“GODLY men in olden
times felt God to be very near them and they attributed everything they saw in
nature to the direct operation of His hand. They were not accustomed to speak
of “the laws of matter,” “the operation of natural forces” and “the outcome of
diverse causes” but they thought more of the First Cause, the foundation and
pillar of all existence—and they saw Him at work on all sides. Hear how the
Psalmist sings, “You make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
You visit the earth and water it. You prepare them corn when you have so
provided for it. You water the ridges thereof abundantly; you settle the
furrows thereof: you make it soft with showers; you bless the springing
thereof. You crown the year with Your goodness.” God was very near in those
days. As Herbert says—
“One might have sought
and found You presently
At some fair oak, or
bush, or cave, or well.”
If the result of our
philosophy has been to put God farther off from the consciousness of His
creatures, God save us from such philosophy and let us get back again into the
simple state in which we were children at home and God, our great Father,
worked all things for us. Let us note the distinct mention of God throughout
the psalm, for it is well worthy of notice, and let our speech be more after
the olden sort—with less of our supposed knowledge in it and a good deal more
concerning the presence and the goodness of God.”
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
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