PSALMS. 16: 8 by JOS. CLARKE.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 2, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 9.

PSALMS. 16: 8.

By JOS. CLARKE.

“I HAVE set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

Here is the great secret of David’s godly life; he placed continually before his face, the presence of God. He did not, like his predecessor Saul, rush on in his own strength and wisdom, but in all important and trying occasions he sought unto God for direction.

David lived habitually near to God; he called upon God every day; many times each day he praised God. Ps. 119:164. “On thee do I wait all the day.” Ps. 25:5. And in Ps. 88:1, he says, “O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.”

It was this every day and every hour service, which drew down from God favor and protection, and love, upon David and his people; and, following this course of thought and action, he could say of God, “He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” This was David’s rock of defense, his sanctuary, his secure place of rest, his place of safety, living close to God. When he did this, success crowned all his labors, and his foes were everywhere subdued.

Living thus, the Christian is happy and safe; and living thus he has an influence for good; but when he backslides from God, and becomes lukewarm, then he becomes dead and barren in the work of God.

When the church loses the power of its first love, it is exhorted to return, under penalty of being removed from the favor of God. It is not a trivial offense in the sight of God to become lukewarm in his service. See Rev. 2:5; 3:16.

JOS. CLARKE.