Psalms 73:28

REFLECTIONS

MY soul! gather from this blessed Psalm all the instructions the Holy Ghost intended the church should derive from it, and look up and pray that it may be made blessed in the Lord's hand to teach thee how to draw proper improvements from the Lord's providences which are going on continually in the world, and with which the Lord is pleased to exercise his faithful also. May Jesus bless it to this end!

In the first place, my soul! do, as Asaph did, put it down as a truth, which no outward circumstances can for a moment give occasion to call, in question, Truly God is good to Israel, whatever afflictions Israel is exercised with; and the Lord cannot but love his redeemed which he hath purchased with his blood, whatever calamities they labour under, while the wicked and the ungodly seem to prosper.

In the next place, learn to look at all exercises of God's people, in the seeming prosperity of the wicked, and their triumphs over the righteous, as so many means in the Lord's hand for bringing about the greatest good. By these shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged. The Lord is invariably pursuing one plan of mercy, love, and grace, to his people: That the trial of your faith (saith the apostle) being much more precious than gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ! Blessed process, when sanctified by grace! It weans from the world, from creature-comforts, creature-confidences, all self-exalting thoughts; and brings the soul humble, low, and submissive before God. Above all, it endears Jesus, proves the importance of his salvation, and makes him increasingly precious day by day.

Lastly, learn to see love at the bottom of all, in the blessed conformity the people of God are hereby brought into, to the person and pattern of Jesus. Whom he did foreknow (saith an apostle) he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son - that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And what prophet, what apostle, what martyr of Jesus ever lived in the prosperity which Asaph describes in this Psalm? Rather let it be asked, what prophet, what apostle, what martyr, who was most eminent in God's service, but was most eminent also in suffering? Nay, what was the Prince of prophets, but a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? Blessed then be the Lord for those marks of sonship and adoption, by which the faithful are eminently known! Oh! for grace to take joyfully reproaches, afflictions, necessities, for Christ's sake; that when most weak in ourselves, we may be most strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Precious Jesus! be thou my portion, and bring me into a holy conformity to thee, in all things, that thou mayest be my joy, my happiness, and my all, both now and forever. Amen.