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DIRECTIONS FOR AN ACCEPTABLE APPROACH TO GOD
FOR the encouragement of all who feel the burthen of their sins, God has declared, yea has sworn, that “he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live:” and the whole Scriptures bear testimony to that blessed truth. But, lest any should be discouraged by the idea that they know not how to approach him acceptably, it has pleased God to prescribe the very “words” whereby he would have them address him. And assuredly, if he had consulted all the weary and heavy-laden sinners in the universe, and had permitted them, or any individual among them, to dictate to him what expressions he should prescribe, the whole world could never have suggested any that were more suited to the necessities of men, or more satisfactory to their minds, than those recorded in our text.
In the words before us, we see, not merely our general warrant for returning to the Lord, but more particularly,
I. What petitions to offer—
[What would any one who felt the burthen of sin, and a restoration to the Divine favour, desire? What but a full remission of all his sins, and a free communication of all spiritual and eternal blessings? He would wish for pardon to be complete; because if so much as one sin were left upon his soul, it would inevitably plunge him into everlasting perdition — — — He would also wish for his reception to be perfectly gratuitous, because he can never do any thing to merit it at the hands of God — — — Behold then, it is precisely in this way that we are directed to pray; “Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.” And let it be remembered, that this address is not put into the mouths of those only who have contracted a less measure of guilt than others, but of all, to whatever extent “their iniquities” may have abounded, and to whatever depth they may have “fallen” by them. If only we have a desire to “return to the Lord our God,” we are the persons invited and commanded to return in this way.]
In our text, we are further told,
II. What promises to make—
We must not imagine that we can make to God any adequate return for his mercies towards us; nor must we presume to offer any thing to him as an inducement to exercise mercy towards us: nor in any point of view whatever must we promise any thing in our own strength. But his mercies undoubtedly call for the best return that we can make; and they lay us under an obligation to do our utmost to please and serve him. Whatever tribute we can render to him, we should: and he here tells us what he will accept at our hands, namely, the tribute of,
1. A grateful heart—
[The blood of bulls or “calves” is no longer required of us: there are other and better sacrifices which he expects us to offer, namely, “the calves of our lips,” or the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving [Note: Psa_50:13-14; Psa_50:23.]. And these are the offerings which all who are looking to him for mercy desire to offer. In fact, the more any persons are bowed down with a sense of sin, the more they are ready to say, ‘How shall I praise God, if ever I should obtain mercy at his hands! If ever God should admit me to a participation of his kingdom and glory, there will not be one in heaven that will shout the praises of redeeming love so loud as I.’ This tribute therefore the pardoned sinner will delight to pay — — —]
2. A devoted life—
[To turn from sin, and especially from our besetting sins, is indispensably required of all who seek for mercy at God’s hands [Note: Heb_12:1.] — — — The besetting sins of Israel were, creature-confidence, and idolatry: they were always looking to Egypt or Assyria for help, rather than to God; and giving to dumb idols the worship that was due to him alone. These evils therefore they were to renounce; and an engagement to renounce them was required of all who desired the remission of their former sins. Thus, in approaching the Most High God, and supplicating mercy from him, we should determine, with God’s help, never more to provoke the Lord to jealousy by a renewal of those sins of which we profess to have repented. Our besetting sins in particular must be searched out: and whatever they may have been, whether of a spiritual or carnal nature, we must engage, through grace, to mortify and subdue them — — — We must engage, in dependence upon God, to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”]
As great earnestness is required in our prayers, we are taught,
III. What pleas to urge—
[God indeed is not, nor can be, wrought upon by any considerations that we can propose: but for the stirring up of our own souls it is proper and necessary that we should enforce our petitions with becoming pleas. But where shall we find any consideration fit to be presented to the Deity? No where, but in his own perfections, or in his gracious promises. Here however we are at no loss: the compassions of our God are infinite; and may well be pleaded by those who feel their need of mercy. “In him the fatherless findeth mercy:” in him, too, the guilty, as well as the destitute, find mercy. Search the records of his word; and this truth will be seen written as with a sun-beam. Mark that stupendous effort of mercy, the gift of his only dear Son to the accursed death of the cross! Mark the invitations, the promises, the expostulations, the complaints; “Wilt thou not be made clean? O! when shall it once be?” Mark these, I say; and they form such a plea, as must satisfy the most doubting mind, and turn to transports of joy the apprehensions of every desponding soul — — —]
Address—
1. o those who refuse to turn to God—
[Alas! how many turn a deaf ear to the solicitations of heaven! “How often would the Saviour gather us under his wings, and we will not?” But, if you will not turn at God’s reproof, what will ye answer him in the day when he shall judge the world? Low as “ye are fallen,” he now is willing to raise you up: but all possibility of recovery will then be past; and you will sink yet lower still, even into the bottomless abyss of misery. “O consider this, ye that forget God; lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you.”]
2. To those who are beginning to return—
[Mind that you return in his appointed way. Seek not merely a deliverance from wrath, but a restoration to the state from whence ye are fallen. Look back on man in his primeval state, and see how Adam walked with God in Paradise: that is the pattern that you should endeavour to follow, and the standard to which you should aspire. Or, if he be too far removed from your apprehensions, look at the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and see how he walked in the midst of this ungodly world: and endeavour to “walk as he walked.” For the remission of your sins, and your restoration to the Divine favour, let the mercy of God in Christ Jesus be your only plea, your only hope: and, for the honouring of your reconciled God, let the sacrifice of praise be continually offered to him on the altar of your hearts, and every defilement be banished without hesitation or reserve. Thus coming to him, you shall never be cast out; but shall surely be received to a participation of his favour, and to a possession of his glory.]