by Rev. J. A. MacDonald
In the Bible we have an account of David as he looked up into the heavens and admired the sun, moon and stars.
“When I look up unto the heav’ns,
which thine own fingers fram’d,
Unto the moon and to the stars,
which were by thee ordained;
“Then say I, What is man, that he
remember’d is by thee?
Or what the son of man, that thou
so kind to him should’st be.”
Psalm 8: 3, 4
It is important for us to think on the marvellous works which the Lord has done, and in so doing may He enable us to sing with the Psalmist:
“Thou my sure portion art alone,
which I did choose, O Lord:
I have resolv’d, and said, that I
would keep thy holy word.”
Psalm 119: 57
The world and its wealth is a poor portion. Our Saviour became poor for our sakes that we through His poverty might be made rich. yet He had to say of Himself: “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” The Saviour was so poor that he had not a penny even to pay His tribute tax, either for Himself or for His disciples. Rather than be in debt He instructed Peter to take a hook and cast it into the sea. Instantly the fish was caught and within its mouth was found the coin which the Saviour instructed should be used to pay the tribute both for Himself and for His disciple. How wonderful is the Lord Jesus in stretching out His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people! In view of this I cannot but greatly admire Jacob’s submission to God’s holy will when he said that if God would graciously grant him some bread and a garment to clothe him then God would be his God.
All the Lord’s gracious works should breed admiration in our hearts and souls. It is good and wise counsel which the Holy Spirit gives to the young in Ecclesiastes 12: 1, “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth”, and also in Psalm 90: 14,
“O with thy tender mercies, Lord,
us early satisfy;
So we rejoice shall all our days,
and still be glad in thee.”
Psalms 148 gives instruction to praise the Lord and in verse 12 specific reference is made to
“Both young men, yea, and maidens too,
old men, and children small.”
Admiration is as it were a shield which protects the soul from the darts of Satan. The Bible is full of the Lord’s gracious acts, above all in his voluntarily coming, as He said, “not to condemn the world (that was already done) but to give his life a ransom for many.”
The people of Nineveh could tell of what God did for them in bestowing repentance on many of them, thus saving them from destruction. Rather than that His ancient people Israel should perish in the wilderness, God caused manna to come down from heaven daily to feed them. I am sure too that Jeremiah would never forget what the Lord did for him. He told him in the day of his distress: “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31: 3. Some of you will remember what the Rev. D. MacFarlane used to say of these precious truths: “Make a parcel of them.” The words too of Isaiah 54: 10 also comforted the Church, reminding her of what the Lord did for her: “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Elijah had cause to admire the doing of the Lord in His providence in many ways, not least when God caused the meal in the barrel to multiply and the oil to flow to satisfy his needs.
The Lord’s wonderful works are so numerous that only a few of them can be mentioned but his people have within their hearts an admiration for them all. The widow of Nain never forgot, the loving-kindness, which he shewed for her, when he touched the bier and her son was raised from the dead. At another time He turned the water into wine. He it was, too, who instructed Noah to build an ark for the saving of his house.
Let us think of the Lord’s patience with the prodigal son, notwithstanding how far astray he went. He returned in dire poverty and filthy rags. Oh, his father’s love for him when he saw him. He fell on his neck and kissed him. What the Lord has done for poor sinners is beyond our comprehension. For our sakes He became poor. He wore the crown of thorns and the purple robe. The words of the prodigal son’s father were most touching: “Bring forth the best robe.” “He gave his life a ransom for many.” What a sweet truth that is: “He made intercession for the transgressors.”
Listen to what Moses declared. “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.” Deut. 33: 26. This has been a cause of happiness for the Church in the midst of her lowliness and in her fear of falling some day into the hands of Saul. It is wonderful how full the psalms are of the sufferings of Christ: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Psalm 22: 1. These are His marvellous works.
The children of Israel have reason ever to admire the wisdom and love of God in that He made a way for them in the midst of their enemies when He separated the waters of the Red Sea for them to pass over to the other side. Then they could say: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation.” His people can say: “Our light afflictions, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Surely this should fill their soul with admiration for Christ.
Paul said: “Who loved me, and gave himself for me.” I have no doubt but that he is with Him in glory. He said Himself of His life as he drew near the gates of that terrible death: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” Oh never, never despair all you who have the free offer of the gospel. Oh, the surpassing love which caused the Saviour to take upon Himself our nature and then to pour out His blood, thus giving perfect satisfaction to the inflexible justice of God in the room and stead of His people. What a loving Saviour we have!
