Psalm 89
Psalm lxxxix. has one remarkable character which it behoves us to notice here — reliance on the faithfulness of God according to His original word of promise, when externally all is contrary to it, but the expectation of fulfilment founded on mercy, in fact in Christ. in whom all promised mercies concentrate themselves. “I have said, mercy shall be built up for ever, thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” The accomplishment of God’s promises on earth shall be a source of praise for the inhabitants of heaven. Yet we see at the end that it was as if God had made all men in vain — a sad thought — the power of evil ruling, men its willing instruments, and the good having no place but reproach and sorrow. But God is called on to remember His saints” weakness and their reproach. Still there is confidence; and, whatever the state of things may be, He has wrought redemption, broken the power of the enemy; and has He not in a far better way than for Israel? His arm is mighty, His right hand high, whatever state they are in. Heaven and earth are His. though till Christ comes we cannot say.
Pa BOr of heaven and earth. Justice and judgment
are the constant attributes of His throne. Mercy and truth announce Him when He goes forth. This form of expression is beautiful. God has a throne. There everything must be brought into consistency with it. Hut in His active going forth tender mercy and goodannounce Him, ami faithful truth will tell His
people He is there when He comes forth. his activities are mercy and faithfulness, because His will is at
work and His nature is love. Yet His throne still
maintains justice and judgment. How truly this has 2o-t PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS ON
been shown in Christ! — will doubtless be so in the last days in Israel — but signally so in Christ, and even then because of Him. This apprehension of God gives the sense of blessedness in the midst of sorrow. •’ Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound. They shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength, and in thy favour shall our horn be exalted.” All this is realized in the heart in the midst of sorrows, so that it can be as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. This gives sweet blessing to the heart of the saint. Trouble does but increase it, because it makes him feel the preciousness of the faithfulness and favour of God, and that nothing separates him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The inward revelation of divine favour makes the path of sorrow full of sweetness. So Christ Himself was a man of sorrows. Yet He could say that they might have “my joy fulfilled in themselves.” The sureness of the promises in Christ are then insisted on. Head “of thy holy One,” and remark that “holy” here is the same word as “mercies” in the first verse, not as “holy” in the 18th. Mercy, then, faithfulness, the character of the divine throne and of the divine actings, past accomplishment of redemption, what the title of God is, and the power in which he has broken the hostile power of evil, all to us known as the Father’s love through the Sen by the Spirit, brings the spirit in the midst of all trial into the enjoyment by faith, but the true enjoyment of the heart, of the light of God’s countenance according to all the favour He bears us in
Christ. In the psalm, of course, this is expressed as on Jewish ground. But Christ manifested Himself to us as He does not to the world. The Father and the Son come and make their abode with us. Joy is possessed; full, final deliverance counted on.