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1993-03-19
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EXPOSITION.
Ignorance is worst when it amounts to ignorance of God,
and knowledge is best when it exercises itself upon _the name_ of
God. This most excellent knowledge leads to the most excellent
grace of faith. O, to learn more of the attributes and character
of God. Unbelief, that hooting nightbird, cannot live in the
light of divine knowledge, it flies before the sun of God's great
and gracious name. If we read this verse literally, there is, no
doubt, a glorious fullness of assurance in the names of God. We
have recounted them in the "Hints for Preachers," and would
direct the reader's attention to them. By knowing his name is
also meant an experimental acquaintance with the attributes of
God, which are everyone of them anchors to hold the soul from
drifting in seasons of peril. The Lord may hide his face for a
season from his people, but he never has utterly, finally,
really, or angrily, _forsaken them that seek him_. Let the poor
seekers draw comfort from this fact, and let the finders rejoice
yet more exceedingly, for what must be the Lord's faithfulness to
those who find if he is so gracious to those who seek.
"O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall how kind thou art,
How good to those who seek.
"But what to those who find, ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus what it is,
None but his loved ones know."
EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.
Verse 10.--"_They that know thy name will put their trust
in thee_." Faith is an intelligent grace; though there can be
knowledge without faith, yet there can be no faith without
knowledge. One calls it quicksighted faith. Knowledge must carry
the torch before faith. #2Ti 1:12|. "For I know whom I have
believed." As in Paul's conversion a light from heaven "shined
round about him" (#Ac 9:3|), so before faith be wrought, God
shines in with a light upon the understanding. A blind faith is
as bad as a dead faith: that eye may as well be said to be a good
eye which is without sight, as that faith is good without
knowledge. Devout ignorance damns; which condemns the church of
Rome, that think it a piece of their religion to be kept in
ignorance; these set up an altar to an unknown God. They say
ignorance is the mother of devotion; but sure where the sun is
set in the understanding, it must needs be night in the
affections. So necessary is knowledge to the being of faith, that
the Scriptures do sometimes baptise faith with the name of
knowledge. #Isa 53:11|. "By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many." Knowledge is put there for faith.--^Thomas
Watson.
Verse 10.--"_They that know thy name will put their trust
in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee_."
The mother of unbelief is ignorance of God, his faithfulness,
mercy, and power. _They that know thee, will trust in thee_. This
confirmed Paul, Abraham, Sarah, in the faith. "I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I
have committed unto him against that day." #2Ti 1:12|. "He is
faithful that promised," and "able also to perform." #Heb 10:23;
11:11; Ro 4:21|. The free promises of the Lord are all certain,
his commandments right and good, the recompense of reward
inestimably to be valued above thousands of gold and silver;
trust therefore in the Lord, O my soul, and follow hard after
him. Thou hast his free promise, who never failed, who hath
promised more than possibly thou couldst ask or think, who hath
done more for thee than ever he promised, who is good and
bountiful to the wicked and ungodly; thou doest his work, who is
able and assuredly will bear thee out. There is a crown of glory
proposed unto thee above all conceit of merit; stick fast unto
his word, and suffer nothing to divide thee from it. Rest upon
his promises though he seem to kill thee; cleave unto his
statutes though the flesh lust, the world allure, the devil tempt
by flatteries or threatenings to the contrary.--^John Ball, 1632.
Verse 10.--"_They that know thy name will put their trust
in thee_." They can do no otherwise who savingly know God's sweet
attributes, and noble acts for his people. We never trust a man
till we know him, and bad men are better known than trusted. Not
so the Lord; for where his name is ointment poured forth, the
virgins love him, fear him, and rejoice in him, and repose upon
him.--^John Trapp.
HINTS TO PREACHERS.
Verse 10.--I. All-important knowledge--"know thy name."
II. Blessed result--"will put their trust in thee." III.
Sufficient reason--"for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that
seek thee."---T. W. Medhurst.
Knowledge, Faith, Experience, the connection of the
three.
Verse 10.--The names of God inspire trust. JEHOVAH Jireh,
Tsidkenu, Rophi, Shammah, Shalom, Nissi, ELOHIM, SHADDAI, ADONAI,
etc.