Job 13:3-4

Surely I would speak to the Almighty.

Man speaking to God

There is a great deal of human speaking that has to do with God. Most speak about God, many speak against God, and some speak to God. Of these there are two classes--Those who occasionally speak to Him under the pressure of trial; those who regularly speak to Him as the rule of their life. These last are the true Christ-like men.

I. Speaking to God shows the highest practical recognition of the Divine presence. It indicates--

1. A heart belief in the fact of the Divine existence.

2. A heart belief in the personality of the Divine existence. What rational soul would speak to a vain impersonality? Man may justly infer the personality of God from his own personality.

3. A heart belief in the nearness of the Divine existence. It feels that He is present.

4. A heart belief in the impressibility of the Divine existence. It has no question about the Divine susceptibility.

II. Speaking to God shows the truest relief of our social nature. Social relief consists principally in the free and full communication to others of all the thoughts and emotions that must affect the heart. Before a man will fully unbosom his soul to another, he must be certified of three things--

1. That the other feels the deepest interest in him. Who has such an interest in us as God?

2. That the other will make full allowance for the infirmities of his nature. Who is so acquainted with our infirmities as God?

3. That the other will be disposed and able to assist in our trials. Who can question the willingness and capability of God?

III. Speaking to God shows the most effective method of spiritual discipline.

1. The effort of speaking to God is most quickening to the soul.

2. The effort of speaking to God is most humbling to a soul.

3. The effort of speaking to God is most spiritualising to the soul. It breaks the spell of the world upon us; it frees us from secular associations; it detaches us from earth; and it makes us feel that there is nothing real but spirit, nothing great but God, and nothing worthy of man but assimilation to and fellowship with the Infinite.

IV. Speaking to God shows the highest honour of a created spirit. The act implies a great capacity. What can show the greatness of the human soul so much as this exalted communion? (Homilist.)

But ye are forgers of lies.--

Lies easily forged

Lying is so easy that it is within the capacity of everyone. It is proverbially easy. “It is as easy as lying,” says Hamlet, when speaking of something not difficult. You can do it as you work or as you walk. You can do it as you sit in your easy chair. You can do it without any help, even in extreme debility. You lie, and it does not blister your tongue or give you a headache. It is not attended with any wear and tear of constitution. It does not throw you into a consumption--not even into a perspiration. It is the cheapest of sins. It requires no outlay of money to gratify this propensity. There is no tax to pay. The poorest can afford it, and the rich do not despise it because it is cheap. Neither does it cost any expenditure of time. After the hesitancy of the first few lies you can make them with the greatest ease. You soon get to extemporise them without the trouble of forethought. The facilities for committing this sin are greater than for any other. You may indulge in it anywhere. You cannot very well steal on a common, or swear in a drawing room, or get drunk in a workhouse; but in what place or at what time can you not lie? You have to sneak, and skulk, and look over your shoulders, and peep, and listen, before you can commit many sins; but this can be practised in open day, and in the market place. You can look a man in the face and do it. You can rub your hands and smile and be very pleasant whilst doing it. (J. Teasdale.)