Afterwords -- the promise of his presence
"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Gen 28:15)
July 14, 2023
Dear friends,
These words to Jacob the patriarch are echoed many times throughout the Bible: "the Lord will be with you" and "I am with you" occur in the Scriptures repeatedly. My reading in Romans 8, regarding the helping presence of the Holy Spirit, has highlighted to me how precious to us is this promise of the Lord's presence with us and for us.
At a recent family wedding I realized again how the marriage covenant is a promise of faithful presence, a vow to "be there" for the other person. This presence, which we might call "covenant presence," is more than merely being nearby or at hand. It's more than leaving a contact number. God is omnipresent in his creation, that is, he is present everywhere in the universe (see Psalm 139). But more -- he is present in active support and blessing for his children, for all those who come to him in faith.
His presence may be felt or not felt by his children at any given time. What matters is the promise, the vow. God is true and trustworthy, he never lies, and he keeps his vows. Whether seen or unseen, he will always be with us, and for us, and will bring us safely home to himself.
In this video segment, Tim Keller shared how a marriage involves two people who change over time, and so the marriage covenant in that sense involves many different "persons", all of which are the same two people! He said...
"The basis of your marriage can't be the feeling, and the basis of your marriage can't even be, 'we're just kindred spirits', because your spirits will go in and out of being kindred. The thing that keeps it is the promise I made, I've made a promise, an appointment with you in the future to be your husband every year."
Thankfully, God does not change, nor does he waver in his commitment to his (ever)changing children. His presence is covenantal and relational, caring and active, supportive and protective.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US? I looked up the many passages where God's promises of his presence were stated throughout the Bible. Here's a little bit of what I found...
His presence is the ultimate blessing from God: "I will be with you and will bless you..." (Gen 26:3, 24). "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Gen 28:15) He indwells us through his Spirit, which is the promised blessing of his presence: "...in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." (Gal 3:14)
His presence gives us courage: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deut 31:6, 8; cf 31:23; Josh 1:5). The Apostle Paul, facing his first Roman trial, wrote, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)
His presence gives comfort when we go through trials: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." (Isa 43:2; cf. Isa 41:10; 43:5)
His presence motivates us to serve the Lord: "Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts..." (Hag 2:4; cf 1:13).
His presence assures us that our salvation will be completed: "Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." (2 Chron 20:17) And, "... it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Phil 2:13; cf. 1:6)
His presence gives us confidence in evangelism and ministry: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt 28:20) And, "...I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." (Acts 18:10; see also Jer 1:8, 19; 42:11)
His presence is key to finding contentment and peace: "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Heb 13:5)
His presence gives us the victory: The Apostle John wrote, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Finally, we shall enjoy his presence forever: "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (Jn 17:24; cf Lu 23:43; Rev 21:3)
Thy hymn-writer Isaac Watts said it this way -- "Within thy circling power I stand; On every side I find thy hand; Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, I am surrounded still with God." Amen!
READING AND LISTENING...
-- "One underdiscussed aspect of marriage is how effective it is—uniquely affective, actually—at cultivating empathy between men and women." (Samuel James)
-- "We are made for the stars but rooted in the soil. We are made to seek spiritual realities, but we must use this world, this visible creation, to do so." (Francis Bethel)
-- Why do American diners look the way they do? (From Architectural Digest.)
FINAL QUOTE. “God gives Himself to His people in order that His people should give themselves to Him." (Herman Bavinck)
That's it for this week!
Sandy
Image credit: photo above courtesy ISO-Republic. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.