October 1

I am with you. - Jeremiah 42:11.

WILL God in very deed dwell with man upon the earth? The question is answered, “The tabernacle of God is with men,” and “the Lord God will dwell among them.” The foundation of his promise in this view was laid in the incarnation of his Son, and therefore his name was to be called “Immanuel, that is, God with us.” But he was to be with us, not only in his humanity, but in his Divine nature. As to his essential presence, God is with all his creatures. His immensity fills heaven and earth. Reason shows this as well as revelation. Satan and the fallen angels, as well as ourselves, “live and move and have their being in him.”

But when we read in the Scriptures of the presence of God in the way of promise or privilege, we may be sure it means something distinguishable from the perfection of his nature, that is, from his Omnipresence in which he is with all his creatures. It is therefore said that “the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,” that “the Lord is nigh to them that call upon him.” And this was assuredly the meaning of the promise given to Moses, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Effects prove agency, and God’s agency proves his presence. All the works of God around us in nature and in providence show that he cannot be far off from any one of us. Here is the work, and therefore the Agent must be here who produced it. “We look this morning into the Church, here are works, wondrous works, which prove that he is near. Here is one who was “darkness,” but now “he is light in the Lord.” He saw no form nor comeliness in the Redeemer that he should desire him. Now he is “all his salvation and all his desire.” Here is another who was careless, but it is said of him, “Behold he prayeth.” Here is another who was a self righteous Pharisee trusting in himself that he was righteous, and “despising others,” but now he says, “In the Lord Jehovah have I righteousness and strength.” Here is a drunkard who has become sober; a swearer who has learned to fear an oath; here is a man who was a burden to himself, and a curse and a plague to all the neighbourhood, but since he has been delivered from the stings of a guilty conscience and the tyranny of his vile passions, he has been softened; and now having obtained mercy, he delights to show mercy, and is a devoted follower of him who went about doing good.

God is surely with such persons as these, as he was not once, as he is not now with others. He is with them so as to be in them at the same time, working in them both “to will and to do of his own good pleasure,” enabling them to walk by faith, to live above the world whilst they are in it, and to have their conversation in heaven.