Psalms 38:22

REFLECTIONS

READER! how blessed is it to behold the attention of God the Holy Ghost to the interests and happiness of the Church in all ages, in thus keeping alive the grand and leading points of redemption by the Lord Jesus in the minds of the people. Well might this Psalm be called a Psalm of remembrance, since it treasureth up so many tender and affectionate particulars concerning the Lord Christ. I would say for myself as I peruse it, to God the Holy Ghost: Blessed Lord, I thank thee for so precious a record in the Old Testament scripture concerning my Lord. And I would add, Do thou, blessed Lord, be the frequent remembrancer to my poor forgetful soul, of all the precious things which relate to my God and Saviour.

Reader, is Jesus here set forth! Is it indeed He of whom the prophet speaks? Oh! then for faith in this blessed surety to find deliverance from all the sins, sorrows, and punishments due, and justly due, to God's broken law. Oh! for grace and faith in lively exercise to believe the record which God hath given of his dear Son. Oh! for faith so to receive the blood and righteousness of Christ, and plead it at all times, and upon all occasions before the throne, as the very righteousness in which my soul now lives, in which my body will die, and in which both soul and body shall appear before God, and be clothed in, to all eternity.

Precious blessed Jesus! now I see how it is, and why it is, that thou art, as the Christ of God, so suited and so desirable to every poor, awakened, convinced, and broken-hearted sinner. Thou hast stood in our stead. Thou hast borne our sins in thine own body on the tree. Thou hast died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. Oh! the beauties, the glories, the loveliness of Jesus! Let others glory in what they may; let others boast in what they will; be thou all my rejoicing, all my confidence, all my hope, my righteousness, my joy! This is the sum and substance of all my happiness here and forever. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he also is become my salvation.