For that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare.
God’s nearness to the world
I. He is near as the sustainer of a dissolving system (Psalms 75:3). The force of disintegration operates every moment, not only in organized matter, but even in what we call simple substances, if, indeed, such things exist. The mountains falling come to nought. Every plant in the great system of vegetation is dissolving; and the great world of animal life, from the tiniest insect to the hugest monster of the forest or the sea, is ever in the process of dissolution. What prevents the whole universe tumbling to pieces, flying off part from part, particle from particle as a log of wood in the flames? No force short of God. The same principle of disintegration is at work in human society. Families, societies, Churches, nations, are dissolving; kingdoms are constantly breaking into pieces. God alone keeps things together, bears up the pillars of a dissolving universe. “He upholds all things by the word of His power.”
II. He is near as the rebuker of human wickedness (Psalms 75:4-5).
1. Three phases of wickedness are here indicated:--
(1) Folly--“Deal not foolishly.” Sin is folly. It is against the reason, the interests, the dignity and blessedness of existence. “He that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul.”
(2) Haughtiness--“Lift not up the horn.” Pride and arrogance enter into the very essence of wickedness. “God resisteth the proud,” etc.
(3) Recklessness--“Speak not with a stiff neck.” Bold, shameless, obstinate disregard to the claims of God and all the moral proprieties.
2. God is present in the world, reproving all the wickedness with the voice of Providence, by the admonitions of conscience, by the ministry of His Word and the stricings of Ills Spirit.
III. He is near as the sovereign disposer of all social changes. “For promotion cometh neither from the east,” etc. “But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (1 Samuel 2:7). He is in the rise and in the fall, not only of empires, but individual men. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,” etc.
IV. He is near--administering to all men dispensations from a common source (Psalms 75:8). What is that cup? Infinite benevolence; and from this cup “He poureth out of the same,” great natural blessings. “God is good, and His tender mercies are over all the works of His hand.”
1. The cup is a mixed cup. “Full of mixture.” What an infinite variety of blessings are in this cup, this cup of level Something from it falls fresh upon every being every hour.
2. The contents of this cup have a different effect upon different characters. To the righteous it is a pleasant cup. Its blooming, sparkling mixture is delicious and inspiring. Not so to the wicked; what is delicious and sustaining to the good is distasteful and pernicious to the evil. Moral character changes subjectively the very nature of things.
V. He is near to destroy the power of the wicked and to augment the power of the righteous (Psalms 75:10). Matthew Arnold has somewhere described God “as a stream of tendency that maketh for righteousness.” His meaning, I presume, is that the whole procedure of God in the moral world tends to put down the wrong and to raise and glorify the right. (Homilist.)
The nearness of God
God is near--
I. To observe our sins (Job 24:14-15; Psalms 139:2-4; Genesis 3:9-24; Genesis 19:24-28; Joshua 7:24-26; Acts 5:1-10).
II. To notice our desires after him (Jeremiah 31:18-20; Luke 15:20).
III. To pardon, sanctify, and justify (Isaiah 50:7-9).
IV. To answer our prayers (Psalms 145:18-19; Isaiah 65:24).
V. To relieve our wants (Psalms 34:10; Psalms 84:11; Habakkuk 3:17-18).
VI. To succour us in distress (Psalms 34:19; Isaiah 49:10). VII. To save us from danger (Daniel 3:27). Job; Peter. From this subject we may derive warning to sinners, an encouragement to the penitent; comfort to believers. (R. Simpson, M. A.)
God’s works declare Him
When that great artist, Dore, was once travelling in Southern Europe, he lost his passport. When he came to the boundary line where he needed to produce it, the official challenged him. Said he, “I have lost my passport; but it is all right--I am Dore the artist. Please let me go on.” “Oh, no,” said the officer; “we have plenty of people representing themselves as this or that great one.” After some conversation the man said, “Well, I want you to prove it. Hero is a pencil and some paper. Now, if you are the artist, draw me a picture.” Dore took the pencil, and with a few master strokes sketched some of the features of the neighbourhood. Said the man, “Now I am perfectly sure of it. You are Dore; no other man could do that.” Thus all the works of creation their great Original proclaim, “that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare.”
God revealed in nature
A legend has it that a prophet appealed to God for a sign such as had been granted to other prophets. In response a tuft of moss opened before the man, and from the rock beneath rose a lovely violet. As he looked admiringly on the opening leaves he had no need to ask for signs and wonders, for as he was leaving home his little daughter had given him a violet precisely like the one created before his eyes. We need not ask to see a new star flashing gorgeous lights on the darkness of a wintry night, or oaks to spring in a moment from acorns, as demonstrations of a Divine presence. God is as truly revealed in a little flower as in the most stupendous miracle that could amaze and overwhelm the mind; Archdeacon Farrar tells about a boy who took a flower with him to his work every morning. He put the flower on his desk in the schoolroom, and when asked why he did this, replied that the flower was to remind him of God and keep him from evil thoughts. (The Signal.)