“O deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Psalm 74: 19.
When David penned the words in verses 4 and 5 of Psalm 74, “Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. A man was famous according as he lifted up his axe upon thick trees”, it was obvious that he had experienced the forces of darkness warring against his own soul and against the cause of Christ at large. This caused David to betake himself to a throne of grace to wrestle with the Lord: “O deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked.” In the face of all this the psalmist said of himself: “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Ps 119: 63.
Oh what a comfort it is to the godly that God will not leave the soul of his turtle dove until the work of sanctification is complete. It will then be whiter than the snow, and ready for heaven. Oh, the efficacy of the blood! God will take care of both the soul and body of his own chosen ones until they arrive in heaven. The body as well as the soul is precious in God’s sight. May your faith be strengthened to say with David, “The Lord is my rock, in him will I trust”. Oh, I wish I could tell you the full extent of Christ’s love for your soul’s salvation. It is eternal and unchangeable beyond our comprehension. Listen to one of the invitations: “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse.” Song of Sol. 4: 8. These invitations are like streams flowing to you from His heart. If you and I get to glory then we shall see him and love him, and sing His praises throughout eternity.
To be present at the death bed of one of the Lord’s people is a great privilege. Their precious souls shall welcome their bodies on the resurrection morning. David believed this. “Because my soul in grave to dwell shall not be left by thee.” Thomas Watson puts the matter in a very sweet way. “God will not leave his people in the grave. Our friends bring us to the grave and leave us there, but Christ will not.” Oh how they will rejoice at hearing the words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” How beautiful the Lord’s people will appear on the resurrection morning when the silver trumpet shall sound: “Arise my love, my fair one, and come away”! Then they shall enter into glory, into the rest that remaineth to the people of God.
As God listens to David’s prayer, “O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove”, I hear as if God were answering him thus: “I will never, never leave thee nor forsake thee”, neither in the night, nor in the day, because I have loved thee with an everlasting love from before the foundation of the world. “The mountains shall depart, and hills be removed; but my loving kindness shall not depart from thee.” It is most sweet to ponder over what Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice.”
The dove is a beautiful bird, seldom if ever is she seen in the company of birds of prey owing to her meek and quiet nature. She dwells solitarily in the woods. This also is true of the Lord’s people. This reminds us of what is written in the Song of Solomon: “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs.” Song 2: 14.
Satan will not stop assailing some of God’s people who in a dark day are to be useful in upholding His cause. This reminds us of a sore temptation that took possession of Rev. D. Beaton, one who served His Master in a remarkable way to the end of his sojourn here. This temptation took possession of his soul shortly after he was licensed to preach the gospel — that he would be of very little use to the Free Presbyterian Church because he was not fluent in the Gaelic language. In his trouble he wrote to the eminent Rev. Neil Cameron. Mr Cameron took some time to reply to his letter but when he did so he said something that took Mr Beaton right out of Satan’s temptation. “I took your trouble to the throne of grace various times since I received your letter and, if I am not mistaken, you shall find more work to do in the Free Presbyterian Church than what you would ever realise possible.” This is indeed the case, as all who knew the man of God can testify.
The apostle Peter, whom Satan often assailed, served the Lord well in his day. Jesus asked him: “Lovest thou me?” He had a ready reply indicating his high esteem and love for the Lord Jesus: “Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.” For this very reason Satan desired to sift him as wheat, but his Redeemer watched over him, making intercession for him “that his faith fail not.” Oh, what a loving Saviour we have in the person of Jesus Christ.
It is as if David was saying to the Lord, “Is another snare on the way? O stretch Thy hand from Thy bosom as on former occasions and deliver the soul of thy turtle dove from multitude of the wicked.” It is written for our comfort: “Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” Gen. 49: 19. Scripture again promises: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” There is nothing under the canopy of heaven so precious to God as His own Cause. Recently our beloved church passed through great trials but the plans of those who sought to sweep the Free Presbyterian Church off the face of the earth were frustrated by the God of the whole earth.
He it is who is taking stock of the thoughts and intents of all hearts. It is grieving to see Free Presbyterian property occupied by those who made such a display of enmity at the time of their departure. They have no more right to these buildings, or to the name of being Free Presbyterian, than to effect a take-over of Westminster Abbey. The Lord reigneth. We have reason to praise his blessed name.
When God created man he blessed him with an immortal soul and that soul should seek to glorify him for ever and ever and serve God continually, saying: “Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Ps 73: 25. Like the noble woman who in love to her Saviour broke the alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on Christ’s head. This was done for his burial. She loved Him who saved her soul from perishing. You who have the prayer: “Leave not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked, forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever”, will be in heaven with her.
God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not he will whet his sword. Ps. 7: 12. He was angry with Cain for offering a cheap sacrifice. Abel was taught of the Holy Spirit and brought a lamb without blemish. The Lord hearkened to the groaning of the children of Israel in Egypt day by day. We will not weary the Lord by our groaning but we will weary him by our sins. How pleased God was with David as he listened to him bemoaning himself thus: “Let not the errors of my youth nor sins remembered be.” The older we get the more we fear falling into the hands of wicked men. Our constant prayer must be: “As the apple of thine eye me keep.” Let this be our perpetual desire and prayer. How sweetly He invites them to follow Him in the face of all opposition. “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse.” Song 4: 8. May the Holy Spirit cause us to rejoice that the Lord Jesus Christ has all power in heaven and on earth. This gladdened the heart of Asaph when he said:
Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,
Wilt me conduct and guide;
And to thy glory afterward
receive me to abide.