The incessant variations of the human standard.

Posted : 14 Aug, 2013 02:29 AM

Psalm 119:144 The righteousness of Your testimonies is

everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

(Comp. verses 137,138.)





What deep-weighty-impressive thoughts were exercising the

Psalmist's mind! He had just marked the happy influence of

the testimonies upon the believer's heart. Now he again

recurs to their righteousness-as the Divine administration-not

subject to the incessant variations of the human standard-but

everlasting-of unalterable obligation-binding us unchangeably

to God, and God to us. His creatures can virtually "make them

void" by their rebellion; but they cannot change their

character, or shake their foundation. No-themselves shall be

the instruments of their fulfillment. Every word shall be established either by them as His obedient servants, or in and

upon them as rebel transgressors. What solemn weight

therefore is due to this Divine standard! It seems now to be

trampled under foot; but its righteousness, inflexible in its

demands, and unalterable in its obligations- will before long

assert its sovereignty over the world, when every other

standard shall have passed away. It will be the rule of the

Divine procedure at the great day of decision. When the "great

white throne" is set up-when "the dead, small and great, stand

before God, and the books are opened, and another book is

opened, which is the book of life;" and the dead are judged

out of those things which were written in the books, "according

to their works"-the acknowledgment will be made throughout

the universe of God- The righteousness of Your testimonies is

everlasting. How glorious is the confidence of being dealt with

in that great day upon an everlasting foundation of

righteousness!

But this view of the Divine righteousness and everlasting

obligation of the testimonies, naturally suggests the prayer for

a more spiritual, enlightened, and experimental acquaintance

with them. Often before had the petition been sent up. But

who can cry too often or too earnestly? One ray of this

understanding is of far higher value than all the intellectual or

speculative knowledge in the world. If its first dawn exhibits

the infinite difference between light and darkness-if prayer for

it implies a measure already received, still-Give me

understanding-will be the cry-not of the "little child" whose

spiritual perception is just opening-but of the "father who has

known Him that is from the beginning." Let me know the

holiness of Your testimonies-their extent-their perfection-their

intimate connection with every part of my daily walk-with the

restraint of my inclination, the regulation of my temper, the

direction of every step of my path. And indeed the more

devoutly we study them, the more shall we feel our need of

supplication for Divine teaching, to give us more adoring and thankful views of the government of God, and to subjugate our

caviling disposition to the humbling influence of faith.

The principle of spiritual and eternal life flows from the

enlightened perception of the testimonies of God. Give me

understanding, and I shall live. For "this is life eternal, that we

might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom

You have sent." His testimonies are the revelation of Himself.

If then we "have an unction from the Holy One, and know all

things," our knowledge of them will become more spiritual in

its character, more experimental in its comforts, and more

practical in its fruits. And thus, 'the life of God in the soul' will

invigorate us for higher attainments in evangelical knowledge,

and more steady advancement in Christian holiness. But how

infinitely do we live below the full privilege of knowing God in

His testimonies! Christians of a Scriptural standard are

"forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth

unto those things which are before. Let us therefore, as many

as be perfect, be thus minded."

And then-what will it be at the great consummation; when our

God of love will have put His last hand to His glorious work;

when the mark of all our aims-the term of all our hopes and

desires-all that we have so long labored for-so earnestly

panted after-so restlessly pursued-when all shall be attained?

Then indeed we shall live a life worthy of the name-not as now

under the shadowed glimmerings-but under the immediate

full-eyed glory of His light and love; having escaped forever

the deadliest of all dangers-sin- the very deadliness of death

itself.



by

Charles Bridges

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