How is it, believer, that you are enabled to sing of the Lord's statutes-and to remember His name?

Posted : 14 Apr, 2013 05:35 AM

Psalm 119:56 This I had, because I kept Your precepts.





How is it, believer, that you are enabled to sing of the Lord's

statutes-and to remember His name? This you have, because

you keep His precepts. Thus you are able to tell the world,

that in keeping His "commandments there is great reward",-

that the "work of righteousness is peace; and the effect of

righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever." Christian!

let your testimony be clear and decided-that ten thousand

worlds cannot bestow the happiness of one day's

devotedness to the service of your Lord. For is it not in this

path that you realize fullness of joy in "fellowship with the

Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ?" "He that has My

commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me; and

he who loves Me shall be loved of My Father; and I will love

him, and will manifest Myself to him-My Father will love him;

and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." If

you were walking more closely with God in "the obedience of faith," the world would never dare to accuse religion as the

source of melancholy and despondency. No man has any

right to the hope of happiness in a world of tribulation, but he

who seeks it in the favor of his God. Nor can any enjoy this

favor, except as connected, in the exercise of faith, with

conformity to the will, and delight in the law, of his God. Thus

not only are the "statutes of the Lord right," but they "rejoice

the heart." There is a sweetness and satisfaction in the work,

as well as a good flowing out of it-a current as well as a

consequent privilege-cheering the soul in the act of exercise,

just as the senses are regaled at the very instant with the

object of their gratification.

But let us remark how continually David was enriching his

treasury of spiritual experience with some fresh view of the

dealings of God with his soul: some answer to prayer, or

some increase of consolation, which he records for his own

encouragement, and for the use of the Church of God. Let us

seek to imitate him in this respect; and we shall often be

enabled to say as he does- This I had,-this comfort I enjoyedthis support in trouble-this remarkable manifestation of His

love-this confidence I was enabled to maintain-it was made

my own, because I kept Your precepts.

This I had-not, this I hoped for. He speaks of "the promise of

the life that now is"-that by which God clears away the

charge,-"It is vain to serve Him; and what profit is it, that we

have kept His ordinances?" Nor is it any boasting of merit, but

only an acknowledgment of the gracious dispensation of his

God. Such a reward for such poor service, can only be

undeserved "mercy," having respect, not to the worthiness of

the work, but to the faithfulness of the promise. Perfect

keeping, according to the legal requirements, there cannot be.

Evangelical perfection, in aiming at the mark, and constantly

pressing onward towards it, there may be. How important therefore is it-in the absence of this Christian

confidence-to examine,-"Is there not a cause?" and what is

the cause? Have not "strangers devoured my strength; and I

knew it not?" Is the Lord "with me as in months past?"-with me

in my closet?-with me in my family?-with me at my table?-with

me in my daily employments and conversation with the world?

When I hear the faithful people of God telling of His love, and

saying-This I had; must I not, if unable to join their cheerful

acknowledgment, trace it to my unfaithful walk, and say-This I

had not, because I have failed in obedience to Your precepts;

because I have been careless and self-indulgent; because I

have slighted Your love; because I have "grieved Your Holy

Spirit," and forgotten to ask for the "old paths, that I might

walk therein, and find rest to my soul?" O let this scrutiny and

recollection of our ways realize the constant need of the

finished work of Jesus, as our ground of acceptance, and

source of strength. This will bring healing, restoration,

increasing devotedness, tenderness of conscience,

circumspection of walk, and a determination not to rest, until

we can make this grateful acknowledgment our own. At the

same time, instead of boasting that our own arm, our own

diligence, or holiness, "have gotten us" into this favor, we shall

cast all our attainments at the feet of Jesus, and crown Him

Lord of all forever.



by

Charles Bridges

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