Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Posted : 10 Apr, 2013 06:40 AM

Psalm 119:54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.





Come, Christian pilgrim, and beguile your wearisome journey

heavenward by "singing the Lord's song in this strange land."

With the statutes of God in your hand and in your heart, you

are furnished with a song for every step of your way-"The Lord

is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in

green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He

restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness

for His name's sake. Yes, though I walk through the valley of

the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table

before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my

head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the

house of the Lord forever." How delightfully does this song

bring before you Him, who having laid down His life for you,

engages Himself as your Provider, your Keeper, your Guide,

your faithful and unchangeable Friend! Such a song,

therefore, will smooth your path, and reconcile you to the

many inconveniences of the way; while the recollection that

this is only the house of your pilgrimage and not your home;

and that "there remains a rest for the people of God," will

support the exercise of faith and patience to the end. How striking the contrast between the wicked that forsake the law,

and the Christian pilgrim, who makes it the subject of his daily

song, and the source of his daily comfort! Yes, these same

statutes, which are the yoke and burden of the ungodly, lead

the true servant of the Lord from pleasure to pleasure; and,

cherished by their vigorous influence, his way is made easy

and prosperous. Evidently, therefore, our knowledge and

delight in the Lord's statutes will furnish a decisive test of our

real state before Him.

But it is important to remember that our cheerful song is

connected with a pilgrim-spirit. Never forget that we are not at

home; only happy strangers on our passage homewards.

Here we have no settled habitation-no rest. We are looking for

a better country: and as we look, we are seeking for it. Our

"hearts are in the ways of it." Every day advances us nearer to

it. In this spirit the statutes of the Lord will be our song. Here

are the deeds of conveyance- our title made sure to an estatenot small, of little account, or of uncertain interest-but "an

inheritance" of incalculable value, made over to us. Here we

have sure direction-such as cannot mislead us-for the

attainment of it. Here we are stimulated by the examples of

our fellow-pilgrims, who have reached their home; and as we

follow their track, many are the cordials by the way, and home

brightens in the nearer prospect.

What reason have we then every moment to guard against

the debasing, stupifying influence of the world, which makes

us forget the proper character of a pilgrim! And what an

habitual conflict must be maintained with the sloth and

aversion of a reluctant heart to maintain our progress in the

journey towards Zion! Reader! have you entered upon a

pilgrim's life? Then what is your solace and refreshment on

the road? It is dull, heavy, wearisome, to be a pilgrim without

a song. And yet it is only the blessed experience of the Lord's

statutes, that will tune our song. "If therefore you have tasted that the Lord is gracious;" if He has thus "put a new song into

your mouth," oh! do not permit any carelessness or neglect to

rob you of this heavenly anticipation. And that your lips be not

found mute, seek to maintain a lively contemplation of the

place where you are going-of Him who as your "forerunner is

for you entered" there-and of the prospect, that, having

"prepared a place for you, He will come again, and take you to

Himself; that where He is, there you may be also." In this

spirit, and with these hopes before you, you may take up your

song-"O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. I

will bless the Lord at all times-His praise shall continually be in

my mouth." Thus may you go on your pilgrimage "singing in

the ways of the Lord," and commencing a song below, which

in the world of praise above, shall never, never cease.



by

Charles Bridges

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