Psalms 2:8

Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance.

The Church aroused to the missionary work

I. The Lord’s intercession, in reference to missionary enterprise. The great object of missionary enterprise is the subject of our Saviour’s intercession. The object is the diffusion of the knowledge of Christianity throughout the world; that by means of the knowledge of Christianity, accompanied by the influence of the Divine Spirit, mankind of all nations may be converted to the faith and obedience of Christ, and be made wise, and happy, and good through Him. It is but natural to suppose that what was the leading design of our Lord in becoming incarnate, and suffering, and dying should be a subject of His intercessory prayers. Missionary enterprise, in the grand means by which these objects are to be effected, is one of the principal subjects of our Lord’s intercessions. Secondary means are varied; the primary means is the Divine influence. In proportion to the degree in which this is communicated, missionary enterprise is prosperous; in proportion to the degree in which it is withheld, it languishes. And the communication of Divine influence was a leading object of our Lord’s atonement, and must be a leading subject of His intercession.

II. The dignity and importance of missionary enterprise. It is a clear proof of the estimation in which our Lord holds missionary enterprise, that it is the subject of constant intercession with His Father. In endeavouring to promote missionary enterprise we are doing something that is very pleasing to our Lord and Saviour. We may be sure that we shall have all the assistance that is necessary in order to perform our duty in reference to this undertaking. And the fact of our Lord’s intercession gives us the most abundant assurance that this undertaking will ultimately be completely successful. (John Brown, A. M.)

Prayer glorified by Christ’s example

It became Jesus to ask. Though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience. Many objections are made to prayer. Some of them are specious, but all are founded on ignorance. The best way to meet them is to take our stand on the Scriptures. God did not dispense with prayer, even in the ease of His Son. Therefore, how much more not with us. But how was He to ask? On earth He prayed like us. In heaven He continues His prayer. And here, through His people, He prays. And His prayers and ours rest on His atonement. Therefore He asks in His own name, and we in His. Let us be encouraged to pray. But let our prayers lead us to active endeavour. We cannot labour in vain. (W. Jay.)

The heathen for Christ

Here is a wonderful donation. The giver is Jehovah, the receiver is the world’s Redeemer, and the gift is the heathen world--mighty populations lying outside of the Judaean realm. What an inheritance is this, and it is given to Christ!

I. This vast inheritance is given Him to cultivate.

1. This inheritance is worth cultivation. It is most prolific, its potential value is immense. It will grow the highest wisdom and the noblest virtues. Sages, poets, orators, apostles lie there by millions.

2. The cultivation of this inheritance has been sadly neglected. The fences are destroyed, the surface is crusted and overrun with thorns and thistles and noxious weeds.

3. Christ alone is able to cultivate it. Others have tried, but failed.

Christ gives to the soul of heathendom that which it wants, and that which none other can give--

1. A Deity in which all hearts can unite in supreme love.

2. A creed in which all intellects can repose with unwavering confidence.

3. A law which all consciences can approve without suspicion.

4. An enterprise in which all souls can work without hesitancy or lack of interest.

II. This vast inheritance is given Him to enjoy. It is a possession of immense value. It will be His as the reward of His mediatorial work. When its vast wildernesses will bloom as Edens, “He will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” What a joy will be His! Think of the joy of the husbandman surveying in autumn his fields bearing the richest crops of golden grain. Think of me joy of the patriot when he beholds the rebellious provinces bowing again in loyalty to the sovereignty of his country. Think of the joy of the philanthropist in seeing his benevolent efforts crowned with success in the removal of diseases that afflict the body or tyrannies that crush the man. (Homilist.)

Christ’s inheritance

I. Christ is decreed to be the Son of Jehovah. As such He is both Priest and King. “Christ toward us,” says Gurnall, “acts as a King, but toward His Father as a Priest.”

II. As the Son He is promised an inheritance. This inheritance includes all the nations of the earth.

III. But though He is a King and has a promised inheritance, yet His government is to be established by the use of means.

1. These means are the means of grace.

2. These are to be offered to every creature on the earth.

3. We live in that epoch of the world’s history when the Church is actively engaged in having all men reconciled to the Son through the preaching of the gospel.

IV. The time will come when His enemies will be subdued.

1. The Church, therefore, should be diligent in the performances of its present duties.

2. The world should heed the offers of grace ere it be too late.

3. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

4. Let us wait upon God in prayer for the fulfilment of His promise to give the Son the heathen for His inheritance. (L. O. Thompson.)

The uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.--

Final triumph of Christianity

This assured--

I. By the promises of the Bible, which are many, explicit, positive, and world-embracing.

II. By the Divine origin and character of Christianity. Christianity is on trial; if it fails to fulfil its promises, then it will be demonstrated that it is not of God.

III. By the measure of success which it has already achieved. There is nothing comparable with it. It saves “the chief of sinners.” It transforms savages, demons, into saints. Christianity thus stands committed to the achievement of universal dominion. (J. M. Sherwood, D. D.)

Prayer for missions

I believe I am speaking to the right people when I ask you to pray. Unprayed for, I feel very much as if a diver were sent down to the bottom of a river with no air to breathe, or as if a fireman were sent up to a blazing building and held an empty hose; I feel very much as a soldier who is firing blank cartridge at an enemy, and so I ask you earnestly to pray that the gospel may take saving and working effect on the minds of those men to whose notice it has been introduced by us. (James Gilmour.)

Universal dominion of Christ

The boldest thought ever suggested to the human mind is Christ’s proposition to convert this world to Himself. For originality of conception, simplicity of method, and certainty of result it has no parallel in the world of thought. Bolder than the dream of the Macedonian to conquer all kingdoms by his sword, than the purpose of the Roman to unify all governments into one, than the hope of Leibnitz to create a universal language for this our babbling race, it stands forth sublime in its isolation, to excite our admiration, inflame our zeal, invite our cooperation, and inspire our faith in the future of mankind. (J. P. Newman.)