820. PSA 101:1. THE TWOFOLD SONG OF THE. BELIEVER

Psa_101:1. The Twofold Song of The. Believer

"I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing."’97Psa_101:1.

Singing seems to involve the elevation of the heart and the utterance of the lips, by which some theme or topic is proclaimed aloud, and exultingly, before others. The angels are represented as singing the praises of Jehovah. This seems to be a department of their constant service. They behold his face, and praise God in adoring songs continually. We have also a reference to two of these songs, in regard to our earth.

At the creation, the "Morning Star sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."

At the incarnation of the Redeemer, "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."’97Luk_2:13, Luk_2:14. The godly in all ages have been accustomed to sing. Hence we have the highly-wrought poetical song of Moses and Miriam, on the overthrow of Pharaoh. Sacred singing was part of the service of the Tabernacle and the Temple. The writer of the text was the great sacred song writer of Israel. We have also the rich, luxurious, and oriental song of songs, which was Solomon’s. Many of the prophets interspersed songs with their predictions. There is one beautiful specimen’97"And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me."’97Isa_12:1. Even Christ our Lord, on the last night of his sorrowful abode on earth, concluded the eucharistic supper with a holy song. It is said "they sang a hymn, and then went out." This service of song is also inculcated by the apostle: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."’97Col_3:16.

Then let the text dictate suitable subjects for our humble, yet heartfelt, exultation. If we cany out its spirit,

I. We shall sing of mercy. Now you will remember, David was often singing of this. "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."’97Psa_89:1. And the rich repeated offering is fully given in Psalms 136. So in the hundred and third psalm. Now we ask,

1. What is mercy?

It is something more than goodness. It is goodness and kindness to the undeserving. It is the commiserating of the unworthy, and acting even graciously towards the guilty. God is good to angels good to all the inferior creatures:’97good to all! But he is merciful to the human family. It is probable, that mercy was first exhibited to our guilty fallen race.

It is obvious, that holy angels did not stand in need of mercy, and for the fallen angels we have no record that mercy has ever been offered. So that this glorious perfection of Deity, so far as we know, has been confined to our worthless apostate world. Surely then, man, so remembered, so distinguished, ought to sing of mercy.

But we may inquire,

2. What is there in mercy, of which we ought to sing?

(1.) Of the marvellousness of its origin. Where did mercy take its rise, and how? There seems to have been a wise and perfect harmony in the perfections of the Godhead before. There was righteousness and purity. Goodness and love for the excellent,’97equity and justice for all’97and wrath for the disobedient. Now, what more was needful in the moral government of God? Well, guilt and unworthiness appear in the new-formed race, and then another modified perfection of the Godhead is seen. It pities’97it compassionates’97it smiles’97and its name is mercy. But yet the how and wherefore of this mercy is still an unsearchable mystery. We should sing, (2.) Of the expensiveness of its sacrifices. Mercy, not merely in feeling, or speaking, or acting; but in suffering for us. Mercy flowing through the channel of the humiliation, self-denial, sorrow, anguish, and death of God’s Son. The moral principle was ever known and recognized by Jehovah, that guilt must be punished, and that without shedding of blood there could be no remission. We should sing, (3.) Of mercy, in the abundance of its blessings. Every thing a sinner has, or enjoys, must flow from mercy. His continued being’97his daily food and raiment’97his health’97his reason’97his friends’97his privileges, and means of improvement’97his soul’s illumination, conviction, conversion, pardon, adoption, heirship to glory. He is blessed with merciful providences, promises, enjoyments, present salvation, and the good hope of eternal life. "Looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life!" We should sing,

(4.) Of its universality and freeness. Not a few rays of merciful light, but the boundless sun, full orbed in noontide glory. Not a few drops, but rivers and oceans of mercy. Not exhibited to a few, but to all our fallen race, and to all God’s works. It is the horizon of every land. It is the belt of the earth. It is the air of life to every man. Free, free, free! to each, to all, to every child of man. We should sing,

(5.) As to other special distinctions of mercy. Its length’97from eternity to eternity. Its height’97higher than the heavens, and above the clouds. Its perpetuity’97it endureth forever. Besides, it is said to be strong, rich, tender, faithful; and above all, God himself delighteth in it. What a theme then for holy contemplation and joyous song! What a subject for rapturous exultation, to proclaim the wondrous subject to the moral universe! We may well exclaim in reference to this’97

"Let rocks and hills,

Their lasting silence break."

Every rightly regulated mind, every sanctified heart, every grateful spirit, must sing of mercy.

Put under the influence of the text,

II. We will sing also of Judgment.

Now judgment might mean God’s righteousness, or his law, or word, or his inflicted punishments on the impenitent. And all of these are well worthy of song.

(1.) God’s righteousness is his glory. This is the basis of his moral government. Without this, he would inspire no confidence, command no veneration, nor possess any exalted affection from his intelligent creatures. "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously."’97Psa_96:10. "The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne."’97Psa_97:1, Psa_97:2.

