Lord I need thee every hour, every moment of the day.

Posted : 24 Jul, 2013 02:13 AM

Psalm 119:132 Look upon me, and be merciful unto me, as You do unto those that love Your name.





The highest ardency of holy desire is no ground of satisfaction

before God. Nor does the believer in his most elevated

moments forget his proper character-always a sinner-needing

mercy every moment-in every duty. His prayer for mercy therefore suitably follows his exalted expression of love-Look

upon me, and be merciful unto me. Mercy is indeed secured

to him beyond the power of earth and hell to despoil him of it;

but the comfortable sense of this mercy is given only

according to the earnestness of his desires, and the simplicity

of his faith. And this is indeed a blessing, with which no

earthly source of satisfaction can compare. What are all the

riches of the world without it, but splendid poverty, as little

able to supply the place of Jesus in the soul, as the

magnificent array of the starry skies is to compensate for the

absence of the sun? It is night with the child of God-Egyptian

night- "darkness which may be felt," until his Sun appear to

chase away his gloom- until his Lord hear his cry-Look upon

me, and be merciful unto me!

To have this portion of those that love the name of God, is,

then, the grand object. To have our offering, as Abel's was,

accepted with God-to walk as Enoch walked, with God-to

commune with Him as Abraham and Moses were privileged to

do-to be conformed with the holy Apostle to the death of

Christ-in a word, to be interested in all the purchase of a

Savior's blood- "this is the heritage of the Lord's servants"-this

is the "one thing that we have desired of the Lord, and are

seeking after,"-"this," with the dying Psalmist, "is all our

salvation, and all our desire." "Remember me then, O Lord,

with the favor that You bear to Your people; O visit me with

Your salvation; that I may see the good of Your chosen: that I

may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation; that I may glory

with Your inheritance."

And yet, alas! how often has the power and deceitfulness of

sin cast us into so lifeless a state, that we are not only living

without the enjoyment of this portion, but at rest without it;

scarcely knowing or caring whether the Lord look on us or

not? Can we wonder, that our holy, jealous God, should "hide

Himself," and "go and return to His place?" His next manifestations will probably be in the way of sharp conviction,

making us to feel our distance, our coldness, our barrenness:

awakening us to search into the cause; and, in the contrast of

our sad condition with those who are walking in His favor,

again bringing forth the cry-Look upon me, and be merciful

unto me, as You do unto those that love Your name. The

prayer of humility, earnestness, and perseverance, though it

may be tried awhile, will surely never be forgotten. If therefore

we cannot yet "sing in the ways of the Lord," yet let us not

cease to mourn after Him, until He look upon us, and "satisfy

us with His mercy." And oh! let us remember that there is but

one way through which one gracious look, or one expression

of tender mercy, can visit our souls. Let our eyes and heart

then be ever fixed on Jesus. It is only in this His "beloved"

Son that the Lord can look upon us, so as not to "behold

iniquity in us." But we "are complete in Him." Here then let us

wait; and when this our prayer has received its answer in the

Lord's best time-whether it be in "the goings of our God in the

sanctuary," or in the more secret manifestation of His love-

Christians, "arise, and shine." Let it be known, that you have

been on the mount with God, by the luster of your face, the

adorning of your profession, before the world.

Lord! since our looks to You are often so slight, so cold, so

distant, that no impression is made upon our hearts; do

condescend continually to look upon us with mercy and with

power. Give us such a look, as may touch us with tenderness

and contrition, in the remembrance of that sin, unbelief, and

disobedience, which pierced the hands, the feet, the heart of

our dearest Lord and Savior. Oh! for that contrite spirit, in

which we shall enjoy the look of Your special favor! Oh! for a

glimpse of Your love, that will put our spiritual enemies to

shame! Oh! for that sunshine of Your countenance, which

brings present salvation to our souls!



by

Charles Bridges

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