Full assurance

‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’ Psalm 35:3

Suggested Further Reading: Micah 7:1–10

Let us hear the text. ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’ The first thing the text seems to say is, David had his doubts, then; for why would he pray, ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation,’ if he were not sometimes exercised with doubts and fears? Cheer up, Christian brother! If David doubted, you must not say, ‘I am no Christian, because I have doubts.’ The best of believers sometimes are troubled with fears and anxieties. Abraham had the greatest faith, but he had some unbelief. I envy the brother who can say that his faith never wavered. He can say more than David did, for David had cause to cry, ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’

But, next, the text says that David was not content while he had doubts and fears, but he repaired at once to the mercy seat to pray for assurance; for he valued it as much fine gold. ‘O Lord!’ David seems to say, ‘I have lost my confidence; my foot slips; my feet are almost gone; my doubts and fears prevail; but I cannot bear it. I am wretched, I am unhappy. ‘Say—say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’’

And then the text tells you yet a third thing—that David knew where to obtain full assurance. He goes at once to God in prayer. He knows that knee-work is that by which faith is increased; and there, in his closet, he cries out to the Most High, ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’ O my brethren, we must be much alone with God, if we would have a clear sense of his love! Let your cries cease, and your eyes will grow dim. Much in prayer, much in heaven; slow in prayer, slow in progress.

For meditation: What is your recipe for dealing with doubts, fears and cares? The biblical way is not to pretend that they don’t exist, but to face up to them before the Lord (Luke 12:29–31; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 John 3:19–20).

Sermon no. 384
28 April (1861)