18 God's Precious Thoughts
God’s Precious Thoughts The power to think, and to turn our thoughts to a practical account, is a great privilege. By this we are distinguished from the brute creation beneath us, and are associated with the angelic nature above us. But intellect varies, and is differently influenced — hence the difference in thoughts. We love to be thought of, especially by noble men, men of renown.
Now God’s intellect is infinite, his heart is holy, and therefore his thoughts are wonderful. O what a privilege to have a place in God’s thoughts, and to know what God thinks of us! The Psalmist was affected with this, and therefore he cried out, "How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God, how great is the sum of them!"Psalms 139:17.
God’s thoughts must be like his nature, there must therefore be a vastness and perfection in them. His nature, like his law — is holy, just, and good, and therefore every thought must be a holy thought, a good thought, a just thought. God could never think an unwise thought, an unjust thought, an unholy thought, a cruel thought. Every thought of his heart must be consistent with love, for his nature is love. God has thought of us, and he has thought for us.
Thought occupied his mind from all eternity — and we were in his thoughts. The ancient council, and the everlasting covenant — were but the effect of his thoughts.
He thought of us as sinners — and thought of how he could deliver us, and bless us with the highest blessings.
He thought of our guilt — and provided an atonement for it, in the service and sacrifice of his own Son.
He thought of our weakness — and provided a remedy for it, in the gift of his Holy Spirit.
He thought of our proneness to wander — and provided against it, by constituting his Son our Shepherd, and giving us into his custody and keeping.
He thought of our fears — and provided an antidote for them, in his precious promises and solemn oath.
He thought of our foes — and provided that we should be a match for them all, by making his strength perfect in our weakness. The thoughts of God illustrate his relation to us. Having determined to adopt us for his children, and to become our covenant God and Father — his thoughts of us were paternal. He thought to prevent evil — and he made such perfect arrangements, that no penal evil can happen to us. We may be afflicted, put to pain, and sorely tried — but we shall never be condemned or punished. He thought to supply all our needs, and for every need he has provided, and every one of his people prove that there is no lack unto those who fear him. He thought to raise us to honor — and therefore he made us his children, calls us his treasure, and brings us into union with himself. He is therefore our husband — and his thoughts are those of the kindest, wisest, and best of husbands — all love. He thought to enrich us — and therefore made us his heirs, and joint heirs with his Son. He thought to make us happy — and therefore appointed us to dwell in his presence forever. The thoughts of God are very deep — so that we cannot fathom them. Hence David said, "O Lord, how great are your works! and your thoughts are very deep." His thoughts are very high — so that we cannot attain to the full meaning of them. "As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." His thoughts are peaceful — as he says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end." His thoughts are efficient — and will secure his people, as says the prophet, "Many nations are gathered against you. But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor." His thoughts are immutable, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." His thoughts must be carried out, must have their fulfillment, "The anger of the Lord will not diminish until it has finished all he has planned. In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly." The thoughts of the Lord are precious to the believer. They are his Father’s thoughts, his Savior’s thoughts; and as the Holy Spirit unfolds them to his mind, or leads him into them — they are esteemed by him to be as valuable as wealth — as sweet as honey — and as delightful as perfect health. The thoughts of the Lord are very numerous, extending to all objects and subjects, all times and seasons, all connections and relations. Therefore he says, "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare!" God’s thoughts are incalculably important, and should always regulate ours; for just in proportion as God’s thoughts regulate our thoughts, feelings, desires, and pursuits — shall we be holy, and happy, and useful.
Reader, what are your thoughts of God? Do you think of him as a child should think of a father — as a creature should think of his beneficent Creator — and as a sinner, saved by grace, should think of his gracious and almighty Savior? Do you? Are your thoughts of God honorable? Are they befitting? Are they such as you will never be ashamed of? I am afraid we do not always think of God as we should. I fear also that we do not realize the sinfulness of our thoughts as we should. Holy Spirit, you search all things, yes the deep things of God — unfold God’s thoughts to us; and regulate our thoughts in reference to God, that we may think of him with reverence, love, and holy fear. O to have the heart filled daily with God’s precious thoughts!