Faith’s Plea Upon God’s Word, by the Rev. Ralph Erskine

I.

“Do as Thou hast said” (II. Sam. vii. 25).

DAVID was a strong believer; and it were our great advantage to imitate him in his faith. From the word—“Do as Thou hast said”—we learn that there are two ways in which faith works—

I. By believing the Divine Word.
II. By pleading the accomplishment thereof.

I. Faith works by believing His word, “Thou hast said.” The object and ground of faith is the Divine saying; and faith rests upon a—“Thus saith the Lord.” It is not upon a “Thus saith the man,” or “Thus saith a minister”; nay, nor “Thus saith an angel.” Divine faith can stand only upon a divine testimony—“Thus saith the Lord”—“Thou hast said.” If you have faith, then you have received the Word, “not as the word of man, but as it is indeed the Word of God,” which effectually works in you that believe. Faith acts by taking God’s word, “Thou hast said; Thou has promised; Thou hast spoken in Thy holiness.” Faith also acts by pleading the accomplishment of the promise: “Do as Thou hast said.” God is not a speaker only, but a doer; He is not a promiser only, but a performer; and faith looks to a promising God, that He may be a performing God; and so puts Him to His word.

1. It is the business of faith to take God’s words, or to take Him at His word. This is plain, because the Word is the immediate object of faith. We have no other glass wherein to see God savingly, but His Word, particularly His word of grace and promise. “Say not, who shall ascend to Heaven? (that is to bring Christ down from above:) or, who shall descend into the deep? (that is to bring up Christ again from the dead). The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. x. 6, 8, 17). Faith is a relative word; it relates to the faithfulness of the speaker; believing relates to a word to be believed. That is the business of faith to trust in the Word of God, is evident from the whole Scripture. How many times, in Psalm cxix., doth the Psalmist speak of trusting in His word, and hoping in His word, and rejoicing in His word, and so taking Him at His word?

2. It is the business of faith to put Him to His word, or to plead the accomplishment of His word, that He would do as He hath said. This is evident from Psalm cxix.: “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou has caused me to hope.” And how many times doth he plead with God to do to him according to His word! “Quicken me, according to thy word.” Again, and again, we have this repeated, “Strengthen me, according to thy word.” “Save me, according to thy word.” “Be merciful to me, according to thy word.” “Deal well with thy servant, according to thy word.” “Let thy merciful kindness be my comfort, according to thy word.” “Uphold me, according to thy word.” “Give me understanding, according to thy word.” “Deliver me, according to thy word.” All comes to this, “Do as Thou hast said.”

3. How or in what manner faith takes the Word of God. It takes it by an intelligent apprehension of it in the understanding. The man is taught of God, and gets his eyes open to see the faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance: he sees it to be the Word of God, and a word spoken in season to his weary soul. They will never take the word by faith who do not understand it. Philip said to the eunuch, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” So may we say, “Understandest thou what thou hearest?” Are your eyes open to see the wonders of His law or doctrine; to see the glory of Christ held out to you in the word? Faith also takes the Word of God by a particular application of it to the heart; inasmuch that it is a cordial apprehension, a cordial assent that is given to the word: “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” Saving light goes to the heart. Many have only their heads enlightened, their judgments informed, but not their hearts engaged not their affections captivated. Faith is a cordial applying the word, and that particularly to the man’s own benefit. Whether we call it assurance or not, it comes to the same thing. As when in conviction the threatening is applied, the man trembles under the fear of hell and wrath, because he applies the law threatening to himself, saying, I am the * man to whom this threatening is spoken ; so, in the day of conversion, or believing, the promise is applied, the man is relieved with the view of the grace and mercy of God in Christ, because he applies the Gospel promise to himself, saying, “I am the man to whom this promise is spoken, and I receive and rest upon Christ for salvation, as He is promised or offered to me in His Gospel. To me is this word of salvation.” For if the man did not take it to himself, there would be no end in believing at all. But, then,

