Psalms 37
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
The following was written by Nicholas Byfield regarding Psalms 37.
Whole Psalm. The righteous are preserved in Christ with a special preservation and in a peculiar safety. In the 37th Psalm this point is excellently and at large handled, both by direct proof, and by answer to all the usual objections against their safety. That they shall be preserved is affirmed, verses 3, 17, 23, 25, 32. The objections answered are many.
Objection 1. Wicked men flourish.
Solution. - A righteous man should never grieve at that, for “they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Verse 2.
Objection 2. Righteous men are in distress.
Solution. - Verse 6. The night of their adversity will be turned into the light of prosperity; and as surely as they can believe when it is night that it shall be day, so surely may they be persuaded when crosses are upon them, that comfort and deliverance shall come.
Objection 3. But there are great plots laid against the righteous, and they are pursued with great malice, and their intended ruin is come almost to the very issue.
Solution. - Verses 12-15. The Lord sees all the plots of wicked men, and laughs at their spiteful and foolish malice; while they are busy to destroy the righteous, and hope to have a day against them, “The Lord seeth that their own day is coming upon them, even a day of destruction, a day of great judgment and eternal misery;” their bow shall be broken, and the sword that they have drawn shall enter into their own heart.
Objection 4. But the just have but small means.
Solution. - Verses 16-17. “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.”
Objection 5. Heavy times are like to befall them.
Solution. - Verse 19. “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall have enough.”
Objection 6. But the wicked wax fatter and fatter, and they prevail in vexing the righteous.
Solution. - Verse 20. Indeed the wicked are fat, but it is but “the fat of lambs,” their prosperity shall soon melt; and as they be like smoke in vexing the godly, so shall they be like smoke in vanishing away.
Objection 7. But the righteous do fall.
Solution. - Verse 24. Though he do fall, yet he falls not finally, nor totally, for he “is not utterly cast down;” and besides, there is an upholding providence of God in all the falls of the righteous.
Objection 8. We see some wicked men that do not so fall into adversity, but rather are in prosperity to their dying days.
Solution. - Verse 28. Though they do, yet “their seed shall be cut off.”
Objection 9. But some wicked men are strong yet, and in their seed spread also.
Solution. - Verses 35-36. Note also that these “spreading bay-trees” many times “soon pass away;” and they and their houses are sometimes “utterly cut off.”
Objection 10. But upright men are under many and long crosses.
Solution. - Verse 37. Yet, “his end is peace.”
Objection 11. But nobody stands for the godly when they come into question.
Solution. - Verses 39-40. “Their salvation is of the Lord;” he is their strength, he will help them and deliver them, etc.
But if we would be thus delivered, observe:
1. That we must not unthankfully fret at God’s providence (verse 1).
2. We must “trust in the Lord and do good” (verse 3).
3. We must “delight ourselves in the Lord,” and not place our contentment on earthly things (verse 4).
4. We must “commit our ways to God” (verse 5).
5. We must get patience and humble affections (verses 7-11).
6. We must be of upright conversation (verse 14).
7. We must be merciful (verses 25-26).
8. We must “speak righteous things,” and get “the law into our hearts” (verses 30-31).
9. We must “keep our way,”and “wait on God,” and not use ill means.
Nicholas Byfield
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Blessed Saviour, Thee I love,
All my other joys above,
All my hopes in Thee abide,
Thou my hope, and naught beside:
Ever let my glory be,
Only, only, only thee.
Once again beside the cross,
All my gain I count but loss,
Earthly pleasures fade away,
Clouds they are that hide my day;
Hence, vain shadows, let me see
Jesus, crucified for me.
Blessed Saviour, Thine am I,
Thine to live, and Thine to die;
Height or depth, or earthly power,
Ne’er shall hide my Saviour more:
Ever shall my glory be,
Only, only, only Thee.
