1 Samuel 28:23

"And David said, seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"—1 Sam. xviii. 23.

— 1 Samuel 28:23

Did David indeed set by so high an honour in being allied to the family of an earthly prince; what then must be the dignity to which believers are called, in being heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ? The apostle was so lost in the contemplation of this unspeakable mercy, that he cried out with holy rapture, " Behold! what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!" My soul, art thou begotten to this immense privilege? Ponder well thy vast inheritance. Not a barren title, not an empty name; this relationship brings with it a rich revenue of all temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings. Sons in law and in grace to God in Christ, believers are born to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. They have the spirit of adoption and of grace; and " because they are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, whereby they cry, Abba, Father." Are they poor in outward circumstances? Bread shall be given, and water shall be sure; and their defence Shall be the munitions of rocks. Are they afflicted in body or in mind? their back shall be proportioned to their burden ; and as their day is so shall their strength be. Every child shall have his own portion, and the Father's blessing sanctifying all. Yea, death itself is in the inventory of the inheritance of a child of God; for so far is death from separating from God, that it brings to God. What sayest thou, 0 my soul! to these things? Art thou, like David, a poor man and lightly esteemed? Look up and, enjoy thy relationship in Jesus, and from this time do thou cry out, in the words of the prophet, and say unto God, "My Father! thou art the guide of my youth."