View source for 38. Establish Your word to Your servant

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<strong>38. </strong><em><strong>Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to Your fear.</strong></em><br><br>
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Often—instead of being <em>quickened in the way</em>—I am fainting under the pressure of unbelief. What then is my resource? Only <em>the word</em> of promise. Lord! seal—<em>establish Your word to Your servant—devoted</em> as I am—as I would be—<em>to Your fear.</em> If &quot;the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom&quot;—a &quot;treasure&quot;—a &quot;strong confidence&quot; &quot;a fountain of life&quot;—how wise—how rich—how safe—how happy—is <em>he who &quot;is devoted to&quot;</em> it! &quot;Blessed&quot; indeed is he—with the favor of his God, the secret of His love, the teaching of His grace, and the mercy of His covenant. The promises of the Old Testament are generally connected with the fear of God, as in the New Testament they are linked with faith. But in truth, so identified are these two principles in their operation, that the faith, by which we apprehend the forgiveness of God, and the privileges of His kingdom, issues in a godly, reverential, filial fear. To be<em>devoted to this fear,</em> completes the character of <em>a servant of God</em>—the highest honor in the universe—the substantial joy of heaven itself. It is an obedience of choice, of reverence, and of love. &quot;Joining himself to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord—to be His servant.&quot; 'Yes, gracious Lord, I had rather be bound than loosed.' I only wish to be loosed from the bonds of sin, that I might be bound to You forever. My heart is treacherous; lay Your own bonds upon me. &quot;O Lord, truly I am Your servant: You have loosed my bonds;&quot; <em>I am</em> <em>&quot;devoted to Your fear.&quot;</em> Is this my desire, my mind, my determination, my character? Then let me plead my title to an interest in the promises of the word—rich and free, &quot;exceeding great and precious,&quot;—all mine, &quot;yes and amen in Christ Jesus;&quot; let me plead, that every <em>word</em> may be <em>&quot;established&quot;</em> in my victory over sin, advancing knowledge of Christ, experience of His love, conformity to His image, and, finally, in my preservation in Him unto eternal life.<br><br>
But how far <em>has</em> the fear of God operated with me as a safeguard from sin, and an habitual rule of conduct? David's confidence in the promises of God, far from lessening his jealousy over himself, only made him more <em>&quot;devoted to the fear&quot;</em> of God. And if my assurance be well grounded, it will ever be accompanied with holy fear; the influence will be known by &quot;standing more in awe of God's word;&quot; having a more steady abhorrence of sin, and a dread of &quot;grieving the Holy Spirit of God.&quot; Thus this filial fear produces a holy confidence; while confidence serves to strengthen fear: and their mutual influence quickens devotedness to the work of the Lord.<br><br>
It is interesting to remark, that the Christian privilege of assurance is not confined to the New Testament dispensation. David's pleading to have the <em>&quot;word of his God established unto him,&quot;</em> was grounded upon the tried foundations of faith. And this direct act of faith, as it regards God in Christ, His engagements and His promises, cannot be too confident. The promises are made to the whole Church, that we might each look for our part and interest in them. God loves to have His own seal and hand-writing brought before Him. &quot;Put Me in remembrance&quot;—He says: &quot;let us plead together.&quot; &quot;He cannot deny Himself.&quot;<br>
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Very cheering is it to mark, how the Lord <em>establishes His word</em> in our own experience. Every day He is fulfilling some promise, and a word made good at one time encourages our confidence for another. The word performed in part is an earnest of the whole, assuring us of the time, when we shall acknowledge His faithfulness, &quot;who performs <em>all things</em> for us.&quot; Thus, as the word is eternally <em>established</em> on the foundation of the Divine engagements, its certainty is sealed to our own conviction. Our confidence is established, that if He has spoken a word, He may be trusted for that word.<br><br>
This, then, is the exercise and the power of faith. I bring wants. I bring <em>Your word</em> of promise. <em>Establish Your word to Your servant.</em> You have bought me with a precious price; You have made me Yours: You have subdued my heart to Yourself, so that it is now <em>&quot;devoted to Your fear.&quot;</em> Whatever, therefore, Your covenant has provided for my sanctification, my humiliation, my chastisement, my present and everlasting consolation<em>, &quot;Establish this word:&quot;</em> let it be fulfilled in me; for I am <em>&quot;Your servant, devoted to Your fear.&quot;</em>
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