The LORDis nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
The Lord is truly close at hand, not only in the future, to every person who calls to Him honestly and with the whole heart. This nearness belongs to His praise as the great, good and righteous King whose kingdom and dominion endure through all generations, whom all His works praise and all flesh is to bless forever. Because He is righteous and holy, He dwells in every home, hears every prayer, shares every sorrow, watches how people treat one another, and invites transgressors to come to Him as Father for love and grace to meet their need. Therefore those who feel their real need can seek Him directly where they are rather than depending on distant human counsel, with His promise made doubly sure that He will hear, answer, pardon, bless and accept all who keep calling in earnest prayer. He gives His Spirit to sincere seekers, goes before them and works with them, supplies what they need from His control of all resources, and holds firmly even the feeble and distressed in their hour of need.
Words and Nearness
The promise belongs to praise of a greatness that is greatly to be praised and unsearchable, declared from one generation to another in mighty acts, wondrous works, terrible acts, great goodness and righteousness, praised by all works and blessed by saints who speak of the glory and power of an everlasting kingdom and dominion enduring through all generations, until every mouth speaks praise and all flesh blesses the holy name forever and ever.
The nearness promised is very near and already present, not merely future, and when the soul seeks God in communion He draws near to it. The infinite One who is nigh dwells in every home, hears every spoken word, listens to every prayer offered, shares every sorrow and disappointment of every soul, and regards how father, mother, sister, friend and neighbor are treated. He pleads with transgressors more earnestly than any earthly parent pleads with an erring child, follows the impenitent with tender invitations beyond any human loving interest, cares for human necessities, and continually pours out love and grace to meet need, giving all who call the privilege of approaching Him as Father.
To call upon Him in truth is to call sincerely, truthfully, and with the whole heart. Sincere calling expresses the soul's real heartfelt need rather than empty words, belongs with seeking Him wholeheartedly and longing for His presence and righteousness, and itself gives a powerful reason to pray and seek His help. His nearness rests on His righteous and holy character, in contrast to human conclusions that are unsound before Him.
God was near to Abraham in this way, communicating His will and giving him clear knowledge of the requirements of His law and of the salvation to be accomplished through Christ. Seeking God with the whole heart brings a sense of His presence and of eternal things as a privilege of His children, making the honors of the world seem small beside it and encouraging the pursuit of eternal things rather than the honors the world offers.
Help for Callers
God is willing to give His Spirit to those who ask Him and call upon Him sincerely. Because the Lord is near to all who call upon Him with a sincere heart, matters can be settled where people are by seeking the Lord directly rather than depending on human counsel or asking advice from distant men. That promise is made doubly and trebly sure and cannot fail, for there is no failure with God. Putting man where God should be leaves leaders less efficient and strong and able, with only what man can give, while calling on God directly brings His nearness and help.
God goes before those who trust Him and works with them, so faith in Him enables His work to advance where they are. When the soul seeks God in communion He draws near to it, and this nearness is essential to the work that needs to be done. His nearness means He will be present to help in the things His servants ask of Him, providing their temporal needs because He controls the resources of the world and knows what they need. He is near to people in great distress and weakness, giving prompt and powerful help in their hour of need, so that even when a person can hold to Jesus only feebly, Jesus holds firmly to the soul He died to save.
He is near to those who call sincerely, ready to hear and answer and bless, and to pardon and accept them. This assurance encourages constant and fervent prayer and faithful living. Students in particular can trust this assurance when they confess their sins and mistakes, make things right with anyone they have injured, and pray constantly.
The Lord is truly close at hand, not only in the future, to every person who calls to Him honestly and with the whole heart. This nearness belongs to His praise as the great, good and righteous King whose kingdom and dominion endure through all generations, whom all His works praise and all flesh is to bless forever. Because He is righteous and holy, He dwells in every home, hears every prayer, shares every sorrow, watches how people treat one another, and invites transgressors to come to Him as Father for love and grace to meet their need. Therefore those who feel their real need can seek Him directly where they are rather than depending on distant human counsel, with His promise made doubly sure that He will hear, answer, pardon, bless and accept all who keep calling in earnest prayer. He gives His Spirit to sincere seekers, goes before them and works with them, supplies what they need from His control of all resources, and holds firmly even the feeble and distressed in their hour of need.
Words and Nearness
The promise belongs to praise of a greatness that is greatly to be praised and unsearchable, declared from one generation to another in mighty acts, wondrous works, terrible acts, great goodness and righteousness, praised by all works and blessed by saints who speak of the glory and power of an everlasting kingdom and dominion enduring through all generations, until every mouth speaks praise and all flesh blesses the holy name forever and ever.
The nearness promised is very near and already present, not merely future, and when the soul seeks God in communion He draws near to it. The infinite One who is nigh dwells in every home, hears every spoken word, listens to every prayer offered, shares every sorrow and disappointment of every soul, and regards how father, mother, sister, friend and neighbor are treated. He pleads with transgressors more earnestly than any earthly parent pleads with an erring child, follows the impenitent with tender invitations beyond any human loving interest, cares for human necessities, and continually pours out love and grace to meet need, giving all who call the privilege of approaching Him as Father.
To call upon Him in truth is to call sincerely, truthfully, and with the whole heart. Sincere calling expresses the soul's real heartfelt need rather than empty words, belongs with seeking Him wholeheartedly and longing for His presence and righteousness, and itself gives a powerful reason to pray and seek His help. His nearness rests on His righteous and holy character, in contrast to human conclusions that are unsound before Him.
God was near to Abraham in this way, communicating His will and giving him clear knowledge of the requirements of His law and of the salvation to be accomplished through Christ. Seeking God with the whole heart brings a sense of His presence and of eternal things as a privilege of His children, making the honors of the world seem small beside it and encouraging the pursuit of eternal things rather than the honors the world offers.
Help for Callers
God is willing to give His Spirit to those who ask Him and call upon Him sincerely. Because the Lord is near to all who call upon Him with a sincere heart, matters can be settled where people are by seeking the Lord directly rather than depending on human counsel or asking advice from distant men. That promise is made doubly and trebly sure and cannot fail, for there is no failure with God. Putting man where God should be leaves leaders less efficient and strong and able, with only what man can give, while calling on God directly brings His nearness and help.
God goes before those who trust Him and works with them, so faith in Him enables His work to advance where they are. When the soul seeks God in communion He draws near to it, and this nearness is essential to the work that needs to be done. His nearness means He will be present to help in the things His servants ask of Him, providing their temporal needs because He controls the resources of the world and knows what they need. He is near to people in great distress and weakness, giving prompt and powerful help in their hour of need, so that even when a person can hold to Jesus only feebly, Jesus holds firmly to the soul He died to save.
He is near to those who call sincerely, ready to hear and answer and bless, and to pardon and accept them. This assurance encourages constant and fervent prayer and faithful living. Students in particular can trust this assurance when they confess their sins and mistakes, make things right with anyone they have injured, and pray constantly.