G. Duffield
Not only is our hope in him, but he himself is our hope. “God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ,” saith St. Paul, “our hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1. Yea, there is a deeper, nearer depth: “The glory of the mystery of the gospel,” says St. Paul, “is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ himself is our hope, as the only Author of it; Christ is our hope, as the End of it; and Christ, who is the Beginning and the End, is our hope also by the way; for he saith, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27. Each yearning of our hearts, each ray of hope which gleams upon us, each touch which thrills through us, each voice which whispers in our inmost hearts of the good things laid up in store for us, if we will love God, are the light of Christ enlightening us, the touch of Christ raising us to new life, the voice of Christ, “Whoso cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out;” it is “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” drawing us up by his Spirit who dwelleth in us, unto himself our hope. For our hope is not the glory of heaven, not joy, not peace, not rest from labour, not fulness of our wishes, nor sweet contentment of the whole soul, nor understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge, not only a torrent of delight; it is “Christ our God,” “the hope of glory.” Nothing which God could create is what we hope for; nothing which God could give us out of himself, no created glory, or bliss, or beauty, or majesty, or riches. What we hope for is our Redeeming God himself, his love, his bliss, the joy of our Lord himself who hath so loved us, to be our joy and our portion for ever.
E. B. Pusey
All my other joys above,
All my hopes in Thee abide,
Thou my hope, and naught beside:
Ever let my glory be,
Only, only, only thee.
Once again beside the cross,
All my gain I count but loss,
Earthly pleasures fade away,
Clouds they are that hide my day;
Hence, vain shadows, let me see
Jesus, crucified for me.
Blessed Saviour, Thine am I,
Thine to live, and Thine to die;
Height or depth, or earthly power,
Ne’er shall hide my Saviour more:
Ever shall my glory be,
Only, only, only Thee.
G. Duffield
Not only is our hope in him, but he himself is our hope. “God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ,” saith St. Paul, “our hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1. Yea, there is a deeper, nearer depth: “The glory of the mystery of the gospel,” says St. Paul, “is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ himself is our hope, as the only Author of it; Christ is our hope, as the End of it; and Christ, who is the Beginning and the End, is our hope also by the way; for he saith, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27. Each yearning of our hearts, each ray of hope which gleams upon us, each touch which thrills through us, each voice which whispers in our inmost hearts of the good things laid up in store for us, if we will love God, are the light of Christ enlightening us, the touch of Christ raising us to new life, the voice of Christ, “Whoso cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out;” it is “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” drawing us up by his Spirit who dwelleth in us, unto himself our hope. For our hope is not the glory of heaven, not joy, not peace, not rest from labour, not fulness of our wishes, nor sweet contentment of the whole soul, nor understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge, not only a torrent of delight; it is “Christ our God,” “the hope of glory.” Nothing which God could create is what we hope for; nothing which God could give us out of himself, no created glory, or bliss, or beauty, or majesty, or riches. What we hope for is our Redeeming God himself, his love, his bliss, the joy of our Lord himself who hath so loved us, to be our joy and our portion for ever.
E. B. Pusey
Friday, February 5, 2016
The Holy Ghost is here,
Where saints in pray’r agree;
As Jesus’ parting gift-is near
Each pleading company.
Not far away is he,
To be by prayer brought nigh,
But here in present majesty
As in his courts on high.
He dwells within our soul,
An ever welcome guest;
He reigns with absolute control,
As monarch in the breast.
Our bodies are his shrine,
And he the indwelling Lord;
All hail, thou Comforter divine,
Be evermore adored!
Obedient to thy will,
We wait to feel thy power,
O Lord of life, our hopes fulfill,
And bless this hallowed hour.
Spurgeon
Where saints in pray’r agree;
As Jesus’ parting gift-is near
Each pleading company.
Not far away is he,
To be by prayer brought nigh,
But here in present majesty
As in his courts on high.
He dwells within our soul,
An ever welcome guest;
He reigns with absolute control,
As monarch in the breast.
Our bodies are his shrine,
And he the indwelling Lord;
All hail, thou Comforter divine,
Be evermore adored!
Obedient to thy will,
We wait to feel thy power,
O Lord of life, our hopes fulfill,
And bless this hallowed hour.
Spurgeon
****************************************
To Thee, O Comforter divine,
For all Thy grace and pow’r benign,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful love had place
In God’s great covenant of grace,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful voice doth win
The wandering from the ways of sin,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful pow’r doth heal,
Enlighten, sanctify, and seal,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful truth is shown,
By every promise made our own,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, our teacher, and our friend,
Our faithful leader to the end,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, by Jesus Christ sent down,
Of all His gifts the sum and crown,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, who art with God the Son
And God the Father ever One,
Sing we Alleluia!
F. R. Havergal
For all Thy grace and pow’r benign,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful love had place
In God’s great covenant of grace,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful voice doth win
The wandering from the ways of sin,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful pow’r doth heal,
Enlighten, sanctify, and seal,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, whose faithful truth is shown,
By every promise made our own,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, our teacher, and our friend,
Our faithful leader to the end,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, by Jesus Christ sent down,
Of all His gifts the sum and crown,
Sing we Alleluia!
To Thee, who art with God the Son
And God the Father ever One,
Sing we Alleluia!
F. R. Havergal
No sooner is Christ inaugurated in his throne, but he scat-ters his coin, and gives gifts. He gives gifts, or the gift of gifts, the gift of the Holy Ghost. “If thou knewest the gift of God,” said Christ to the Samaritan woman (John 4:10): that gift was the water of life, and that water of life was the Spirit, as John, who knew best his mind, gave the interpretation, “This spake he of the Spirit.” John 7:39. O my soul, consider of this princely gift of Christ! Such a gift was never before, but when God gave his Son. “God so loved the world, that he gave his Son;” and Christ so loved the world, that he gave his Spirit. But, O my soul, consider especially to whom this Spirit was given; the application of the gift is the very soul of thy meditation; “unto us a Son is given,” said the prophet (Isa. 9:6); and “unto us the Holy Ghost is given,” saith the apostle (Rom. 5:5); and yet above all consider the reasons of this gift in reference to thyself. Was it not to make thee a temple and receptacle of the Holy Ghost? Stand a while on this! Admire, O my soul, at the condescending, glorious, and unspeakable love of Christ in this! It was infinite love to come down into our nature when he was incarnate; but this is more, to come down into thy heart by his Holy Spirit: he came near to us then, but as if that were not near enough, he comes nearer now, for now he unites himself unto thy person, now he comes and dwells in thy soul by his Holy Spirit.
Isaac Ambrose, 1592-1674
Isaac Ambrose, 1592-1674
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
He comes, the prisoner to release,
In Satan’s bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes oppressed with night
To pour celestial day.
He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The wounded soul to cure,
And, with the treasures of his grace,
To enrich the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven’s eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.
Philip Doddridge
The necessity of a Saviour was felt and acknowledged; and the suitableness, all-sufficiency, and condescension of Jesus, when he undertook and accomplished the great designs in which his love engaged him, were more strongly illustrated by the preceding contrast. He knew the whole human race were sinners, rebels, enemies against God. He knew the terms, the price of our redemption, that he must obey, suffer, weep, and die: Yet he came. He emptied himself of his glory and honour, and took on him the form of a servant, to bring the glad tidings of salvation to men.
John Newton
The Saviour promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
He comes, the prisoner to release,
In Satan’s bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes oppressed with night
To pour celestial day.
He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The wounded soul to cure,
And, with the treasures of his grace,
To enrich the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven’s eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.
Philip Doddridge
The necessity of a Saviour was felt and acknowledged; and the suitableness, all-sufficiency, and condescension of Jesus, when he undertook and accomplished the great designs in which his love engaged him, were more strongly illustrated by the preceding contrast. He knew the whole human race were sinners, rebels, enemies against God. He knew the terms, the price of our redemption, that he must obey, suffer, weep, and die: Yet he came. He emptied himself of his glory and honour, and took on him the form of a servant, to bring the glad tidings of salvation to men.
John Newton
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Ye humble souls, rejoice,
And cheerful praises sing!
Wake all your harmony of voice;
For Jesus is your King!
That meek and lowly Lord,
Whom here your souls have known,
Pledges the honour of his word
T' avow you for his own.
He brings salvation near,
For which his blood was paid!
How beauteous shall your souls appear,
Thus sumptuously array'd!
Sing! for the day is nigh,
When near your Saviour's seat,
The tallest sons of pride shall lie
The footstool of your feet.
Salvation, Lord, is thine,
And all thy saints confess
The royal robes, in which they shine,
Were wrought by sovereign grace.
