834. PSA 66:16. A DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
Psa_66:16. a Declaration of Religious Experience
"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."’97Psa_66:16.
True religion involves two things. An inward realization of divine grace, and an external profession and evidence of that grace in our lives.
David had both. He was not a cold nominalist, nor a timid believer. He had the experimental enjoyment of God’s favor in his heart. Nor was he ashamed to be known as a godly man,’97he made an honorable outward profession. His, was a conscientious emotional religion,’97his lips often sang of it; and in the text, he desires a universal convocation of the good and pious, that he might tell them his experience, and what God had done for his soul. Do we understand religion of this kind? Do we thus feel it? And are we willing to declare it to God’s people?
Observe in the text, three things,
I. The nature of religious experience.
II. The publication of religious experience. And,
III. The grounds on which that publication may be justified.
I. The nature of religious experience. "What God hath done for my soul." The text limits our subject to the personal experience of God’s gracious operations. Not what he has done for the world, by the redemption through Christ Jesus. Not what he has done for the church in all ages, by wonderful interpositions and signal providences! Not what he has done for special individual cases’97as Noah, Enoch, Lot, and the celebrated worthies;’97but what he has done for my soul! Psa_66:17, Psa_66:19, and Psa_66:20 of the psalm, would seem to apply the text specially in reference to answered prayer. Well, all God’s people can thus unite with the Psalmist,
1. In God answering penitential prayers, for his forgiving mercy.
When conviction of sin had been produced. Alarm for safety excited. Desires for salvation imparted. When you prayed like the publican, or the woman of Canaan, or the Philippian jailer, how he dispersed the clouds’97lifted up his reconciled countenance upon you’97spoke the pardoning word of grace and peace to your souls. You cried for mercy, and he had mercy upon you. You asked for pardon, and he remitted all your sins, and blotted out all your iniquities. He gave you the blessedness of the man to whom iniquity is not imputed, and whose transgressions are forgiven. You looked with the eye of self-condemnation, and yet with the look of deep solicitude; and you felt that the uplifted sacrifice on the cross, had taken away all your sins; so that you could sing’97"I will praise thee, for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and behold thou comfortedst me."
How often have we realized the text,
2. In God answering our prayers, for guidance in perplexity.
The people of God sometimes appear shut up in perplexity, and shut out of the Divine supervision; and know not what to do, or whither to go. But prayer is presented’97 then a way of deliverance is opened: a plain, often a joyous way, and always a right way.
This door of hope is often opened to God’s people, in the valley of Achar. This way of escape is often given, when they are perplexed and well-nigh sinking in despair. Thus the Lord’s servants are led on and upwards, towards the city of their habitation;’97and they find that in going out’97and knowing not whither’97that faith in God’s gracious leadings is all that is needful, both for their comfort and safety. How important to feel the leading hand of our heavenly Father, in the dark night of spiritual perplexity; or to be assured that in performing the celestial voyage to the better land, that though neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, may shine for many days, that our vessel is under the control of infinite skill, fidelity, and love! And that amid the unseen trackless deep, God is steering the vessel towards the much longed-for haven of eternal day, and uninterrupted repose.
The text is experienced,
3. In God answering our prayers, for deliverance and protection.
The godly are often in straits and difficulties’97in afflictions and troubles. They have to pass through deep waters, and endure fiery trials. Often they are cast into the heated furnace, and the lion’s den. Yet how surely prayer prevails, and deliverance is given. It is in these seasons that God becomes the shield and help of his people. It is now that he is the hiding-place to his saints’97their rock, and fortress, and strong tower. It is now that he blunts the barbed weapon, turns aside the deadly missile, and so environs his trusting people, that no weapon formed against them prospers’97that no malevolent attack succeeds. Hence, he has often brought his saints through floods and through flames, and through marshalled hosts of foes; and not allowing a hair of their head to perish, or any evil counsel or stratagem to succeed. He delivers them from all their enemies, and brings them out of all their distresses. And this equally applies to the malice of wicked men, or to the assaults of hell. And if, as in the case of the ancient martyrs, God should allow their enemies to spoil them of their goods’97or deprive them of their liberty’97or sacrifice their lives, yet, even then, God so sustained and strengthened them, that the fiery chariot was ascended with delight, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And though it were by the door of flame, yet God did deliver, and received them to his presence and glory. In their experience, to die was present and everlasting gain.
