Do two walk together, Unless they have agreed?
Can (will) two walk together, except they be agreed? - are at once a general rule for all which follows, and have different bearings according to those its several aspects. And, before all these, it is an appeal at once to the conscience which feels itself parted from its God; “so neither will God be with thee, unless thou art agreed and of one mind with God. Think not to have God with thee, unless thou art with God;” as He saith, ‘I will not go up in the midst of thee, for thou art a stiff-necked people, lest I consume thee in the way’ Exodus 33:3; and, ‘if ye walk contrary unto Me, then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins’ Leviticus 26:23, Leviticus 26:4. And on the other hand, ‘They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy’ Revelation 3:4. Lap.: “God cannot be agreed with the sinner who justifies himself. Rup.: “God who rebuketh, and Israel who is rebuked, are two. God saith, We are not agreed, in that Israel, when rebuked, heareth not Me, God, rebuking. Herein we are not agreed, that I rebuke, Israel justifieth himself. Lo, for so many years since Jeroboam made the golden calves, have I sent prophets, and none agreeth, for no one king departed from the sin of Jeroboam. So then I came Myself, God made man, rebuking and reproving: but ‘ye are they which justify yourselves before men’ Luke 16:15, and, being sick, ye say to the Physician, we need Thee not.” Augustine in Psalms 75:1-10 Lap.: “So long as thou confessest not thy sins, thou art in a manner litigating with God. For what displeaseth Him, thou praisest. Be at one with God. Let what displeaseth Him, displease thee. Thy past evil life displeaseth Him. If it please thee, thou art disjoined from Him; if it displease thee, by confessing thy sins, thou art joined to Him.” So He awakens and prepares the soul for the following words of awe.