Here we see, the saint with his God, in a way of humble dependence ; and his God with him, in a way of effectual support.
1. The saint with his God —
[Numberless are the difficulties with which the Christian is encompassed, whilst yet in himself he has not power to surmount the smallest of them. In fact, he has to wrestle not only with flesh and blood, but with all the principalities and powers of hell itself. What then shall he do ? How shall he entertain a hope of a successful issue ? He would sit down in utter despair, but that he remembers he has with him, at all times, a Friend, who is almighty, and all-sufficient for him. He has been taught to look unto God as his Father in Christ Jesus : he has been assured, that, since he has fled to Christ for refuge, and sought for reconciliation with God through Him, he is entitled to regard God as a friend, and to commit into his hands his every concern. Hence he becomes com- posed, in the midst of all his trials ; and comforts himself with the reflection, ' I am continually with my God : I see him ever present with me : confiding in him, I have no fear : it is a small matter to me what confederacies there may be against me : having him at hand, I need no other help : I therefore repose all my confidence on him, and " cast all my care on him".']
2. His God with him —
[To enter fully into this idea ; conceive of a child passing over rocks where there is scarcely room for his feet ; and where the path is so slippery, that* it is scarcely possible for him to stand ; and where there are precipices on every hand so steep and tremendous, that a single false step must of necessity cause him to be dashed in pieces. Conceive a father guiding his beloved child in all this way; " holding him by his right hand," that he may not fall ; and raising him up, if at any time he have fallen ; and preserving him from all the dangers to which he is exposed. Here you see our God with the soul who trusts in him. Not for a moment does he leave the trembling saint : and it is altogether in consequence of this effectual help that any saint in the universe is enabled to pursue his way. Hence every child of God ascribes his safety to him who has thus upheld him ; and with unfeigned gratitude exclaims, " My foot standeth fast : in the congregation will I bless the Lord3."]
In unison with his present experience, are,
II. His future prospects —
a Ps. xxvi. 12.