by Rev. Alex. McPherson
(continued from page 185)
Psalm Three
Verse 3 (continued)
There is another reason which may account for the feeling of desertion sometimes experienced by the Lord’s people, a reason not shameful like the first in that it is not a chastisement for any particular form of sin. God in his wisdom may produce this sensation in order to strengthen grace and make his power manifest to others. God had the latter purpose in view when the Saviour gave sight to the man born blind. (John 9, v. 1-7). “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Angels are to discover what divine power operating through grace in men’s hearts can do. “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Men also are to find out that there is a power at work in true Christians which sustains and enables them as nothing else can. So that no matter what trials and afflictions they pass through, oppressive experiences which might seem to indicate the averting of God’s face from them, grace keeps them steadily on their way to heaven. Crosses, losses, sorrows, disappointments and inward darkness only serve to reveal the broken and contrite heart which follows on to know the Lord. In the darkest periods they readily acknowledge, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” They continue to humbly pray, “Cast me not from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
From such experiences there comes the exercise and growth of such graces as faith, patience, resignation, submission, peace, hope, love and penitence. Instead of the resentment, or petulance, or rebellion so natural to fallen men, there issues a humbler, more careful walk, and an increasing desire for the light of God’s countenance.
“Lord, thee my God, I’ll early seek:
my soul doth thirst for thee;
My flesh longs in a dry parch’d land,
wherein no waters be:
That I thy power may behold,
and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore
within thy holy place.” (Ps. 63, v. 1, 2)
Does it not then become evident whose Spirit indwells the people of God? “The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
A third reason can be mentioned to explain why believers are sometimes gripped by a feeling that they are forsaken by their God. It is that evil spirits may be instructed and humiliated by this phenomenon of apparent desertion which they try to turn to their own use by making it a ground of despair. Who can say how many demons surrounded David at this time when everything seemed to be against him, and the allegation, “There is no help for him in God”, aroused strong fears that this might actually be so!
Job’s was another case of the same, but when things were at their worst, he still declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Child of God, however afflicting your circumstances and gloomy your outlook, yield not to unbelief, but despite all the reasons you can think of which would justify your being forsaken, hold still to Christ as He is presented to your view in the everlasting covenant. That is exactly what David did, as the next verse shows. Hear what God says to such, “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Trust in the Lord’s revealed character and written Word. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Seek more grace to follow the example of the Saviour who; “in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” You shall never be deserted as He was, and He will never leave you nor forsake you, for that is his promise.
The “Selah” at the end of the verse is a word about whose exact meaning there has been much speculation. It may have had some connection with the musical setting of the Psalms, and signify a pause. Certain it is that many of the occasions of its use fully warrant a pause with prolonged thought on what immediately precedes it.
Verse 3. “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of mine head.”
Here now is David trusting, despite all appearances, in God his Saviour. Between him and his foes was God, his sure shield. No charge laid against him would stand because his trust was in the blood, and righteousness, and faithfulness of Immanuel. “Who is he that condemneth; it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” No device formed against him could prosper; no evil would befall him because a reconciled God was his shield.
He also claimed God as his glory. Men were doing their utmost to put dishonour and shame upon him, but God had, and would again put honour upon him. And however low the people of God may come in their own minds and in the estimation of others, God who has dignified them with a new nature and a title to heaven, and the adoption of sons as well, will give them an eternal weight of glory.
David’s head was now held low in sorrow and with a sense of humiliation, but God would lift it again in gladness and a living hope. Like David, every gracious soul really believes that 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, v. 26).