807. PSA 102:13. HOPE FOR THE CHURCH

Psa_102:13. Hope for the Church

"Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea the set time is come."’97Psa_102:13.

There is considerable doubt as to the writer of this psalm. Some attribute it to Daniel, others to Nehemiah, others to Ezra. It is generally thought to have respect to the time of the Babylonish captivity; and to express the distress and affliction of the inspired writer on that account. There are those, however, who apply it to the Gospel Church; and the Syriac version entitles it,’97"A prophecy concerning the New People," viz.’97the Gentiles in the faith. Others apply the psalm to a period still more remote, and refer it to the times in which we live; and suppose the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and the final conversion of that people to Christianity, with the rebuilding of their ancient city, are intended. Zion of old was clearly typical of the Church of Christ, and in that sense we shall apply the subject of the text on the present occasion. Let us then inquire,’97

I. What the text involves.

II. What the text affirms. And

III. The reasons on which this affirmation is grounded.

I. What the text involves.

The idea involved in the text is the low state of Zion. This is the burden of the psalm; the deep shades of the picture before us. It was evidently this that so op pressed the writer. He was afflicted on Zion’s account. Now, Zion, or the Church of God, may

1. Be numerically low.

Her friends may be few in number. Elijah thought at one time, that he alone was left of the servants of the true God, but it appeared that 7000 had not bowed the knee to Baal: yet how few were 7000! Even in the nineteenth century, of the Christian era, how true is this of Zion.

(1.) Those bearing the Christian name are few compared with the millions of Pagans, Mohammedans, and Jews.

(2.) Those holding the truth in purity, are few compared with those who adhere to the corrupt forms of Christianity in the Romish, Greek, and other eastern churches.

(3.) Spiritual persons in any church, are evidently few compared with the nominal professors of Christianity. In our villages and towns, how few are entirely consecrated to the cause of Christ.

2. Zion may be low doctrinally.

Truth is not only the ornament, but the very atmosphere of life to the children of Zion. Error is the blight, the plague-spot of the church. A century ago, the doctrines of the cross’97pure, evangelical truth, were almost exiled from our land. The Church of the State, through her thousands of clergy, was giving utterance to dry, lifeless essays on the externals of morality.

The venerable meeting-houses of the land, where the holy Nonconformists had preached a crucified Saviour, now echoed forth another gospel, in which Jesus was undeified, and the atoning blood of the cross never preached. Thanks be to God for the revival of evangelical religion through the labors of Wesley, Whitfield, and others. But still, have the great truths of the gospel, even now, the preeminence which they ought to have? Have we not just witnessed the attempt to revive a superstitious reverence for rites and ceremonies? Have we not witnessed a desperate effort to elevate the priesthood, and invest it with almost saving power? And where pure doctrines are held and maintained, have they always the ascendency? Is it Christ crucified, first, last, and always? Have not rich sermons of evangelical savor given way to metaphysical essays and rhetorical harangues? Is there that godly simplicity, that heartiness of affection to the glorious gospel which so distinguished the primitive fathers?

3. Zion may be low spiritually and experimentally.

There may be both numbers and orthodoxy, and yet spiritual sterility and barrenness. Professed Christians may become mere religious effigies, instead of burning holy witnesses for God. There may be the form without the power’97the name without the life. "Lord! Lord!" may be on the lips, and the spirit of experimental piety absent from the heart. I fear this lamentably applies to our day. There "is much profession; but elevated, doctrinal religion is evidently rare. What a lack of fervor in prayer! What a lack of zeal, of self-denial,’97of generous liberality in the cause of God! What a lack of spiritual activity and enterprise!

