PROPHETS, Apostles, holy men, the commissioned messengers of the Most High, when they speak of the Coming One, use expressions in referring to Him, were He not all He claimed to be, which would be blasphemy. But the acceptance of the claims fit in naturally with the tremendous claims He made. The Apostle John acclaims Him to be God. Though John’s knowledge were increased a thousand fold he could not reach higher in the place he assigned to Christ, and though he will live throughout eternity, John could not give Him a higher place. To the great Apostle of the Gentiles who looked so deeply into the ocean depths of God’s revealed truth, He was the “Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” In all things He was to have the pre-eminence. In ascribing greatness to men we may go far beyond the mark and our ascription of praise to them may many times be idolatry. But we cannot give Christ such praise as He does not deserve. Is it not the case that every true Christian rejoices in hearing his Saviour exalted? What satisfaction and joy it gives him to hear the name of his Saviour exalted! It is such an exercise as this we have in the seventy-second Psalm. The sweet Psalmist of Israel, who was not only a poet but a prophet, is singing the praises of His Lord—and how many thousands since his day in singing the songs of the sanctuary, sang this beautiful song with all their hearts.
David’s prayer is that of one who gave to his Lord a pre-eminent place. It was a noble song the angels sang—“Glory to God in the highest,” etc. That was one of the noblest songs on earth. What shall it be when the ransomed host—a thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands—will sing the song of the redeemed. In that day His glory will fill all heaven. For as Dr. Hugh Martin puts it: “This presence chamber of the King Eternal can afford no brighter light, ‘the Lamb is the light thereof.’” But the Psalmist’s prayer is that His glory may fill the whole earth. When God arises to bless His Church, He will appear in glory, and Christ will be great in the eyes of His redeemed people. He will appear in the glory of His power, of His love and redeeming mercy to all who are to be gathered into His kingdom and to be with Him for ever; when no longer looking through a glass, they shall see Him face to face. There were days in England when He appeared in glory and there were days in Scotland when He appeared in glory, attracting men, women and children who did not hesitate to die for Him when the call came to them.
The Scripture speaks of glorious days yet to come when His Gospel will be received by men and when multitudes, not a few, will take up the Psalmist’s prayer—”Let the whole earth be filled with His glory” (Ps. lxxii. 19).
“His name for ever shall endure;
Last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be bless’d in him, and bless’d
All nations shall him call.
Now blessed be the Lord our God,
The God of Israel,
For he alone doth wondrous works,
In glory that excel.
And blessed be his glorious name
To all eternity:
The whole earth let his glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.”
—Psalm lxxii. 17-19 (Metrical Version).