Whether that be so or no, at all events I take it as by no means
accidental that, immediately upon the statement of the Old Testament law
that righteousness alone admits to the presence of God, there follows so
clear and emphatic an anticipation of the great New Testament Gospel
that faith is the condition of righteousness, and that immediately after
hearing that only 'the righteous nation which keepeth the truth' can
enter there, we hear the merciful call, 'Trust ye in the Lord for ever.'
So, then, I think we have in the words before us, though not formally
yet really, very large teaching as to the nature, the object, the
blessed effects, and the universal duty of that trust in the Lord which
makes the very nexus between man and God, according to the teaching of
the New Testament.

I. First, then, I desire to notice in a sentence the insight into the
true nature of trust or faith given by the word employed here.

Now the literal meaning of the expression here rendered 'to trust' is to
lean upon anything. As we say, trust is reliance. As a weak man might
stay his faltering, tottering steps upon some strong staff, or might
lean upon the outstretched arm of a friend, so we, conscious of our
weakness, aware of our faltering feet, and realising the roughness of
the road, and the smallness of our strength, may lay the whole weight of
ourselves upon the loving strength of Jehovah.

And that is the trust of the Old Testament, the faith of the New--the
simple act of reliance, going out of myself to find the basis of my
being, forsaking myself to touch and rest upon the ground of my
security, passing from my own weakness and laying my trembling hand into
the strong hand of God, like some weak-handed youth on a coach-box who
turns to a stronger beside him and says: 'Take thou the reins, for I am