Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.- James 4:8.
How sweetly is the children’s duty and the father’s promise joined together! The latter is a most powerful encouragement to the former; though we were "sometimes afar off, yet being made nigh by the blood of Jesus," we are exhorted to DRAW nigh to God in prayer, in full assurance of faith, firmly believing that "faithful is he who hath promised," he will draw nigh to us to bless us. To live near God is our heaven below; to experience a distance from him is our misery; we cannot draw nigh to God but in the way he has drawn nigh to us, that is in Christ, in the humanity of Jesus his Son; in all our approaches to God, consider this, Jesus is the object of our faith, and GOD IN HIM; all other objects drawn nigh to, will leave the soul in a painful sense of distance from the true God and real comfort. Happy, only happy canst thou be, while thou art daily living in close communion and near fellowship with thy God and Saviour. While the terrors of the law drive legal spirits to duty to fulfil terms of peace and conditions of acceptance, evangelical promises ever sweetly constrain and encourage to every duty those who "are not under the law, but under grace." To live in neglect of our duty and God’s ordinances, is devilish licentiousness; but to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, is true Christian liberty: here is our mercy, we have a sure way of access; by Jesus we draw nigh; in him God and man meet; the Holy Spirit is our strength, "praying in the Holy Ghost." As it is the office of Christ to intercede FOR us, so the Holy Ghost intercedes IN us; as an advocate within, he enables us to plead in faith what Jesus is to us, what he hath done for us; so we speak with confidence to our dear Father: he helps in prayer, as a nurse helpeth a little child that is unable to go of itself, or as a weak decrepit person is upheld by the arm.
Here is our encouragement, the word of promise, "God will draw nigh to you." This, O soul, is thy happiness below, thy heaven on earth, to have access to the God of mercies, and the Father of all consolations draw nigh to thee; thou sweetly findest it so; not merely to draw nigh to duty, but to God in duty; to find and feel the special presence and blessing of the Lord; without this, loving hearts cannot be satisfied; communion and fellowship with God, finding nearness of spirit, delightful intercourse, having to do with God, and receiving inward peace and love from him; O, this is the glory of the life of faith on Jesus! and this draws us away from, and makes us dead to all things beside. When God and Christ and heaven is within, all without becomes truly mean and despicable in comparison. "It is good for me," saith Asaph, "to draw near to God."- Psalms 73:28.
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. 1 Samuel 20:4.
Such is the language of generous love, and sincere friendship. There never was a greater instance of it, subsisting between men, than between Jonathan and David. Poor David was in great distress. Saul sought his life. He flies to his friend Jonathan, opens his whole heart to him, and solemnly assures him, “As thy soul liveth, there is but one step between me and death.” On which, Jonathan thus declares his love and faithfulness. “Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.” How must David’s heart be affected by this noble, this loving promise! O Christian, here is somewhat very similar to thine own case. Consider, (1st.) There is but a step between thee and death. Thou knowest not how soon thy last step may be taken. What friend hast thou to go to? Verily, the King’s Son, the Son of God. As Jonathan signifies, given of the Lord: so Jesus is the gift of the Lord, to be a friend and a Saviour to all his Davids; to all his beloved people. (2d.) Great as the love, sincere as the friendship of Jonathan was; yet the love and friendship of Jesus infinitely exceeds it. Jonathan never laid down his life for his friend David. Jesus did for all his beloved: and he gives them this full and precious promise, “Whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do,” (John 14:13.) (3d.) The power, as well as the love of our heavenly friend Jesus, infinitely exceeds Jonathan’s. His love might wish to do that for David, which his power was not able to effect. But not so with Christ. His power is as great as his love, and neither knows measure nor end. (4th.) Was David happy in having such a friend, in whose bosom he could pour his sorrows, and upon whose love he could trust his concerns? Infinitely more happy art thou, O Christian, thou beloved of the Lord. Does thy soul desire heaven below and heaven above in the enjoyment of Christ? “He is able to do exceedingly abundant above all we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20.) Blessed be the day, I ever knew this beloved Friend. All power in heaven and earth is committed to our friend Jesus. Seeing this is so, why art not thou certainly happy, in such a friend as Christ is? Why, (1st.) You entertain base suspicions of his love, by unbelief. Therefore, (2d.) You do not prove his love and his power, by coming freely to him, and telling him thy sorrows, as David did to Jonathan. Ye have not, because ye ask not, James 4:2.
How sweet upon our Saviour’s love
Daily to meditate!
It brings down comfort from above,
And doth to heav’n translate.