God’s Saying, Is Doing

“For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9).  The following thoughts from the Puritan David Clarkson are among the most powerful I have ever read, on any subject.  Concerning God’s faithfulness to perform His promises, Clarkson wrote: “God’s saying, is doing.  His promises are one with his performance of them.  He is just as willing to perform as promise.  There is no distance between his saying and doing, as among men.  This consideration removes at once the chief discouragement of faith.  Is it not this that weakens our confidence in God’s promises?  Do we not view the fulfillment of God’s promises as uncertain and difficult?  The root of all certainty is God’s will.  If he is willing to promise, he is willing to perform.  The whole glorious essence of God is engaged for the performance of every promise.  He would cease to be God if he failed to perform any promise.  For he ceases to be God when he ceases to be most perfect.  If he does not perform his promises it is either that he will not, or cannot.  He would lack either in power or in wisdom.  The glory of his being is concerned.  Men can be men, though unfaithful, but God cannot be God; he cannot deny himself.”