The measure also of these necessaries is limited. We are not to ask for a store on which we may subsist for a time inde- pendent of God ; but simply for such things as are requisite for our present subsistence. The term that is used in our text^ is indeed variously interpreted : but, when compared with the cor- responding passage in St. Luke'^, its meaning will evidently appear to be that which our translators have affixed to it : we pray from day to day, that God will give us what is necessary for the day. We are not even to " take thought for the mor- row;" at least, not so as to feel any anxious care respecting if^ : for we know not that we shall be alive on the morrow : or, if we be spared, we know that He who provided for us yesterday and to-day, can do the same to-morrow : on Him therefore we should " cast our care, believing that he careth for us," and that he will provide whatever in his wisdom he shall see good for us. In every place, in every event, in every thing, we should see, as it were, that name inscribed, " Jehovah-jireh" The Lord will provide^.]
Now this petition will be found extremely important, if we consider,
II. The instruction to be derived from it —
We need not put any forced interpretation on our text in order to render it instructive ; for.
It TEACHES us many practical lessons that are of great importance :
1. That we should be moderate in our desires of earthly things —
^ Jam. iv. 3. ^ iTriovaior. "^ Luke xi. 3. to kuO' iifxipar.
d ver. 34. « Gen. xxii. 8, 14.