Philip Doddridge
"If God be for us, who shall be against us?" The difficulties of our warfare are great, the enemies of our peace are many. The world may frown, and Satan will rage, but Jesus has the world, and is greater than all our foes. He will guide his people with his unerring wisdom, support them with his almighty arm, supply them out of the inexhaustible riches of his grace, revive them when fainting, heal them when wounded, plead for them above as their great high priest, manage for them upon earth as their great shepherd, and at last make them more than conquerors, and give them a crown of life.
John Newton
And cheerful praises sing!
Wake all your harmony of voice;
For Jesus is your King!
That meek and lowly Lord,
Whom here your souls have known,
Pledges the honour of his word
T' avow you for his own.
He brings salvation near,
For which his blood was paid!
How beauteous shall your souls appear,
Thus sumptuously array'd!
Sing! for the day is nigh,
When near your Saviour's seat,
The tallest sons of pride shall lie
The footstool of your feet.
Salvation, Lord, is thine,
And all thy saints confess
The royal robes, in which they shine,
Were wrought by sovereign grace.
Philip Doddridge
"If God be for us, who shall be against us?" The difficulties of our warfare are great, the enemies of our peace are many. The world may frown, and Satan will rage, but Jesus has the world, and is greater than all our foes. He will guide his people with his unerring wisdom, support them with his almighty arm, supply them out of the inexhaustible riches of his grace, revive them when fainting, heal them when wounded, plead for them above as their great high priest, manage for them upon earth as their great shepherd, and at last make them more than conquerors, and give them a crown of life.
John Newton
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,
Didst bear all ill for me.
A Victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there’s no load for me.
Death and the curse were in our cup-
O Christ, ‘twas full for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop-
‘Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup-love drank it up;
Now blessings’ draught for me.
Jehovah lifted up His rod-
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God;
There’s not one stroke for me.
Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
The tempest’s awful voice was heard-
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me.
Jehovah bade His sword awake-
O Christ, it woke ‘gainst Thee!
Thy blood the flaming blade must slake;
Thy heart its sheath must be-
All for my sake, my peace to make;
Now sleeps that sword for me.
For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee;
Thou’rt risen: my bands are all untied,
And now Thou liv’st in me.
When purified, made white, and tried,
Thy GLORY then for me!
Mrs. A. R. Cousin
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:1-3
.....There are two ways in which to view a suffering Christ, first, as bruised of Jehovah; secondly, as rejected of men. In the former, He stood alone; in the latter, we have the honor of being associated with Him. He stood alone, for who could have stood with Him? He bore the wrath of God alone; He traveled in solitude down into "the rough valley that had neither been eared nor sown," and there He settled forever the question of our sins. With this we had nothing to do, though to this we are eternally indebted for everything. He fought the fight and gained the victory alone, but He divides the spoils with us. He was in solitude "in the horrible pit and miry clay;" but directly He planted His foot on the everlasting "rock" of resurrection, He associates us with Him. He uttered the cry alone; He sings the "new song" in company. (Psalm xl. 2, 3.)
Now the question is, shall we refuse to suffer from the hand of man with Him who suffered from the hand of God for us?..... We do not reach the high dignity of sons through suffering, but through the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, founded on the accomplished work of Christ, according to God's eternal counsel. This can never be touched. We do not reach the family through suffering. The apostle does not say, That ye may be counted worthy of the family of God for which ye also suffer. They were in the family already; but they were bound for the kingdom, and their road to that kingdom lay through suffering; and not only so, but the measure of suffering for the kingdom would be according to their devotedness and conformity to the King. The more like we are to Him, the more we shall suffer with Him; and the deeper our fellowship with Him in the suffering, the deeper will be our fellowship in the glory. There is a difference between the house of the Father and the kingdom of the Son: in the former, it will be a question of capacity; in the latter, a question of assigned position. All my children may be around my table, but their enjoyment of my company and conversation will entirely depend on their capacity. One may be seated on my knee, in the full enjoyment of his relationship, as a child, yet perfectly unable to comprehend a word I say; another may exhibit uncommon intelligence in conversation, yet not be a whit happier in his relationship than the infant on my knee. But when it becomes a question of service for me, or public identification with me, it is evidently quite another thing. This is but a feeble illustration of the idea of capacity in the Father's house, and assigned position in the kingdom of the Son..... C. H. Mackintosh
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,
Didst bear all ill for me.
A Victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there’s no load for me.
Death and the curse were in our cup-
O Christ, ‘twas full for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop-
‘Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup-love drank it up;
Now blessings’ draught for me.
Jehovah lifted up His rod-
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God;
There’s not one stroke for me.
Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
The tempest’s awful voice was heard-
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me.
Jehovah bade His sword awake-
O Christ, it woke ‘gainst Thee!
Thy blood the flaming blade must slake;
Thy heart its sheath must be-
All for my sake, my peace to make;
Now sleeps that sword for me.
For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee;
Thou’rt risen: my bands are all untied,
And now Thou liv’st in me.
When purified, made white, and tried,
Thy GLORY then for me!
Mrs. A. R. Cousin
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:1-3
.....There are two ways in which to view a suffering Christ, first, as bruised of Jehovah; secondly, as rejected of men. In the former, He stood alone; in the latter, we have the honor of being associated with Him. He stood alone, for who could have stood with Him? He bore the wrath of God alone; He traveled in solitude down into "the rough valley that had neither been eared nor sown," and there He settled forever the question of our sins. With this we had nothing to do, though to this we are eternally indebted for everything. He fought the fight and gained the victory alone, but He divides the spoils with us. He was in solitude "in the horrible pit and miry clay;" but directly He planted His foot on the everlasting "rock" of resurrection, He associates us with Him. He uttered the cry alone; He sings the "new song" in company. (Psalm xl. 2, 3.)
Now the question is, shall we refuse to suffer from the hand of man with Him who suffered from the hand of God for us?..... We do not reach the high dignity of sons through suffering, but through the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, founded on the accomplished work of Christ, according to God's eternal counsel. This can never be touched. We do not reach the family through suffering. The apostle does not say, That ye may be counted worthy of the family of God for which ye also suffer. They were in the family already; but they were bound for the kingdom, and their road to that kingdom lay through suffering; and not only so, but the measure of suffering for the kingdom would be according to their devotedness and conformity to the King. The more like we are to Him, the more we shall suffer with Him; and the deeper our fellowship with Him in the suffering, the deeper will be our fellowship in the glory. There is a difference between the house of the Father and the kingdom of the Son: in the former, it will be a question of capacity; in the latter, a question of assigned position. All my children may be around my table, but their enjoyment of my company and conversation will entirely depend on their capacity. One may be seated on my knee, in the full enjoyment of his relationship, as a child, yet perfectly unable to comprehend a word I say; another may exhibit uncommon intelligence in conversation, yet not be a whit happier in his relationship than the infant on my knee. But when it becomes a question of service for me, or public identification with me, it is evidently quite another thing. This is but a feeble illustration of the idea of capacity in the Father's house, and assigned position in the kingdom of the Son..... C. H. Mackintosh
Monday, February 1, 2016
O Jesus, blessed Lord, to you
my heartfelt thanks and praise are due;
you have so lovingly bestowed
on me your body and your blood.
Break forth, my soul, for joy and say:
What wealth is come to me today!
My Savior dwells within my soul
and makes my wounded spirit whole!
Thomas Hansen Kingo
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
So you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, "What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ! Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the groundrent of loving and serving Him forever? Will you take Jesus, and "dwell in Him"? See, this house is furnished with all you want; it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. Here you can have intimate communion with Christ, and feast on His love; here are tables well stored with food for you to live on forever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out, and see heaven itself. Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key—the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind, there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and, though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by and by. He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in Him." Believer! thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And, "dwelling in Him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God Himself. "We dwell in Him."
Charles H. Spurgeon
my heartfelt thanks and praise are due;
you have so lovingly bestowed
on me your body and your blood.
Break forth, my soul, for joy and say:
What wealth is come to me today!
My Savior dwells within my soul
and makes my wounded spirit whole!
Thomas Hansen Kingo
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
So you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, "What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ! Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the groundrent of loving and serving Him forever? Will you take Jesus, and "dwell in Him"? See, this house is furnished with all you want; it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. Here you can have intimate communion with Christ, and feast on His love; here are tables well stored with food for you to live on forever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out, and see heaven itself. Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key—the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind, there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and, though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by and by. He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in Him." Believer! thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And, "dwelling in Him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God Himself. "We dwell in Him."
Charles H. Spurgeon
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