I. "I love them that love Me." It might be inferred from such words as these, that man must love God as a preliminary to or condition of God's loving man. But the truth is that our love to God is nothing else but the reflection of God's love to us; in no way an earthly production, but is heavenly every way birth, nurture, end, and aim. God must first love us, so as not merely to surround us with mercies, not merely to make arrangements which render possible our salvation; but so as to enter into our souls, and there re-impress His own image, producing what we naturally have not a sense of His love by generating our love in return. As we breathe because God hath breathed into us the breath of life, we love because God hath kindled in us a flame of affection; so that there can be no genuine love except as the result of a renewal of nature. When we answer to God's love, becoming new creatures through obeying the motions of His Spirit, and therefore having affections purified and sanctified so that they may fasten themselves once more on the Infinite and Invisible; then, as though He had not loved us before, so entire is the relationship into which we are brought, He speaks in the language of our text, "I love them that love Me."
II. "Those that seek Me early shall find Me." We do not argue from this that, if God have not been sought early it is in vain to seek Him at all. But, nevertheless, the explicit promise is to them that seek God early; and we may not, therefore, doubt that there are advantages to those who begin in their youth, which will always widely remove their case from that of others who give their first years to the world. Consider the motives which should urge the young to seek God early. (1) There is the acknowledged though practically forgotten fact, that the life of the young is as uncertain as that of the old that health and strength are no security against the speedy approach of death. (2) If the text does not exclude those from finding who only seek at the last, it distinctly implies that they will have much greater difficulty than had they sought early. (3) As men grow older they gradually lose a relish for those enjoyments which have fascinated them in youth; so that they outlive the pleasures for which they have been content to peril their immortality. Is it not to insult God to offer Him the miserable remnant of life which you have kept from Him so long as it was possible to devote it to His enemies? You must seek God early, while there is a sacrifice to be made, while there are passions that may be mortified, advantages which may be resigned, pleasures which may be abandoned.
H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit,No. 1684.
I. "I love them that love Me." Consider what a blessed thing it must be to be loved by Jesus Christ, by the Son of God Himself. (1) Jesus Christ is very great. (2) Jesus Christ is very rich. (3) Jesus Christ is very good. (4) He pardons the sins of those whom He loves. (5) He gives them power to become good. (6) He takes care that none whom He loves shall be lost. (7) He is getting ready a place in heaven for those whom He loves.
II. Let us see who are those that Jesus Christ loves. "I love them that love Me." (1) Those who love Jesus Christ believe whatever He says in the Bible. (2) Those who love Jesus Christ try to please Him.
III. How are we to seek Jesus Christ? (1) We must seek Him in His own Book. (2) We must seek Him in His own House. (3) We must seek Him on our knees in prayer.
IV. "They shall find Me." You will find the Lord's presence in your own hearts and minds.
V. "Early." (1) Seeking early is the safest way. (2) Seeking early is the happiest way. (3) Seeking early is the easiest way.
Bishop Ryle, Boys and Girls Playing,p. 19.
Consider the advantages of seeking early after God.
I. There is an incalculable advantage in beginning in season a work which we know to be long and difficult.
II. Another advantage of serving God in our youth is the defence which is thus set up against the encroachments of vice.
III. A third benefit is the promotion of happiness in the family circle, and the beneficent influence thus exerted upon companions and friends.
IV. Another blessing is the indescribable satisfaction which is afforded to parents and friends.
V. A fifth advantage of seeking God in youth is the ready access which it affords to a throne of grace.
VI. Another advantage is that we are thus prepared to meet with a smile the dark frowns of adversity.
VII. We are thus enabled to await, with calm and holy resignation, the coming of death.
J. N. Norton, Golden Truths,p. 319.
References: Proverbs 8:17. F. Tholuck, Hours of Devotion,p. 189. Proverbs 8:18-21. W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven,1st series, p. 202.Proverbs 8:22-31. Ibid.,p. 205.Proverbs 8:22-36. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. i., p. 195.