0524. The Future Application

The Future Application

"Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

"Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar" (Psa_51:18-19).

There are some who have thought that these two verses were an addition to the text, placed there by the transcriber. To our minds, this seems an impossibility. The words are so appropriate, so fitting, and so important. They fit in with everything that has gone before. The Holy Spirit in this verse, addresses Israel. Israel, like David, had sinned. Israel, like David, will some day, repent and be forgiven. The experience of the Psalmist tallies with the experience of God’s chosen people. David departed from the Lord, Israel has departed from the Lord. David was in groaning, and bitterness of spirit; Israel will yet groan and bewail her sins. David confessed and forsook his sin, he was forgiven and restored; Israel will, one day, confess and forsake her sins, and she too, will be forgiven and restored.

The Holy Spirit is anticipating the good day, when Israel will come back into fellowship, even as David came. Two things are said:

1. "Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion."

2. "Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem."

When God has done this, then two other things will be true of Israel, just as they were also true of David. First, "Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness." Second, "Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar."

Happy is the day of Israel’s restoration!

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR