Singular, that so remote a petition should stand at beginning. We should begin not with ourselves, but with God; not with temporal wants, not even with our own spiritual ones.
We begin not with men, but with God.
It is God's glory even more than men's knowledge of Him that the petition contemplates. And though the two things coincide, which of them is foremost in our minds makes an infinite difference.
Then in regard to God, we first ask not that His law may be kept, but that His nature may be known.
The place of this petition in the prayer is explained by considerations which suggest very important thoughts for ourselves and all men.
That true knowledge of God is the deepest and fundamental necessity for all men.
That the knowledge will affect their whole scheme of thought and life.
That the most important of all questions is, How does a man think of God?
That the Inward comes before the Outward.
That knowledge is the guide of emotions and of practical life, as set forth here in the order of petitions.
This sequence of petitions corrects many errors into which we are apt to fall.
(a) That religion is chiefly to give us forgiveness.
(b) That accurate knowledge of God and His will matters comparatively little if we have devout emotions and experiences.
(c) That plans for the reformation of men should begin with the exterior, leaving theological subtleties to themselves.
But this is not a theological subtlety.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God,' is a maxim for social reformation as well as for individual life.
