out of them. We must first walk 'with God' before the consciousness
that we are walking 'before' Him becomes one that we can entertain
and not go mad. When we are sure of the 'with' we can bear the
'before.'

Did you ever see how on a review day, as each successive battalion
and company nears the saluting-point where the General inspecting
sits, they straighten themselves up and dress their ranks, and pull
themselves together as they pass beneath his critical eye. A
master's eye makes diligent servants. If we, in the strength of God,
would only realise, day by day and act by act of our lives, that we
are before Him, what a revolution could be effected on our
characters and what a transformation on all our conduct!

'Walk before Me' and you will be perfect. For the Hebrew words on
which I am now commenting may be read, in accordance with the usage
of the language, as being not only a commandment but a promise, or,
rather, not as two commandments, but a commandment with an appended
promise, and so as equivalent to 'If you will walk before Me you
will be perfect.' And if we realise that we are under 'the pure eyes
and perfect judgment of' God, we shall thereby be strongly urged and
mightily helped to be perfect as He is perfect.

3. Lastly, take the other relation, which is suggested by the third
of my texts, where Israel as a whole is commanded to 'walk
_after_ the Lord' their God.

In harmony with the very frequent expression of the Old Testament
about 'going after idols' so Israel here is to 'go after God.' What
does that mean? Communion, the consciousness of being judged by God,