Jottings

Psalm 117. is the smallest psalm in the book of the psalms, as Psalm 119. is the largest. All nations and peoples are called upon to praise Jehovah, for that His mercy is great, and that the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever. whilst it was ever God's will that the nations around God's holy nation, Israel, sbould learn God's law and His ways, and there was ever an open door for Gentile peoples to join themselves to the IŁ~~ and His people, yet what a meagre response there was in times past! and this was due largely to the failure and backsliding of Israel. Nothing but the quickening power of God by His word can raise people up to a higher plane of life and conduct.

I remember listening to 'ome wise words spoken by a judge. He made no reference to the Scriptures when he said, "No people can rise to a higher way of life unless they are subject to a higher form of teaching." I thought, how true was such a remark, when applied to the law which God gave to Israel His people in contrast to the teachings and practices of the nations! what was true of th'at past day is tuore especially 50 now, when we have lying open to us in the New Testament Scriptures the full revelation of the thoughts of God concerning men and His will for them. Did not John the Baptist express the matter truly when he said, "He that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh:

He that cometh from heaven (the Son of God) is above all. what He hath seen and heard, of that He beareth witness; and no man receiveth His witness"? (John 3.81, 82). In this scene stood the Son of God from heaven, speaking of heavenly things and heavenly conduct, but the earthy sons of men preferred earth to heaven, and preferred, too, the low plane of their own thoughts to the thoughts of God, and they do so to this day.

The whole tendency of men is downward. The psalmist in Psalm 119. says My soul cleaveth unto the dust:

Quicken Thou me according to Thy "eord" (verse 25). "I am afflicted very much:

Quicken me, 0 LORD, according unto Thy ~ord" (verse 107).

"Plead Thou my cause, and redeem me:

Quicken me according to Thy word" (verse 154).

Earth and earthly things, comparable to dust, will take spiritual life from the child of God, such things will devitalise him and render him inactive and powerless in the work of God. He must be quickened according to God's word. This is no false quickening. Much passes to.day for quickening that is nothing else than mere carnal fervour. It is not according to God's word, for when the word of God is applied to it, which is ever the divine test in all things, it is seen as foana from carnal turbulence.

Not oniy does the earth devitalise the Christian, affliction too has its effect uniess the afflicted lifts up his heart to God for divine quickening. It is well fo; the afflicted to turn to Psalm 102. which is" a prayer of the afflicted," and no doubt is the prayer of the afflicted Son of God in the days of His flesh.

Then Psalm 119.154 is a request that God will take up the psalmist's cause and bring him out of his trouble, and what is most im ortant that He wm nicke

him according to His word.

Turning again to our small Psalm (117.), it is important to observe the subject of the psalm. It is concerning "Mercy" and "Troth." Such were the matters which met together in the Holy of Holies of the house of God. (See Psalm 85.10). There was the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat covering it, type of Christ who is both the Ark and the Mercy Seat. The Ark contained the law, the troth of God (Psalm 119.142) for the people of God in the first instance, and for all men else secondly. Man ever requires mercy for all wherein he has failed to keep God's law and to obey His troth. The Mercy Seat was never to be removed from the Ark. Mercy and troth go before God's face (Psalm 89.14); and when the nations dwell in millennial peace and righteousness, troth shall then spring out of the earth (Psalm 85.11), for in lands where error for long centuries was entirroned, troth shall spread her pure light and nations shall walk therein (Isaiah 2.2, 8). J.M.

Psalm 117., though it is the smallest of all the psalms," contemplates a glorious time in days of milleanial glory, when all nations and peoples shall praise Jehovah the God of Israel for His great mercy and for His eternal truth. Psalm 115. also deals with mercy and truth.

"Not unto us, 0 Jehovah, not unto us, But unto Thy name give glory,

For Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake" (verse 1).

But it contemplates a very different time. It views Israel, God's people, in the midst of surrounding idolatry. Israel were being scornfully questioned by these idolatrous nations with the words, "where is now their God?" (verse 2). Israel worshipped the Unseen God, yet a God who was known to faith, and much more real than what was seen by natural sight. The idolatrous nations could show their gods. Athens, the home of philosophy, was full of them (Acts 17.28), and so also were other cities and lands. But what of Israel's God? where was He?

"Our God is in the heavens:

He hath done whatsoever He pleased" (8).

Here was the true God, who in the law, the word of truth to His people, said, Thou shalt have none other gods before Me."

"Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor the likeness of any form . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself unto thou, nor serve them"

(Exodus 20.8-5).

The nations made their idols of silver and gold. They had mouths but could not speak, eyes that could not see, ears that heard not, noses that smelt not, hands that never wrought and feet that never walked; such were the gods of the nations, poor useless hand-made and man-made metal images, or perchance made of wood or stone. what is idolatry? It is the worship of what is seen. The word is derived from two Greek words, Oidu I see, Latreuo~, I serve.

It is a solemn, and aJso a blessedly true, fact, that men become like the object of their worship. How blessed this is in the case of those who worship the only true and living God! One of the beatitudes says

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"

(Matthew 5.8).

This has, no doubt, a future fulfilment, but we must not overlook a present application in the case of those who see their God with their hearts. It requirea a pure heart if we are to see God now. But what of the idolaters?

"They that inake them shall be like unto them;

Yea, eve"y one that trusteth in them" (verse 8).

How solemn indeed is the judgement of this verse! Idolatry produces a state of deadness and dumbness. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12.2):"Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those

dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led."

But after they had been saved from hell, and from idolatry also, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, by Ills quickening and enabling power, they could call Jesus Lord (verse 3). The day of deadness and dumbness was past for them. Their God could speak to them and work for them also, and it was their privilege to speak to Him and also to work for Him. Indeed, as another word of Paul says, "Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children; and walk in love" (Ephesians 5.1).

In contrast to trusting in dumb idols, Israel, the house of Aaron, and all that feared Jehovah (the last being a wide and comprehensive description) are exhorted to trust in the LORD, for He is the Help and Shield of all such. These same people are viewed again as the objects of divine blessing. Divine blessing comes like the dew or gentle rain from heaven, not like the thunder shower or cloud burst. How often His blessing comes unnoticed!

"The dead praise not the LORI)" .

But we will bless the LORD" (verses 17, 18). J.M.

unknown | Sept 1950
Jottings

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