4. Zion or the church may be low influentially.

The church is to be God’s instrument for operating mightily on the world;’97the light of the world’97the salt of the world’97the bulwark of the world’97the blessing of the world. Now, is the church of Christ exerting this influence? Is it checking the world’s vice and profligacy? Is it holding enormous wickedness in abeyance? Is it restraining the iniquity of the masses? Is it lessening the world’s power of evil? Is it decreasing the world’s misery? Is it telling decidedly on any great classes in the world? On the youth; on parents; on the poor: on the rich; on rulers; on kings, &c.? Is it gaining on the world’97extending Christ’s territory’97enlarging his kingdom’97adding to his followers? Spoiling satan,’97robbing hell? Now, what is the answer? Why, the converts in heathen countries bear no comparison to the increase of Pagans by birth. In this country, all Christian denominations together, are not increasing in any thing like the ratio of the population: so that the world and not the church is increasing and flourishing. How distressing and almost overwhelming is this idea! But observe,

II. What the text affirms.

"That God shall arise," &c.

(1.) The ability of God to do this is indisputable. Oh yes! he can do it. He can do it easily’97at any time, and efficiently.

(2.) God’s arising must be an act of mercy. Judgment would overwhelm, yea, ruin the church’97blot it out, for its unfaithfulness and apostasies. The church requires mercy, and nothing but mercy can save it. Now, the affirmation of the text may seem well grounded, when you contemplate,

1. The relationship of God to the church. It is his. He is the God of Zion; its founder, its keeper, its glory. He is the owner of the vineyard’97the father of the family. It is graven on his hands’97dwells in his heart’97the object of his incessant and intense love.

2. The engagements he has made in reference to it.

Look at the predicted engagements. One roll of prophecy after another’97one splendid promise after another’97one rapturous vision and scene after another, &c., all yea and amen. Not one can fail. He is a promise-keeping God. But there is also the engagement made with his own Son, and ratified with the blood of the cross. Isa_53:10, &c., Php_2:6, &c.

3. His past providential interpositions on behalf of his church.

He heard the groanings, &c., in Egypt. He wrought a series of magnificent miracles in the wilderness. He rebuked kings, &c. He raised up Cyrus, &c. He has in no instance forsaken it. He preserved it amid the valleys and the mountains of the Waldenses. He raised up Luther and Wyckliffe, &c. He gave the power and the unction to the Puritans. To the founders of Methodism, &c. And all this may cause us to hope, &c. But observe in the text,

III. The reasons on which the affirmation is grounded.

One of these relates to the church, and the other to God.

1. The divine mercy.

He will arise, &c. The purposing of a church originated in mercy’97the redeeming, calling, the preserving, &c. The temple of the church is a temple of mercy’97inexhaustible, everlasting. He delights in it. He will surely have mercy, &c. The other reason is found,

2. In the church itself.

"Thy servants take pleasure," &c. Now this has ever been the case in the worst times of apostasy. Look at Nehemiah, David, Jeremiah. There are some now in the church who do so, who can exclaim, "If we forget," &c. "Lord, we have loved," &c. "One thing," &c., who daily pray’97"Peace be within thy walls," &c. "For our brethren and companions’ sake," &c. Now, these live, and pray, and toil for this object: and if ten righteous men would have saved Sodom, rely upon it, the presence of the pious and spiritual shall save the church. God will honor them’97their prayers shall prevail; for "the effectual, fervent prayer," &c. "The Lord shall arise," &c. Finally, we are referred to,

3. "The set time."

The set time must come. Not for us to know the times and seasons: but to wait in prayer, in the spirit of humiliation and self-denial.

Application

1. How deeply concerned should all the followers of Christ be on this subject.

For our several churches, and for the universal church of the Redeemer.

2. Do we exemplify the character in the text?

Have we a burning love to the cause of Jesus? Do we adorn it by our exemplary lives? Do we pray for it’97labor for it, and support it? Do we cheerfully give our substance? How happy such are, &c.

3. Where this spirit exists there will be joy and delight in the erection of places of worship, &c.

There will be a desire for the multiplication of Christian sanctuaries. The future history of this building, who can tell? May it be the birthplace of hundreds! May it be the spiritual residence of a flourishirg family for Christ! May it be the depository of divine truth! May it be the house of God! &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS