GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue2
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
A PLEASANT NAME AND A PLEASANT SONG
//
/Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for
it is pleasant.Psalm:135:3 /
//While we do not know, for certain, who the human author of this Psalm
is, we find much reason to attribute it to David, the sweet Psalmist of
Israel.David delights in the absolute glory of the one True and Living
GOD, and we find him expressing the same at every opportunity.This Psalm
is no exception to such glorying in the Sovereign RULER of the Heavens
and the Earth.I think it fair to say that whoever wrote Psalm 135 also
penned Psalm 115 since the exact same contrast (see Ps.115:3-8 and
Ps.135:15-18) is made in both between the “/idols of men’s hands”/and
the GOD who inhabits eternity and “/hath done whatsoever he hath pleased/.”
It is needful to make this same contrast in the present day in which we
live, since the predominant theme of modern religion (especially that
which calls itself ‘Christianity”) is a reliance in a “god” who has no
hands but ours and must wait upon men to fulfill HIS purpose and perform
according to his will.Any supposed god who can only hope to see his
purpose fulfilled is an idol which is hewn out in the stone of man’s
darkened mind.He is no different than Dagon of the Philistines or
Ashtoreth of the Babylonians regardless of what he might be called.There
can be but ONE SOVEREIGN and HE is in need of nothing and no one can add
anything to HIM or alter HIS determined purpose.
The Psalmist begins by extolling the LORD and exhorting the servants of
GOD to “/praise HIS NAME./”Then he points out the LORD’s choice of a
people upon which HE has set HIS love and called /“a peculiar treasure”
(v.4/).Many are of the mistaken notion that such should be seldom spoken
of, while we find that the scriptures are full of this glorious truth
which forms the very basis of redemption.Apart from having a particular
people there can be no “redemption”.By its very definition, to redeem is
to “buy back”.The whole of scripture centers around the REDEEMER and HIS
“redeemed”. Those who are the “redeemed” are those whom HE purposed to
“buy back” from the bondage into which they had willingly sold
themselves.If anyone should doubt this purpose, they must turn a blind
eye to that which the Angel of the LORD, revealed to Joseph of Nazareth,
“/And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
_for he *shall* save his people from their sins_.” (Mat 1:21/)
The absolute truth of a particular and definite “atonement” (i.e.; a
redemption which is carried out for a chosen people and is alone
completely satisfactory to accomplish HIS purpose) is revealed each time
HE is extolled as the LORD of all lords. “/For I know that the LORD is
great, and that our Lord is above all gods. _Whatsoever the LORD
pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth,_ in the seas, and all deep
places.” (Psa 135:5-6/)How foolish is it, of men, to attribute to HIM
sovereign control over the forces of what we might call nature, and yet
consider that HE does not exercise the same degree of control over the
salvation of men.
We do indeed rejoice in HIS glorious rule over the seas and deep places,
making the lightnings and bringing the wind out of HIS treasuries. For
in these actions, we are comforted in knowing that the salvation of HIS
people is as secure as HIS placement of the planets in their orbits and
unfolding of the seasons which HE has determined to show in the
Earth.Did not HIS disciples marvel at the same, saying, /“What manner of
man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Mat 8:27)/?If
HE clothes the lilies of the field, and watches over the flight of every
sparrow, will HE not also bring deliverance to those whom HE loves?
HE who sent “/tokens and wonders”/in the midst of Egypt, did so to
manifest the fact that HE put a difference between Israel and the
heathen.HE smote the firstborn of Egypt that HE might remind HIS people
of this truth, each time they observed the Passover.All of HIS dealings
with Israel as a fleshly nation, were done to manifest HIS perfect love
of that remnant which HE has hidden in the bosom of CHRIST from before
the foundation of the world.This is the true Israel which is in contrast
to that of flesh and blood./“For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men,
but of God.” (Rom 2:28-29/)
HE smote great nations and slew mighty kings in the sight of Israel that
they might know of HIS intention to deliver them from the jaws of death
and give unto them a land flowing with milk and honey.In this, do we not
see HIM who has /“led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Eph
4:8/)?/“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross; _And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew
of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”_ (Col 2:13-15/)
This is the ground for the saints of GOD to rejoice in HIM whose NAME is
above every name.“/Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and _thy
memorial_, O LORD, throughout all generations.” (Psa 135:13)/Herein is
HIS “/_memorial_/” seen, “/He shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: _by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities._ Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because _he hath poured out his soul unto death_: and he was numbered
with the transgressors; and _he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors_.” (Isa 53:11-12/)/“And he took
bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This
is my body which is given for you: _this do in remembrance of me_.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19-20/)
The remembrance of CHRIST and HIM crucified, risen, and ascended back to
the FATHER, from whence HE shall return to gather that purchased
possession is truly the “pleasant song” of the redeemed in all ages.They
delight to lift this chorus unto the glory of HIS NAME which is itself
“pleasant” to them, and them alone./“After this I beheld, and, lo, a
great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and
kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried
with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev 7:9-10/)“/And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:
for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto
our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10/)
As sweet and pleasant as the prospect is of that future rejoicing in the
glories of the SAVIOR, we are struck with an even greater amazement at
this same privilege given to those who are caused to believe in that
“pleasant NAME” at the present time.Who but those sinners, (who have
been brought from darkness unto LIGHT), are enabled to sing this
“pleasant song.”/“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor
5:21/)“All hail the power of JESUS’ NAME, let angels prostrate fall,
bring forth the royal diadem, and crown HIM, LORD of all.Sinners whose
love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall. Go spread your trophies
at HIS feet and crown HIM LORD of all. (Ed. Perronet, 1780) Do you sing
this pleasant song and magnify this pleasant NAME? mam