(PSALM l. 12, AND MATTHEW xxi. 1-3.) That God is independent the Bible everywhere declares. All beings beside Himself are His creatures, and He is Lord of all. He needs nothing, for He possesses all things. No _supplies_, for, though He ordained sacrifices and planned His temple, heaven is His throne, and earth His footstool, and His own hand gives life, power, and sustenance to all (Acts xvii. 25). No _tribute_. The free-will offerings of David and his people, for the building of the temple, were a sweet sacrifice to God; but David truly described matters when he said, "Of _Thine own_, O Lord, have we given unto Thee" (1 Chron. xxix. 14). He needs _no information_ or _guidance_ (see Isa. xl. 13-15). "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord? or being His counsellor, hath taught Him?" The question is not asked of angels, but of men; and "all nations before Him are as a drop of a bucket"--the little drips that fall from it as it is drawn up from the well--while "He taketh up the islands as a very little thing"--a light thing, lifted easily with the fingers. No creatures can give their Creator a single new thought, or any help of any kind (Rom. xi. 34-36). "For who hath _known_ the mind of the Lord?" Who then could have been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him? This can never be, "for _of_ Him, and _through_ Him, and _to_ Him are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Therefore He needs give no _explanations_ to any of His creatures. "Who can say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Dan. iv. 35.) Thus God is above all, and independent of all. Yet Jesus "needed" the ass and colt (Matt. xxi.). We read of "coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty" (Judges v. 23); and Paul spoke about "working together with God" in teaching His people. The Bible is full of these contrasts. God is so high, and yet so condescending; full of majesty, yet "plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Him." There is no contradiction in the contrast; but God's needs are never necessities. Our needs arise out of our _nature_. We need food, clothing, and comforts, friendship and sympathy; but all God's needs come from His _will_ and His _love_. How beautifully this appears in the life of Jesus! He came to earth as a little Infant, needing a mother's care. He grew up in humble circumstances, and when He went forth, at thirty years of age, to preach the Gospel, "the Son of Man had not where to lay His head." He also needed the many ministries of love His devoted followers rendered to Him. And when He died, others must provide the grave-clothes and the tomb, for He had none of His own. "Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." "For our sakes!" This is the keynote to all the needs of the Almighty. The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ chose His people in His Son before the foundation of the world, and the father of a family needs his children because they are his own, and he loves them.