(2.) God’s law. His law and word are holy, just, and good; and worthy of him. "I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments."’97Psa_119:7, Psa_119:13, Psa_119:54, Psa_119:108. So also the Apostle: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.’97Col_3:16.

(3.) His wrath. Now, his wrath is ever just. It is ever put forth after the sinner’s long probation. It is God’s strange work. It never exceeds the desert of the culprit. There is no despotism, nor tyranny, nor what we call revenge, in it.

God’s wrath is the wise and equitable infliction of punishment on the guilty; and as such, however terrible, it may be celebrated in holy and reverend song, as was the overthrow and utter ruin of Pharaoh and his host in the waters of the Red Sea.

But, in the text, we may consider judgment to mean God’s chastening dispensations’97the afflictive cup he gives his people to drink. Now this is the common portion of man. Man that is born of a woman, is bora to trouble. But there are corrective afflictions sent to his own children, for their spiritual profit and eternal well-being. It is through much tribulation that believers enter the kingdom. Well, what in judgments of this kind is there to sing of? We may sing,

(1.) Of their wise administration. He never sends them but when there is a needs-be for their employment. Never too soon. He is always guided by infallible skill. He ever acts as our wise and best friend. No accident nor chance in them. They do not spring out of the dust. Not contingent occurrences, but events under the control of infallible knowledge and never-failing goodness.

Then there is,

(2.) The tenderness of their application. Look at the parent correcting the child! he forgets not that he is correcting his own nature. Look at the mother giving the cup of bitter medicine! she does it feelingly. So God in his dealings infinitely transcends the tenderness of both. "He knoweth our frame, he remembereth we are dust." He does not afflict the children of men willingly. His pity never forsakes the subjects of his chastisements; and his love is never more tender than when he wields the corrective rod. Especially when we contemplate God in Christ Jesus, we may well sing,

"His heart is made of tenderness,

His bowels melt with love."

Then consider,

(3.) The supports he gives with them. He ever strengthens the shoulder for the cross. He tempers the blast to the shorn lamb. He gives grace to suffer, as well as to live and labor. And this grace, in kind and degree, is ever sufficient. He sends no pain, nor allows any trial which they are not able to bear. And he says to each of his sorrowing ones’97"As thy day is, so shall thy strength be." He too never allows his people to be in the lion’s den, or in the fiery furnace, or in the gloomy dungeon, or on the sick-bed, alone. He is ever there to give might, and support, and consolation; to sustain or deliver.

Then we may sing, when we reflect,

(4.) On the great ends his judgments are to accomplish. Now these unquestionably are,’97Our benefit, our real, present, and permanent good. Our good for both worlds. The gale is not to wreck the vessel, but to drive it more rapidly into the desired haven. The fire is not to consume, but to purify. The medicine is not to kill, but to heal. The rod is not to injure, but to sanctify and bless. Hence the Apostle dwells on this most beautifully’97"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they, verily, for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."’97Heb_12:5-10. So he avers’97"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."’97Rom_8:28. And to this he adds’97"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."’972Co_4:17, 2Co_4:18. And he reasons on the blessed process of afflictions, thus’97"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."’97Rom_5:3-5. Hence, then, what ample matter for grateful meditation and exulting joy. And though nature may not see the same reason to sing in affliction as in prosperity; yet grace will ever unite in its holy anthems both mercy and judgment. Now we ask,

1. Have we not given a key-note which ought to suit every heart and voice? Who will excuse himself from the exercise of holy song? Who has not mercies to celebrate, and afflictions to be thankful for? Just take a retrospect of all the way the Lord has led you,’97just read a few pages either in the volume of providence, or God’s word; and then you will be constrained to say, "I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing." And do not forget either of these topics; they are both worthy of heartfelt grateful remembrance.

2. The advantages of this joyous course will be many. It will lighten the load of sorrow. It will sweeten the bitter potion. It will while away the dreary hour. It will elevate the dormant spirit. It will exhilarate the oppressed and fainting heart. It will, by a kind of divine chemistry, bring new elements of health and comfort out of nauseous medicines. It will cheer the soul, honor religion, glorify your Father, and aid greatly in your spiritual and upward flight to the land of eternal joy and everlasting glory. O sorrowing child of earth, sing on thy way to the land of Beulah, which is before thee! Remember what the prophet has said’97"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."’97Isa_35:10.

3. May some now learn to sing the Lord’s song in a strange laud. Have you been heedless of God’s mercies? how criminal’97how ungrateful! Have you never blessed the hand that has chastened you? how insensible and unwise! Now, let these be the themes of your serious reflection. See if your own well-being is not bound up in acknowledging God, and singing of mercy and judgment. Finally,

4. Sing on the way to heaven, in the expectation of singing there, forever and ever. Many of the services of earth will cease in heaven. Probably all watchings, and conflicts, and prayers’97all toil and all temptation, and all suffering. But praise will only there be presented in exalted purity,’97only there ascend from spotless hearts, and unfaltering lips. Cherish then this service here, that you may join with Seraphim and Cherubim, and all the shining hosts of the blessed, in singing the wondrous praises of God and the Lamb forever.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS