Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v23250

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 121 lines

23250
 #8-17 Our God alone possesses almighty power and infinite love.
 Christ is the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be
 more desirous to be taught the way and the truth of God, in
 order to walk therein, than to be delivered out of earthly
 distress. Those who set not the Lord before them, seek after
 believers' souls; but the compassion, mercy, and truth of God,
 will be their refuge and consolation. And those whose parents
 were the servants of the Lord, may urge this as a plea why he
 should hear and help them. In considering David's experience,
 and that of the believer, we must not lose sight of Him, who
 though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through
 his poverty might be rich.
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 * The glory of the church. (1-3) It is filled with the Divine
 blessing. (4-7)

 #1-3 Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God
 has laid. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church.
 Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest
 condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious
 things are spoken of it. Other foundation can no man lay than
 that is laid, even Jesus Christ. The glorious things spoken of
 Zion by the Spirit, were all typical of Christ, and his work and
 offices; of the gospel church, its privileges and members; of
 heaven, its glory and perfect happiness.

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 #4-7 The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than
 the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest
 of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders
 to every man according to his works, he shall observe who
 enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given,
 and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion,
 mark this, and live up to their profession. Zion's songs shall
 be sung with joy and triumph. The springs of the joy of a carnal
 worldling are in wealth and pleasure; but of a gracious soul, in
 the word of God and prayer. All grace and consolation are
 derived from Christ, through his ordinances, to the souls of
 believers.
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 * The psalmist pours out his soul to God in lamentation. (1-9)
 He wrestles by faith, in his prayer to God for comfort. (10-18)

 #1-9 The first words of the psalmist are the only words of
 comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be
 afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their
 afflictions, and such dark conclusions may they make about their
 end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith.
 He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of
 God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and
 no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably
 the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ.
 Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for
 our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest
 bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and
 the deep.

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 #10-18 Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice,
 and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive
 God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The
 psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so,
 because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers
 are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The
 greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be
 in prayer. Nothing grieves a child of God so much as losing
 sight of him; nor is there any thing he so much dreads as God's
 casting off his soul. If the sun be clouded, that darkens the
 earth; but if the sun should leave the earth, what a dungeon
 would it be! Even those designed for God's favours, may for a
 time suffer his terrors. See how deep those terrors wounded the
 psalmist. If friends are put far from us by providences, or
 death, we have reason to look upon it as affliction. Such was
 the calamitous state of a good man. But the pleas here used were
 peculiarly suited to Christ. And we are not to think that the
 holy Jesus suffered for us only at Gethsemane and on Calvary.
 His whole life was labour and sorrow; he was afflicted as never
 man was, from his youth up. He was prepared for that death of
 which he tasted through life. No man could share in the
 sufferings by which other men were to be redeemed. All forsook
 him, and fled. Oftentimes, blessed Jesus, do we forsake thee;
 but do not forsake us, O take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
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 * God's mercy and truth, and his covenant. (1-4) The glory and
 perfection of God. (5-14) The happiness of those in communion
 with him. (15-18) God's covenant with David, as a type of
 Christ. (19-37) A calamitous state lamented, Prayer for redress.
 (38-52)

 #1-4 Though our expectations may be disappointed, yet God's
 promises are established in the heavens, in his eternal
 counsels; they are out of the reach of opposers in hell and
 earth. And faith in the boundless mercy and everlasting truth of
 God, may bring comfort even in the deepest trials.

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 #5-14 The more God's works are known, the more they are admired.
 And to praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be such a one
 that there is none like him. Surely then we should feel and
 express reverence when we worship God. But how little of this
 appears in our congregations, and how much cause have we to
 humble ourselves on this account! That almighty power which
 smote Egypt, will scatter the enemies of the church, while all
 who trust in God's mercy will rejoice in his name; for mercy and
 truth direct all he does. His counsels from eternity, and their
 consequences to eternity, are all justice and judgment.

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 #15-18 Happy are those who so know the joyful sound of the
 gospel as to obey it; who experience its power upon their
 hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. Though
 believers are nothing in themselves, yet having all in Christ
 Jesus, they may rejoice in his name. May the Lord enable us to
 do so. The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people;
 whereas unbelief dispirits ourselves and discourages others.
 Though it steals upon us under a semblance of humility, yet it
 is the very essence of pride. Christ is the Holy One of Israel;
 and in him was that peculiar people more blessed than in any
 other blessing.