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God's righteous judgments endures forever
Posted : 5 Sep, 2013 02:16 AM
Psalm 119:160 Your word is true from the beginning: and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
The "loving-kindness and the truth of God" were two heavenly
notes, on which "the sweet Psalmist of Israel" loved to dwell His "loving-kindness" in giving, and His "truth" in fulfilling-His
gracious promises. Indeed the displays of His truth-whether to
His Church collectively, or to His people individually- have
always been every way worthy of Himself. Often has His word
seemed on the eve of being falsified, clearly with the design of
a brighter and more striking display of its faithfulness. The
very night previous to the close of the four hundred and thirty
years, Israel was, to all human appearances, as far from deliverance as at any former period. But "the vision was for an
appointed time:" nothing could hasten, nothing could delay it;
for "it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty
years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the
hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." At a
subsequent period, the family of David appeared upon the
point of extinction; and it seemed as if the promise of God
would fall to the ground. But to exhibit the word of God, as
true from the beginning, a providential, and almost a
miraculous, interference was manifested. When Athaliah
destroyed all the seed-royal of the house of Judah, Joash was
stolen away, put under a nurse, hid in the house of the Lord
six years, and in God's appointed time brought forth to the
people as the fulfillment of the express promise of God-
"Behold! the king's son shall reign, as the Lord had said of the
sons of David."
"Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, even they
shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord."
And thus have many of His own people been tempted in
seasons of despondency to "charge God foolishly." But who of
them has not afterwards, in some unexpected deliverance,
"set to his seal"-Your word is true from the beginning? "The
Lord shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His
servants, when He sees that their power is gone, and there is
none shut up or left." And how do these recollections put to
shame the suggestions of unbelief, and strengthen our
confidence in the prospect, or even in the present endurance,
of "manifold temptations!"
The full acknowledgment of the truths of God's word is the
ground of all our peace and comfort. The believing reception
of the testimony opens to us a free access to God. We stand
before Him self-condemned, and yet we believe that "there is
no condemnation." "The Spirit bears witness" to and "with our spirits," that "this God is our God forever and ever"-"unto
death," in death, and through eternity. In this simplicity of rest
upon the testimony, we go to our God, like Abraham, in
sensible helplessness, but in assured confidence, "strong in
faith, giving glory to God."
Many, however, have been so used to indulge the pride of
their own reasonings, that they scarcely know how to read the
Book of God without caviling. If they believe while it is in their
hands, they are not prepared to give a reason of their faith.
They have ventured into conflict with the enemy with
unproved armor, and so have been shaken and troubled. Or
perhaps their faith does not reach the whole testimony: and
therefore, being partial only it is not genuine. For if we do not
give full credence to all, we do not give true credence to any.
We do not receive it on the authority of God, but only so far as
our reasoning can explain it, or our will may approve it. What
need then have we to pray for a teachable simplicity of faithnot asking-'What think you?' but-"How read you?" In this spirit
we shall hold our anchor on solid ground; and should we
again be "tossed with the tempest," we shall look to Him, who
stills the storm, and there shall be "a great calm." Confidence
simply built upon the word of God, will endure the storms of
earth and hell.
Yet we may loosely believe all, while we practically believe
none. The generalities of truth have no influence without an
individual application. The summary look of acquiescence will
miss all the solid blessings of a reverential and experimental
faith. But to find-as the woman of Samaria found-that 'it is all
true,'-because it answers to our convictions, our wants, and
our feelings to know that the promises are true, because they
have been fulfilled in us- this is tasting, feeling, handling-this is
indeed blessedness-this makes the word unspeakably
precious to us-"a treasure to be desired." To have the witness
in ourselves that "we have not followed cunningly devised fables," but that it is "a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners"-this is indeed "life from the dead." Oh! how should we
seek thus to receive the word "with much assurance!" The
Israelites were not satisfied with inquiring respecting the
manna-"What is this?" or with discovering that it had
descended from heaven; but they gathered it each for himself,
and fed upon it as their daily bread. Nor will it be of any avail
to us to prove beyond contradiction, and to acknowledge with
the fullest assurance, the truth of God's word, unless we thus
embrace it, and live upon it as our heavenly portion. Faith
alone can give this spiritual apprehension-"He who believes,
has the witness in himself." But if the word be the truth of God
from the beginning, it must be eternal truth in its character and
its results; like its Great Author in every particular-enduring
forever. "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven;
Your faithfulness is unto all generations." Here is the rock of
my confidence. How could I rest my hope on any salvation,
that did not proceed from the primary, unchangeable, eternal
mind? What assurance could I have elsewhere, that the grand
plan might not be defeated by some unexpected combination?
Whereas every act of reliance in His faithfulness establishes
more firmly His title to my confidence, and strengthens the
soul into a habit of intelligent, vigorous faith.
Lord! give unto us that "precious faith," which makes the
acknowledgment of the truth of Your word from the beginning,
and its endurance forever, the spring of continual life and
consolation to our souls.
by
Charles Bridges
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