Let His doings breed more and more admiration within us. Think earnestly of His doings and sayings on Calvary’s Cross. These should breed admiration in our hearts so that we could say like Job: “Though he slay me yet will I trust in Him.” Oh let His last words on the cross kindle love and deep admiration in every faculty of our souls. There are those whose hope is that they will not forget either in time or in eternity Christ’s sweet words: “It is finished.” Many a night it lulled you to sleep, as it were. Happy are all they who can say: “Who loved me and gave himself for me.” Be assured of it you will be His in the day when he makes up His jewels. Notice David’s admiration of the blood. Listen to David’s request and his assurance: “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” It was Christ himself who said: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Oh may saving faith be imparted to your soul to say with the Church: “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” May the Lord cause admiration to breed as readily in your heart as in the heart of Jeremiah: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” This reminds me of Kenneth MacLean, Breasclate’s story which he told when speaking to the question on the Friday of a Communion many years ago. He said: “Today I received a letter from a dear friend which contained a sum of money which I appreciated very much. However, although the money was valued, what gladdened my heart more was a wee note at the bottom of the letter which said ‘MORE TO FOLLOW’.” Dear Kenneth then went on to spiritualise this in a most sweet way.
Think on the time you were at death’s door, as it were. He spake to you thus: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” You made a good recovery. When they were together again Mary and Martha and Lazarus would recall Christ’s loving kindness and works of wonder to them in restoring Lazarus after being three days in the grave. Oh think on the works which He hath done which admiration breed! It breeds a longing in the soul to be washed in the fountain open for sin and for uncleanness, and to say with David: “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than the snow.” David could also say: “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Ps. 130: 5.
For the benefit of those who are poor and needy God gives some sweet promises.
“Those that are broken in their heart,
and grieved in their minds,
He healeth, and their painful wounds
he tenderly up-binds.”
Psalm 147: 3
Again it is written: “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.” With severe storms he will bruise the reed, this way and that, but this promise never fails. He will not “break” it. “None perish that him trust.” He gave of His blood to the last drop. Such will say in time and in eternity: “Thy love to me was wonderful.”
Think often of the resurrection morning when Christ rose from the dead, leaving an open grave behind him, reminding us that we too must rest in the grave until the last trumpet shall sound. He shall then say: “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.” There is but one Saviour for God’s people. Oh, keep thinking of Him on the cross for you. None could complete the blessed work the Father gave Him to do but the Lord Jesus Christ. If another could have been found to do it, He that was in the bosom of the Father from all eternity would have been saved from it. I often heard the Rev. James MacLeod say there is no bosom like the bosom of the Father. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree” “To them that believe he is precious.” Precious beyond words was He to Mary Magdalene as she wept at the empty tomb, and uttered these words: “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” Rev. James MacLeod often said that Christ stripped himself of His glorious robes which were His from all eternity, exchanging them for the rags of our humanity. No wonder we hear Him say: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.” All this he did for the poor troubled child of God. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name.” Phil. 2: 9. The thief beside Him on the cross cried: “Remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Oh. let Christ’s reply breed more and more admiration in our hearts and souls: “This night shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
It is scriptural also to think of Christ’s cause in the world. I shall never forget the first Synod I witnessed. The dignity of the ministers and elders was memorable. Another thing that is freshly in my mind is the first division I witnessed — a solemn sight. About 300 left Rev. Neil Cameron’s congregation. Then more recently many left for more and more freedom. May the Lord bestow repentance on them before it is too late. Truly Jesus can bring us near to Him to touch the border of His garment.
Our beloved Church before very long shall have been in existence for 100 years. During that time it was much hated and spoken evil against by both strangers and those who had once been within her bounds. However, the names of those who made the noble stand in 1893 are as fresh and fragrant as ever both at home and abroad. We in the Free Presbyterian Church, like the people whom the Lord delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, have reason to admire His loving kindness and think on the wonderful works which he has done.
In drawing these few thoughts to a conclusion, I trust that I can give you the same message that came from Paul of old: “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” II Tim. 1: 12.
Let us never forget those well known to us who, in the face of stiff opposition and cruel mockings, bore the burden and heat of the day thus proving themselves good soldiers of Jesus Christ. The opposition was cruel, and they could say with the church of old:
Had not the Lord been on our side,
May Israel now say;
Had not the Lord been on our side,
When men rose us to slay;
They had us swallow’d quick, when as
their wrath ‘gainst us did flame:
Waters had cover’d us, our soul
had sunk beneath the stream.
Psalm 124: 1-4