We see the text realized,
4. In God answering prayer for the bestowment of especial blessings.
There are not only the ordinary seasons of constant need, but there are sometimes special seasons of extraordinary need. Sometimes there has been required a supply of heavenly wisdom’97special energy’97and holy might and moral courage. Sometimes peculiar displays of Divine love and communion,’97a brighter hope, and a more celestial joy. The day of some trials have need of a spring-tide of grace, an overflowing of Divine tenderness. Well, even then, prayer prevails. The desired good is sent. He is God all-sufficient to his people, and grants them the full desire of their souls. Yes, while ordinary grace is afforded for the daily avail of God’s people, extraordinary and special mercies are given, in seasons of peculiar need. But in all seasons, and under all providences, God never fails to honor prayer, and meet all the exigencies of his dependent children. And this is the blessed experience which Christ promised his disciples. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."’97Joh_14:13, Joh_14:14. "Hitherto have ye asked nothing, in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."’97Joh_16:24. Now, is not the experience of answered prayer, in all our earthly sojournings, the utmost that any spiritual mind can desire? So that the Psalmist might well exult and exclaim, in the language of the text’97"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
Thus, then, we learn what God has often done for them. It will be easily seen, how this department of the subject is capable of the most extensive amplification; but enough has been stated to show the blessedness of such a religious experience.
Observe,
II. The publication of this experience.
We see,
1. The character of those to whom he would publish it.
"Come and hear, all ye that fear God." All such,
(1.) Could understand his experience. Others could not. The carnal mind does not discern spiritual things. And religious conversation often appears to them as airy visions, or idle tales.
(2.) They would sympathize as fellow-members of the same body. Others would not. It is evident that God’s people agree most in matters of religious experience. In doctrines, and systems, and names, and forms they extensively differ; but in inward experience they all agree. The experience of one’97as to God’s love’97and the value of prayer, is the experience of all.
Then notice,
2. The declaration he would make.
"What God had done for his soul." His declarations would relate to God’s doings, not his own. It requires great modesty, simplicity, and sincerity, in making known our religious experience. Not only should we exalt God, and his love and mercy, but should we not ever abase ourselves? However much we may extol the Lord and his gracious operations, we can have no good thing to say of ourselves. How needful to guard against spiritual pride and all self-estimation, in detailing the work of God in the soul! "God forbid that we should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." The child must exalt the parent’97the patient the physician’97the pardoned criminal the gracious monarch’97and the believer must testify of the goodness and love of God.
It is often quite melancholy to hear people relate dreams, fancies, impulses, or their own doings; and then designate all this as their religious experience. The Psalmist’s experience was the constant enjoyment of God’s mercy and favor in answer to prayer. And this experience is that which we should most highly value, and most constantly extol.
Now let us see,
III. If the publication of religious experience can be justified.
Shall we speak, or be silent? We think there are many reasons for declaring it. Surely there is,
1. A reason connected with God.
Gratitude to God’97a desire to honor him. Should we not extol the Lord, and speak well of his holy name? How base to hide the gift of God within us,’97how base to be healed of the leprosy, and not return and give thanks,’97how base to be delivered from death and hell, and not magnify our great deliverer,’97how base to be saved by precious blood, and not exult in him who loved and gave himself for us! Not to declare what God has done for our souls, would be the essence of all cold-hearted ingratitude. Then is there not,
2. A reason connected with those we address?
Our experience may do them good. It may instruct, encourage, and edify. We are all interested alike in this great subject of religious experience. Who can tell the advantages we have derived from the experience of patriarchs, and prophets, and holy men of old? Who is not indebted to Noah, and Abraham, and Jacob, and David, and the prophets? We read of their sorrows, and perils, and deliverances; and we are thereby encouraged and strengthened, even to this day. Then, so should we also cheer and edify one another.
Then there is.
3. A reason connected with ourselves.
It is good for our own souls. It will greatly enliven and quicken us. It will revive our experience, and make it vivid and fresh to us again. Cause us to live it over in joy afresh. How much better, too, is this, than foolish talking, or worldly conversation! One of the best means of avoiding evil conversation, is to have the tongue consecrated always to that which is holy and good.
But there is,
4. A reason connected with religion itself. We thus show that our religion is one of goodness’97of deliverances’97of mercies’97of enjoyments and gladness. We thus cast back the aspersion that religion is necessarily gloomy and sad, and that it tends to melancholy. So that the wise and cheerful declaration of religious experience honors our spiritual calling, and renders the life of the child of God manifestly one of holy and increasing light, and joy, and blessedness.
Application
1. Every child of God has much to say of God’s gracious dealings with their souls. I suppose a volume might be written of the experience of every spiritual person.
2. How dumb we often are on these best subjects. Can we be so, without being criminal before God, and grieving his Holy Spirit?
3. How desirable to speak for God! To tread on diffidence, and the fear of man. For it is generally these that prevent seasonable Christian communications one with another.
4. What have the servants of Satan and the world to say, in behalf of their service? Is not their experience dark, hard, profitless? and the end thereof is death!
We invite all such to abandon the works of sin’97to cast off the yoke of Satan’97and to yield themselves up to him, whose yoke is easy, whose burden is light; and whose service is inseparably connected with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; and whose gift to all his people’97is eternal life.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS