Appearing Before God
Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?


These words express —

I. FIRM BELIEF IN THE ESPECIAL PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE ORDINANCES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. We are always in God's sight, but He is especially near in the sanctuary. These ordinances have this for their great end, to bring us near God. And Christians have found it so. Therefore —

1. Guard against hypocrisy in worship. God is there. We are careful how we appear there to our fellow-men. Be so in regard to God.

2. Our hope of good in worship must have the presence of God with us. Of. 2 Samuel 14:32.

3. What thanks are due to the Lord Jesus Christ who hath made way for our appearance before God.

4. What a blessing to have many houses of God in one nation.

II. AN EARNEST LONGING AFTER DIVINE ORDINANCES.

1. How little of this there is amongst man.

2. How well it is to have such desire.

3. What unhappy clogs these fleshly, sinful bodies are to the mind. But there is a blessed assembly of better worshippers above. Awake our faith and desire to join them.

( Isaac Watts, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

WEB: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?




Appearance Before God Hereafter
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