Psalm 129, Keyword: Dauntless, Psalm 130. Keyword: Diligence

by L.C. Shattock, Leicester, U.K. | Category: The Songs Of Ascents | Jun 1982

What the Psalmist has already recalled (Psalms 123 and 124) he remembers yet again as he reviews the persecution to which he and the nation to which he belongs have been subjected. "Many a time ..." is the phrase which indicates its frequency, yet despite the persistent affliction of oppressors, his dauntless spirit declares, "They have not prevailed against me". Fierce oppression by the wicked has not diminished the conviction, "The Lord is righteous". In that fact, those who remain true to His word, no matter what the cost, will be vindicated. Because God lives, evil will be judged.

The righteous have often been perplexed by the apparent prosperity of the wicked. Yet how temporary is their gain and how appalling their latter end! What appears now to grow will soon wither. The seed of the field was often carried by the wind and fell into the shallow soil upon the roof tops of Eastern houses, but because the soil had no depth it came to nothing. "All they that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth" says the Psalmist. And finally he says, let them be unblessed.

The one factor that determines the worth of all that we do is this - can God bless it or not? The godless may accumulate worldly wealth, but "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Men may live in supreme self-indulgence, but "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). The pilgrim soul, even when persecuted, knows the true wealth of the blessing of the Lord which maketh rich and to which no sorrow is added. "As dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor 6:9,10).

Psalm 130. Keyword: Diligence

The question may be asked, if the Psalmist is crying to the Lord "out of the depths", how can this reflect an ascending experience? The query is answered in the understanding that as the soul draws nearer to God in spiritual development so also the pilgrim has a growing awareness of divine holiness.

It is appropriate that the godly Israelite nearing the sanctuary should take an inward look, examining his heart before God. A backward look, as

in the previous song, emphasizes God's unfailing faithfulness; the forward look, inspired by the memory of that faithfulness, awakens renewed trust in the Lord; but the inward look is often disquieting. It is, nonetheless, an experience to which the soul, on its upward way to God, will frequently subject itself. In New Testament language it is implied in the words, "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (Psa. 24:3, 4).

In a growing awareness of the holiness of God, the Psalmist says "If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?". What would we do if Omniscience scrutinized our every sin and never forgot what He saw? "Who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?". None shall stand! Then we are without hope! "No", implies the Psalmist, because "There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared". Forgiveness! But for this, we could not stand - awe-inspiring forgiveness - so wonderful that we long to refrain from sin.

"I wait for the Lord," says the Psalmist. A waiting which is sustained by hope - hope in God's word - a waiting which is linked with diligent watching - more than the watchers for the morning. Levites within the Temple would eagerly watch for the dawning of the day that they might offer the morning sacrifice. The sentinels on the city walls, watching on behalf of the souls within the city, looked intently for the daylight to arise and end their vigil. "More than watchmen look for the morning". Such has been the attitude of those who looked for the Lord in days gone by, those like Zacharias, Simeon and Anna, or those from whose hearts even now the cry goes forth, "Amen: come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20). This is the great purifying influence for present-day pilgrims - the Lord is coming quickly. "Every one that hath this hope set on Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).

Abstracted:

"More than they that watch for the morning"

In the year 1830, on the night preceding 1st August, the day the slaves in our West Indian colonies were to come into possession of the freedom promised them, many of them never sent to bed at all... Tens of thousands of them assembled in devotional exercises and singing praises to God, waiting for the first streak of the light of that day on which they were to be made free. Some of their number were sent to the hills from which they might obtain the first view of the coming day, and, by signal intimate to their brethren down in the valley the dawn of the day that was to make them men, and no longer, as they had hitherto been, mere goods and chattels - men with souls that God had created to live forever.

How eagerly must these men have watched for the morning! (please read Rom. 13:11-14).

What the godly man does, he has the right to exhort others to do also:

"0 Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities". How rich is divine grace! With the Lord there is "... mercy... plenteous redemption ... He shall redeem from ... all iniquities". Not only will He save us from the penalty of sin, but also from its power, and not only from its power, but also from its presence. Maranatha!

L.C. Shattock, Leicester, U.K. | Jun 1982
The Songs Of Ascents