In these words we have beautifully exemplified to us the anxiety of a truly religious parent for his children's everlasting good. Consider:
I. That without sincerity and seriousness our religion can be of no value in the sight of the omniscient God, of Him who is described by Himself as "searching all hearts and understanding all the imaginations of the thoughts."
II. Real seriousness is altogether of a practical nature. It does not depend on the state of a person's feelings, but on his general course of life and behaviour. It is so much more easy to keep up religious feelings, or what are called so, than really religious practices that the outside show of seriousness is much more often to be met with than the reality. The heavenly advice to us is now, as it has always been, "My son, know thou the God of thy fathers."
III. It is not enough that young persons should be taught merely to " knowthe God of their fathers;" they must be warned also of the necessity which is laid upon them, as on all Christians, to "serve Him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind." To "serve God with a perfect heart" is the sum and substance of all practical religion. It means that we should love Him more than any or all of the things of this world; that we should be ever seeking what will please Him, and avoiding what will grieve Him; that we should live as in His constant presence, and be thoroughly resigned and satisfied with what He orders for us. By the expression "serving God with a willing mind" seems to be meant that religion should be not only the business, but also the delight, of our lives.
IV. "If thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." To forsake God is to leave, to forget Him, to neglect Him, to prefer other things before Him. In proportion as we are tempted to forsake God and His righteous will, we must of course provoke Him to forsake us and leave us to ourselves, or, in the words of the text, "to cast us off for ever."
Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times"vol. x., p. 285.
Reference: 1 Chronicles 28:9. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 315, and vol. vi., p. 25; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 127.