p. 107 | GOD OUR TRUST by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1877

GOD OUR TRUST.

By Joseph Clarke

“They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.” Psalm 125. 1.

The word of God is a sure defense, his promise is a covering in time of danger, and his love is a fortress and a sure place of safety. Here David felt secure at all times. When in danger from his foes, he always hid himself under the shelter of Jehovah’s power. No enemy could harm him there; there he slept in safety. In the care of angels he felt secure when combatting Goliath, or fleeing from Saul, or when in the heat of battle.

When Ahithophel gave counsel against him, he left his cause with God. When he had sinned against God, and forfeited his crown and his honor, then he felt he was in danger; for God could not justify nor accept him, nor protect from the just award of his sin. He hastened to return to the God he had forsaken. With deep sorrow he deplored his selfishness and his crime. He did not rest content till he felt that God had restored him to his favor. For this, he humbled himself, and bewailed his sin, and secured help from God, till his heart was cleansed from the foul stain, and he was again restored to divine favor.

If we could shut up the tender mercy of God against repentant David, the same principle would shut us also out of the sympathy of God. If he could shut his heart against David, he might also look upon us in anger, and leave us to the famine and the pestilence. The mercy which gave pardon to David is now manifest in sparing the world a little longer. And to us, too, he grants a little space for repentance.

Let us praise the Lord for his mercy and his love which shielded David when he turned to the Lord with sincere repentance and with confession. Were he not merciful, who could be saved?

Joseph Clarke.