THE LORD SHALL SAVE ME

"I will call upon GOD, and the LORD shall save me." -Psalm 55:16 [KJV]

I have often been struck with the conduct of blind Bartimeus. When “Many charged him to hold his peace, he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David have mercy upon me” (Mark 10:48.) Why was this? Truly he had a feeling sense of his loss of sight, and by faith he saw Jesus able to restore it. See the consequence of this importunate cry. Did the sun stand still at the word of Joshua? Behold, at the cry of Bartimeus, the Lord and Creator of all the host of heaven, stood still. 

Jesus knows the cry of His own Spirit. He will hear it, and help the soul who utters it. “His ears are open to our prayers” (I Peter 3:12.) Look, (1st.) At David’s circumstances. Was he now on the mount of joy, basking in the sunbeams of comfort? No, he is sighing out a doleful complaint, in the vale of distress. Says he, “I mourn because of the voice of the enemy, and the oppressions of the wicked. My heart is sore pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling art come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me” (Verse 3, etc.) 

(2d.) What is his resolution? Does he give up his hope in God? Does he flee His presence, and seek for comfort in the world: from its vain pleasures, sensual delights, and from the men of it? No, but says he, “I will call upon God.” Here is a lesson of instruction for us. The more fears, terrors, pains, and oppressions beset us, the more should they excite calls upon God from us. Seek to no object, to be eased from them, but God. 

Remember, not one of them, but is by His appointment or permission. They are calls from God, to call upon Him. When they bring us to God, His loving will is answered. He will not suffer His dear people, to live at a distance from Him, without calling upon Him. He loves their souls. He delights in their prayers. And the “Lord’s comforts delight their souls” (Psalm 94:19.) Can you say so? 

Then (3d.) You may confidently take up David’s conclusion, “The Lord shall save me.” Is not this too bold? Yes, if founded upon any thing in yourself, as the cause, why God should save you, it is daring presumption. But, from the Lord’s absolute declarations, full and free promises given us in Christ, we are divinely warranted thus to conclude. 

O then take and prize the Lord’s word, as your blessed Charter of salvation. Plead it before Him. Expect all salvation from Him: even victory over all sin, deliverance from every trouble, the comfort of holiness here, and the joys of glory in eternity. “All are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” -I Corinthians 3:23. 

 

How bold is faith to challenge thus, 

A claim upon the Lord: 

O ‘tis because the Lord claims us 

His portion, in His word.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 04 October, 2023 A.D.

" All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." —I Corinthians 6:12 [KJV] The constraints of love and jealousy of fear sweetly unite in the believing heart. Where the faith of Jesus prevails, love constrains. It holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are kept together under a banner or ensign displayed. What cheerfulness and activity of soul do we experience, when we can say with the church in the Canticles (Songs of Solomon), ch. 2, vs4. "Jesus' banner over me was love!" Then how sweetly do we judge and determine our conduct by the law of Christ, which is LOVE!  This excites a godly fear lest we should allow ourselves a latitude in things in themselves indifferent, to the wounding and hurt of our souls or our fellow-soldiers. Though all things of an indifferent nature, which are innocent in themselves, are lawful to us; yet the cause and interest of our dear Saviour, and the good and edifying of His beloved memb
Read more

JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our R ock [I SAMUEL 2:2 ] . In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3 ] . We are both in and on the Rock. As life with its many bitter events presses upon us,
Read more