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I AND THEE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 25, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 26.

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I AND THEE.

By John F. Jones

ELDER JOHN F. JONES. (Wilmington, Del.)
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” Ps. 39: 7.
One can readily see the contrast between the “I” and the “Thee” in this text. The book of Psalms is particularly noticeable because of its many contrasts between “I” and “Thee.”
It has ever been the studied plan of Satan to keep before the human family the I, and shut away from sight the Thee, in whom alone is our hope.
The self-examination of the psalmist, as brought to view in the first six verses, reveals an experience familiar to many a child of God. David’s success in the spiritual life, to the extent that he was called “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13: 22), makes his experience of vital interest to every soul whose difficulties are similar to those of the shepherd-king.
The first verse of the thirty-ninth psalm gives evidence that in the presence of wicked or non-professing persons he had conducted himself in a manner not conducive to the best results for God. What was that way? Perhaps he talked too much. At least he realized that he must “bridle his tongue.”
Then he goes to the other extreme, and “keeps silence” when an opportunity is presented to speak a word in season. Verse 2. Afterward comes serious self-examination, with the Spirit of God to guide his mind aright. Then spake he with his tongue. Was this his speech? “I thank thee, Lord, that I am not like others around me. I do not worship the Beast nor his image. I pay a conscientious tithe and do not believe men go to heaven when they die. I preach the Third Angel’s Message and teach the Sabbath truth with lips touched with the coals from off the altar.” No, no, brethren; it was not I, I, but it was, “Lord, make me to know mine end [my final outcome], and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am,” or “what time I have here,” margin.
Now comes the result of his self-examination: “Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.”
The same Spirit bears witness that “the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor. 7: 31); and as for riches, they “certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that fleeth toward heaven.” Prov. 23: 5, R. V.
Remember the parable: “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?” Luke 12: 16-20, R. V.
The psalmist feels that the fashion of this world does not fill the desires of the soul. Neither do landed estates, gold, or silver, bring that blessed peace which the soul longs to obtain. No, no; but the Holy Spirit in His faithful guidance, enables every humble child of God to exclaim with the psalmist, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”