The Witness of the New Life

‘“‘ He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” — PsaLm xl. 2, 3.

Is it possible to arrange a series of metaphors more expressive of a life which has been turned by the Lord from the sin and misery of spiritual alienation into the buoyancy and glory of spiritual freedom? The figures of speech just race after one another in breathless eagerness to describe the wonders of deliverance. Picture follows picture, and every new one adds a new element of wonder. The victim was in a horrible pit, the deep home of a peopled darkness, full of all sorts of ugly and frightful shapes. Then the pit had the added horror of miry clay. The victim was sinking into more awful necessity; he had no firm standing. And the Lord lifted him clean out of this gruesome bondage. He found himself in the light with a steadfast sense of assurance that he had gained a new standing. From miry clay to rock! But the delivered life was not stationary. It was full of movement and progress. The Lord gave him power to step out on a new road. ‘*‘ He established my goings.” And as if the emancipation was not even yet sufficiently bountiful, the new road became the home of music. ‘“‘ He put a new song in my mouth.” Shall we say that this restored clock has musical chimes? This released bird has found a new song? This song has made the splendid exchange of mourning for the oil of joy, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,

But I have not yet disclosed what I wish to be most prominent in this meditation. After describing his deliverance the Psalmist goes on to say: ‘* Many shall see, and shall fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” He was once a bondsman and he has become a noble Crusader, and he goes singing along his way. You cannot hide that man. He must be heard and seen. He need not have a pulpit and be a preacher or a public herald. His witness is of a more vital order, for it is the arresting witness of a transformed and transfigured life. This is not a miracle which is read about; this is a miracle which is walking about, and very ordinary folk can see it and be impressed by its significance. The miry clay has been left behind. The pit is now a gloomy memory. The man is a Knight of the Lord, and as he strides along in clean, shining armour, and with a heart that is full of praise, others are quickened by the vital witness, the minds of men are turned to nobler things, and they begin to fear and trust in the Lord.

It is this kind of witness which is the herald of larger triumphs. ‘They came that they might see Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead.” They came in curiosity; they stayed in reverence; they knelt in surrender and prayer. The miracle that happened to one Knight drew others into the fellowship of Christ.