4. How faith pleads the accomplishment of the promise. It pleads upon the mercy that made the promise, that it is everlasting mercy; unchangeable mercy; “the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.” It pleads upon the truth that is to make out the promise; it is called “The truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham” (Micah vii. 20), that His name is faithful and true. It pleads upon the power of the Promiser, being fully persuaded that He that hath promised is able to perform; that He had not out-promised His own promise, or said what He cannot do. It pleads upon the blood of the covenant, that seals all the promises thereof; hence they are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. It pleads upon the love of God to Christ; that is to pray in His name, that God, for the love He bears to Christ, would do as He hath said. It pleads upon the unchangeableness of God, and of His word; that His word endures for ever, and that He is God, and changes not, therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed. In a word, it pleads upon His oath. “God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His council, hath confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us” (Heb. vi. 17, 18). And, lastly, it pleads upon His name: What wilt thou not do for thy great name?

5. Whence is this business of faith to take God at His word, and to put Him to His word? It is the end and design of God in giving His word: “These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John xx. 31). The Gospel is preached in vain, if men do not take God at His word, and then hang upon it. Because thus we glorify God; and the more we rest upon the divine word, the more we glorify Him: “Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” We give Him the honour of His truth and other perfections this way. Because thus we engage the honour of God upon our side, when we put Him to His word; His honour is engaged, He cannot deny Himself. Because faith hath no other way of living, but upon the word of God: “Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” “Thy word was found of me, and I did eat it.” “This is my comfort in my affliction; thy word hath quickened me.”

6. In the application of the subject. Here is a fit exercise to go to God and say, O do as thou hast said. Consider what He hath said, and take Him at His word, and put Him to it, that he would do to you accordingly. Whatever your case be, surely there is some word relative to it. Some may be thinking, alas! God hath said nothing to me, that I may put Him to His word. Why, if the Gospel be preached to you, and if there be any word of grace therein suitable to your case, then put not away the word from you, but take it and plead upon it, that God would do as He hath said. If you can see any word of promise suited to your case and to your need, then put to your hand by faith, and lay hold upon His word. Oh! say you, is there any word from God about my case, who am a poor, needy creature, like to starve for want of a spiritual meal, and a hearty draught of the living waters that go out from Jerusalem? What hath God said, or hath He said anything concerning me? Yea, He hath said, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water” (Isa. xli. 17, 18). Hath He said so? Then take Him at His word, and put Him to it, saying, Lord do as thou hast said. Oh! but is there any word of God for me, who have been long waiting about ordinances, and never yet seen His glory, as I would desire to see it? What hath He said concerning me? Why, He hath said that He waits that He may be gracious; that He is a God of judgment, and blessed are all they that wait for Him (Isa. xxx. 18). He hath said, “The vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, and not tarry” (Hab. ii. 3). Hath He said so? Then take Him at His word, and put Him to it, saying: Do as thou hast said. But is there any word from God concerning my case, that finds my conscience challenging me for prodigious guilt? There never was such a guilty person on the face of the earth. Are ye groaning under guilt? Hear what He says: “I will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. viii. 12). “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. lxiii. 25). O, Then, take hold of His word, wherein He proclaims indemnity, and put Him to it, saying, Lord, do as thou hast said. But, says another, is there any word from God concerning me, that am compassed about with such strong corruptions and conquering lusts, that sin gets the mastery of me? Would you be relieved? Would you be relieved? Hear what He says, “He will subdue our iniquities, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic. vii. 19). “Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law but under grace” (Rom. vi. 14). “The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isa. lxiii. 4). Hath He promised to take vengeance on your lusts? Then take Him at His word, saying, O do as thou hast said. But is there any word to me, a backslider, a grievous revolter, that many times after vows have made inquiry? My promises and resolutions have been but paper walls before the fire of temptation. Are you afflicted with this, and would have relief? Behold He says, “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” (Jer. iii. 22). “I will heal your backsliding, and love you freely. I will be as the dew to Israel” (Hos. xiv. 4). Hath He said so? Then let your heart say, Lord, do as thou hast said. But what doth God say to me, that have no strength for any duty or difficulty, that am weak like water? Would you have relief in this case? God says, “My grace shall be sufficient for thee, and my strength shall be made perfect in thy weakness” (II. Cor. xii. 9). “He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isa. xl. 29). Doth He say so? Then put Him to His word, saying, Lord, do as thou hast said.

(To be continued.)