Faith is the Business of Calling Things that Are Not, as Though They Were

Psalm 36:1-4 -

A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are mischief and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots mischief while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he spurns not evil.

From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred towards sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked people comes from. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put on their own souls. Let us every day beg our God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner themselves, and therefore ought to be hated; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all humankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with a plot and administration. If we willingly throw out holy meditations in our private hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could justify it before God himself.

Psa 36:5-12 -

Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God, thy judgments are like the great deep; man and beast thou savest, O LORD.
How precious is thy steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of thy wings.
They feast on the abundance of thy house, and thou givest them drink from the river of thy delights.
For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light.
O continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee, and thy salvation to the upright of heart!
Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
There the evildoers lie prostrate, they are thrust down, unable to rise.

People may shut up their compassion, yet, with God we will find mercy. This is a great comfort to all believers, plainly to be seen, and not ever to be taken away. God does all wisely and well; but what He does we do not understand now, there will be time enough to know in the hereafter, heaven or hell.

God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They put themselves under His protection, and then are safe and easy. Gracious souls, though still desiring more of God, never desire more than God. The gifts of Providence so far satisfy them, that they are content with such things as they have now. The benefit of holy ordinances is sweet to a sanctified soul, and strengthening to the spiritual and Divine life. But full satisfaction is reserved for the future state in heaven. Their joys will be constant.

God not only works in them a gracious desire for these pleasures, but by His Spirit fills their souls with joy and peace in believing. He quickens whom He will; and whoever will, may come, and take from Him of the waters of life freely.

May we know, and love, and uprightly serve the Lord; then no proud enemy, on earth or from hell, shall separate us from His love. Faith calls things that are not, as though they were. It carries us forward to the end of time; it shows us the Lord, on His throne of judgment; the empire of sin fallen to rise no more.