A prayer of deep anxiety-large desire-simple faith!

Posted : 24 Mar, 2013 05:50 AM

Psalm 119:41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord; even Your salvation, according to Your word.





A prayer of deep anxiety-large desire-simple faith! It is a

sinner-feeling his need of mercy-yes, mercies-abundant

mercy-mercies for every moment-looking for them only in the

Lord's salvation-to be dispensed according to His word. Out of

Christ we know only a God, of justice and holiness. In Christ

we behold "a just God, and yet a Savior;" and in "His salvation

mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace

have kissed each other." Therefore general notions of mercy

without a distinct apprehension of salvation have their origin in

presumption, not in warranted faith. For can there be any

communication of mercy from an unknown God? Can there be

any communion with an angry God? "Acquaint now yourself

with Him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come to you"-

"The Lord's mercies, even His salvation."

Can we conceive the moment, when this prayer is not suited

to us? How can we be at any moment safe or happy without

the spirit of it? To walk as a saved sinner, "accepted in the

Beloved," conformed to His image, devoted to His service,

sealed for His kingdom-this is, or should be, the sunshine of

every day. Let this prayer live in the heart. Carry continually to

the Lord the cry for all His mercies-specially for that, which is

the seal and crown of them all- His salvation.

This prayer, however, is peculiarly suitable to the believer,

longing to realize that which sometimes is clouded to his viewhis personal interest in the Lord's salvation! It must come to

me; or I shall never come to it. I want not a general

apprehension-I am not satisfied with the description of it. Let it

come to me-Let Your mercies be applied, so that I can claim

them, and rejoice in them! I see Your salvation come to others. Who needs it more than I? Let it come also to me.

"Look upon me, and be merciful to me, as You do to those

that love Your name. Remember me, O Lord, with the favor

that You bear to Your people; O visit me with Your salvation;

that I may see the felicity of Your chosen, that I may rejoice in

the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your

inheritance."

Now, are we seeking the assurance of this salvation? Are we

waiting to realize its present power, saving us from sin-Satanthe world-ourselves-and "blessing us with all spiritual

blessings in Christ Jesus?" Should a trial of faith and patience

be ordained for us, yet in the end we shall find an enriching

store of experience from His wise dispensations. That He has

kept us from turning our backs upon His ways, when we had

no comfort in them; that He has upheld us with His secret

supplies of strength-is not this the work of His own Spirit

within, and the pledge of the completion of the work? That He

has enabled us, against all discouragements, to "continue

instant in prayer," is surely an answer to that prayer, which in

our apprehensions of it, had been cast out. That in waiting

upon Him, we have found no rest in worldly consolation, is an

assurance, that the Lord Himself will be our soul-satisfying

and eternal portion. And who is there now in the sensible

enjoyment of His love, who does not bless that Divine

wisdom, which took the same course with them that has been

taken with us, to bring them to these joys? When did a

weeping seed-time fail of bringing a joyful harvest?

But let not the ground of faith be forgotten-According to Your

word,-that it shall come fully-freely-eternally-to him who waits

for it. "You meet him that rejoices and works righteousness;

those that remember You in Your ways." Many, indeed, are

satisfied with far too low a standard of spiritual enjoyments. It

is comfortless to live at a distance from our Father's house,

when we might be dwelling in the secret of His presence, and rejoicing in the smiles of His love. But let us not charge this

dishonorable state upon the sovereignty of the Divine

dispensations. Let us rather trace it to its true source-lack of

desire-lack of faith-lack of prayer-lack of diligence. What

infinite need have we of heavenly influence! What gracious

encouragement to seek it! The way was blocked up-mercy

has cleared the path, opened our access-"The golden scepter

is always held out." Earnest prayer will bring a sure answer.

The blessing is unspeakable. Let Your mercies-Your

salvation, come to me, O Lord.



by

Charles Bridges

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