive. This is the reason why the person who seeks to reclaim the wayward will have a close conflict with Satan, and needs to be spiritual and specially watchful. In such an effort, he needs to consider himself. 4. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” Heb. 10:24. Then it is proper to consider one another, and that, too, for the purpose of provoking one another; not to hatred and evil deeds, however, as is too often done, but to love and to good works. There is much consideration often given to the question of how to provoke to impatience, to anger, and hence to wrong acts. Would that the same measure of consideration was given to that kind of provocation that works for the glory of God. A daily exemplification of our own love, ever increasing and abounding, and revealing itself in good works, will be the best way to provoke others to love and good works. 5. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” Ps. 41:1. The poor we have with us always, and hence this important subject of consideration is ever at hand. Too often we find ourselves considering the rich, which tends to envy and unholy ambition. Let us consider the poor with the object of ameliorating their condition, or encouraging them to bear or endure what cannot be helped. The Lord is in such consideration, he blesses it, and stores up blessings for him who thus considers the poor. 6. “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” 2 Tim. 2:7. Consider what inspired writers have said. Study, ponder, reflect, meditate upon these things; sit down by them,—an exhaustless treasure-house; a mine of richest and brightest diamonds and jewels; mental and spiritual food and drink; everything to satisfy the inquiring mind, the aspiring intellect, the hungry soul. Consider what is there said. 7. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Ps. 8:3, 4. What can make us see and sense our own littleness, like the study10of astronomy, the study of the wonderful works of God, as revealed to all eyes in the heavens above us? Surely here is a theme and a field worthy of our highest consideration. In all this study we are thinking God’s thoughts after him, and this of itself is refining, elevating, sanctifying. Jesus said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,” etc. So we may consider the wonders and beauties of nature round about us with great pleasure and continual profit. Hence with so vast a field for consideration, may the Lord never have occasion to say of us, “My people doth not consider.”