When God Hides His Face
Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
― Isaiah 50:10
William Mason (1719-1791) was a British author, editor of The Gospel Magazine, Justice of the Peace, and magistrate.
Among other books, Mason wrote The Believer’s Pocket Companion, or, The One Thing Needful to make Poor Sinners Rich and Miserable Sinners Happy, in which he discusses the meaning and benefits of the command to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Chapter 8 of The Believer’s Pocket Companion, “When We should Put on Christ,” Mason writes,
In a season of darkness and desertion of soul, put on Christ, who is the light of life.
In a season of darkness and desertion of soul, put on Christ, who is the light of life. It is a sure mark of a regenerate soul, and a loving heart, that it is troubled, and mourns for its darkness, when the Lord hides his face. And it is the proper work of a renewed mind, to apply to Christ—a sanctified memory to retain Christ—and of a good conscience not to rest satisfied without Christ. "Truly you are a God who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior," Isaiah 49:15. But why does God hide his face, and leave any of his dear children to mourn in darkness? That is your proper work to look to, and inquire for yourself. Let the cause be what it may, the purpose is not to drive you from your God, nor to make you let go of your confidence in Christ. No; but quite the contrary; to make you the more to trust in him, and to stay your soul upon him. For remember, he is the God of Israel, and the Savior, though he hides his face. Examine your soul. Search your ways. See if some cursed lust, or Christ-dishonoring pride, some pleasure in sin, or vain confidence in yourself and your own righteousness, has not caused your Lord to hide away his face. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Be afflicted, and mourn and weep. Pour out your heart to the Lord. Confess your sin to him, and be ashamed of your folly before him. Tell him, "I cannot live without your light—cast out and banished from your sight."
God's love is always the same, like himself, without variableness. Though he hides his face, still he rests in his love.
But O beware, while you loathe yourself, and bemoan your folly, that you do not dishonor your Lord by suspecting his everlasting love, questioning his precious truths, or neglecting his glorious salvation. Now, even now, put on your precious Christ afresh; mind and remember his sweet declaration to his Father, concerning all his people: "You have loved them, as you have loved me," John 17:23, even with the very same everlasting unchangeable love. Therefore, though in darkness and sorrow, be assured, God's love is always the same, like himself, without variableness. Though he hides his face, still he rests in his love. For, God did not love you, choose you and call you, for any good he saw in you—but he loved you, and viewed you in Christ. And in Christ he is ever the same covenant God, and reconciled Father, whether he consoles with his love, or chastises with his rod; whether he lifts up the light of his countenance upon you, or hides away his face from you. Your sin and folly may cause him to change his conduct towards you—but he can never, never change his covenant, name and nature, For God is love.
Though your covenant God and Father hides his face, yet he has not forgotten you.
Therefore, as God loves you in Christ, views you in Christ, has made you accepted in Christ, pardoned, justified and sanctified you in Christ, be ever looking to Christ, clothing your mind with Christ, remembering his loving-kindness, and pleading in your conscience the atonement he has made for your sins, the righteousness he has wrought out for your justification, the salvation he has finished for your soul. Though at present you do not see the light of comfort; though you do not feel the sunshine of joy, yet glory in the word of truth and grace as it is in Jesus. This ever abides with you, though comfort forsakes you. Give ear to, listen and attend, to that sweet voice of love which salutes your ears, and gives counsel to your soul. Are you mourning in darkness, and complaining in sadness, saying, "My Lord has forsaken me, my God has forgotten me?" Not so. Though your covenant God and Father hides his face, yet he has not forgotten you. For behold, he lovingly inquires after you, and sweetly gives advice to you.
clothe your mind, memory and conscience, with Christ your only confidence, in the darkest seasons, and most distressing moments, even when all other trust and confidence forsake you.
…Hear and obey his sweet counsel. "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and rely upon his God." Here is trusting opposed to seeing. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it, and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. I have often been ready to wonder at this text. What has the man who is righteous in himself to fear? Why should he want a tower of defense? Why should he run into it for safety? It can only be understood of the poor, convicted, humble sinner, who sees his own righteousness as filthy rags, quits all confidence in it, flies from it, and runs to take shelter in the name of the Lord; even that blessed name of JESUS, which is above every other name. To him his pliant knee bows, his humbled heart submits, and his enlightened soul glories alone in that name, whereby Jesus is called "The Lord our Righteousness." Jer. 23:6. Such is a righteous person in the sight of God.
Now you are called to TRUST in this name of the Lord. This is opposed to all other means and props whatever; to all comfortable sense of God's love; to all sight of grace, any righteousness, any hope, you have in yourself. It is to put on Christ afresh as the Lord your righteousness, strength and salvation; to clothe your mind, memory and conscience, with Christ your only confidence, in the darkest seasons, and most distressing moments, even when all other trust and confidence forsake you. Now honor your God by the claim of your faith. With the church of old cry out in confidence, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song; and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2.
Again, the Lord now counsels you, "Let him rely upon his God." Perhaps you are now writing most bitter things against yourself. You are thinking, all is dark and disconsolate within. "I cannot see that I have a single grace to rely upon; it is not only dark—but tempestuous also; one wave of corruption rolls over another; the storms of justice are over my head; I fear vengeance is pursuing me; black clouds of unbelief hang heavy on me, while the enemy suggests within me, where is now your God? Alas! what will become of me? What must I, what shall I do, in this hour, and power of darkness?"
Behold, here is a cordial held forth to revive your drooping mind, and to support your sinking spirits. Hear and obey the voice of your WONDERFUL COUNSELOR; "Let him rely upon his God." Mind this. His God still, though he walks in darkness, and has no light. O clothe your mind with this; God in Christ is your God. Stay your soul upon this. Are you weak, weary, faint, and ready to fall? Then lean upon your Jesus for support and strength. "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved?" Song of Songs 8:5. Clothe your mind, memory and conscience with Christ, with God manifested in Christ reconciled to you—your covenant God and Father in Christ—with all the exceedingly great and precious promises which he has given you in Christ; and now take up the sweet claim of faith, and cry in the importunate prayer of your dear Lord, "MY God, MY God, why have you forsaken me."
O the happy privilege! O the precious counsel! O the cheering comfort! O the supporting strength contained in these words of the prophet Isaiah, to a child of God walking in darkness! "Spirit of all grace, help us to obey this precious word: to put on Christ who is the light of life, to trust in him, and to rely upon him, whenever we walk in darkness, and see no light."