O WHEN WILT THOU COME UNTO ME

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 3

 

Psalm 101:2

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. 

O when wilt thou come unto me? 

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. -

 
The presence of the Lord is the heaven of his people. They cannot be satisfied or happy without it.
 
He is the object of their love
  —the source of their enjoyment
  —the centre of their desires
  —and the life of their souls.
 
If he is present all is well, but if he is absent nothing can yield them satisfaction.
 
They are restless, their souls can find no repose, their desires no rest.
 
The reasons are many, in his favour is their life
  —in his fellowship is wealth and peace.
 
In his presence is fulness of joy
  —safety
     —rest
       —refreshment
            —and victory.
 
His presence promotes their sanctification
  —enlarges their hearts
  —and ripens the fruits of grace.
 
It proves the excellency of their religion.
 
The Lord now visits his people. They sometimes lose the sense of his presence.
 
Having once enjoyed it, they cannot but long for it again.
 
The pleading, desiring, importunate soul shall be satisfied.
 
Reader, have you enjoyed the presence of God?
 
Do you enjoy it now?
 
Are you crying with David, “My soul followeth hard after thee?”
 
Or, “O when wilt thou come unto me?”
 
Or, “Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight?”

 

My thirsty soul with strong desires,

To God, the living God, aspires;

Come, gracious Lord, and let me know,

The joys which from thy presence flow.

 
James Smith