p. 153 | Counsel on Letting by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 9, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 10.

Counsel on Letting

By John Norton Loughborough

IN the Scriptures many prayers are found for the proper letting. “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” Job 31:6. “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence.” Ps. 17:2. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14. “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.” Ps. 25:21. “Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon Thee.” Ps. 31:17. “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:8, 9. “Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.” Ps. 33:22. “Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.” Ps. 67:3. “Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee.” Ps. 70:4. “Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day.” Ps. 71:8. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before Thee.” Ps. 79:11. “Let my prayer come before Thee: incline Thine ear unto my cry.” Ps. 88:2. “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.” Ps. 90:17. “Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for Thy law is my delight.” Ps. 119:77. “Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts.” Ps. 119:173. “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Ps. 141:2.

The Lord not only gave excellent commands respecting letting, but there is much good counsel concerning the same. When a strife arose between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot, Abraham said, “Let there be no strife; . . . for we be brethren.” Gen. 13:8. The margin reads, “We be men brethren,” as if he had said, We are men; let us not act like quarrelsome children.

In the words of Elihu we read, “Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.” Job 34:4. The psalmist pleads: “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.” Ps. 95:2. “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.” Ps. 107:32. “Let them now that fear the Lord say, that His mercy endureth forever.” Ps. 118:4. “As the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.” 1 Cor. 7:17. “Let all your things be done with charity.” 1 Cor. 16:14. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Phil. 4:5. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Heb. 10:22. “Let brotherly love continue.” Heb. 13:1.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.