The Details of Every-Day Life

THE DETAILS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
Thou understandest my thought afar off.”
– Psalm cxxxix. 2.

“THOU knowest.” Come, my soul, here is a test as to thy present spiritual condition! Wilt thou apply it? Wilt thou be weighed in this balance of the sanctuary, and see whether or not thou art found wanting? Does thy Lord’s intimate knowledge of thy every thought, and desire, and action, oppress and disconcert thee, or art thou willing and glad to live under such close inspection, and even to covet the glances of that eye which searches thee through and through?

     Nothing but “full assurance of faith” in the precious blood shed for thee on Calvary can give thee this boldness. Happy art thou, my soul, if thou knowest that God ” looks through Jesus’ wounds on thee, and through those wondrous windows of ruby sees thee so changed and beauteous that He can say, “Thou art all fair, My love, there is no spot in thee.”

     “My downsitting and mine uprising.” Lord, dost Thou love me SO much as to watch tenderly over me in such small matters? How the thought comforts me! We do not care about the details of the everyday life of strangers: but when we love anyone very dearly, we take great interest in all that concerns them; and even so, my God, this searching, knowing, understanding, compassing, besetting, laying of Thy hand upon me, are all most precious tokens to me of Thine unutterable love! 

     How watchful and careful should this knowledge make me! “My downsitting and mine uprising.” My home life ! My daily duties, both of work and of leisure ! My going out and my coming in, my conduct and bearing under all circumstances ! How these are all gathered into the compass of those five words! Lord, help me to walk worthy of Thee, unto all pleasing!

     “Thou understandest my thought afar off.” What infinite knowledge! Well may the psalmist say,” It is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it!” 

     Before I think, God knows my thought! O my soul, are not thy thoughts the source of most of thy grievous perplexities and sorrows? They are often so unruly and rebellious, sometimes so unholy and profane, that all thy efforts to bring them into captivity to the law of Christ are unavailing! Then, see where thy help lieth. The God who can understand thy thoughts “afar off” has the power to restrain them; nay, more, before they reach thee, while they are yet distant and unexpressed, He will purify and cleanse them, so that they shall enter thy heart as angel whispers, and pass thy lips only as words of love and blessing.

     Dear Master, I make Thy servant David’s prayer my very own, and say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”