The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 27:8

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

(Second sermon.)

The reward of diligent search.

"My heart said," etc. "Seek, and ye shall find," is one of the great laws of life. The miner must dig for the precious ore; the fisherman launch out into the deep, and let down his nets for a draught; the husbandman must plough and sow and have long patience, if he is to reap. How is it that in these days the secrets of nature have been laid bare as never before? Because men have sought as they never sought before. And why, in the midst of these discoveries, have so many keen eyes failed to find God? Because they have not sought (Jeremiah 29:13).

I. THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH, LAYING HOLD ON GOD'S PROMISE. Faith is trust. We do not trust God because we believe his Word, but believe his promise because we trust him (Hebrews 11:6). But he has not left us to vague trust (reasonable though that would have been). He has filled the Bible with promises "exceeding great and precious" (Isaiah 4:1, Isaiah 4:6, 7; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Luke 11:9). We need not ask what particular reference lies in "when thou saidst." God is always saying it.

II. THE LANGUAGE OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMAND. The invitation of a king is a command. Every promise carries in its bosom a duty; every duty, a promise.

III. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE. "My heart said." The utterance of holy desire, longing after communion with God. Prayer is more than simple asking; it is communion of spirit with our Father and our Saviour, by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 6:6; Jud Matthew 1:20).

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