There are times when the Lord’s Cause is brought very low. Such seasons are times of great trial to the Church of God. When the Cause of Christ is prospering the people of God have reason to rejoice but when it is otherwise they cannot but be sad, and very cast down. This is not what they desire. They long to see the Church of God prospering, not only in their own midst, but throughout the whole world. This was David’s desire — “Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.” To this the whole Church of God say: “Amen and Amen.”
Asaph’s complaint in his day was: “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?” Seeing what the enemy had been permitted to do in the sanctuary, it seemed as if the Lord had utterly cast off His people, as if He had forgotten to be gracious. The enemy was despoiling the Church of God, and it appeared as if God had given free rein to the enemy. This made Asaph cry out: “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” It was a trial to this godly man to see the enemy triumphing and pouring reproach and scorn upon the people of God, for it was not only His people they were reproaching, but God Himself. This is what is distressing to the true Church of God — that reproach would be cast on God’s Name. To see the Lord dishonoured in any way grieves the children of God. God is worthy of being praised, not slighted or reproached. The desire of the true child of God is that God would be honoured more and more. When it is otherwise and He is dishonoured, this pierces them through and through. What would it matter if their own name was cast in the dust, and trampled under feet of men, if only God’s Name was honoured and magnified. John the Baptist was of this mind for he had to say: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The gracious soul seeks not its own glory but the glory of the One who is worthy of all praise and glory and honour.
Asaph, in pleading with the Lord, refers to His Church in the world as the Lord’s own Cause. It belongs to Him, therefore it is precious to Him, and He delights in it. It was purchased of old. It was redeemed at great price. He delivered it out of the hand of the enemy when there was no other to deliver it. He showed His mighty power in that deliverance. His hand of might was stretched out for the salvation of His people. This was true of the typical deliverance of His people when He brought Israel out of Egypt. He obtained for Himself great renown. What a song of triumph was sung on the other side of the Red Sea: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Such was Israel’s tribute to the working of God’s mighty hand and stretched out arm. What then has overtaken Israel that she had now been brought so low? Is God not Israel’s God still? Is He not her God for ever and ever? Has His love changed seeing that her condition is now so low, and her enemies reproach her without hindrance? May she not now rightfully complain, saying, “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me?” No, she may not speak thus or she would offend against the generation of God’s children. Let her listen to what He has to say to her: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Let not Asaph despair, let not the people of God despair, let not the Church of God despair. He who was Israel’s God in time past, is Israel’s God still. He declares of Himself: “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” He is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever — the Covenant-keeping God of Jacob, the One who is faithful and true. When He comes to make up His jewels, He will acknowledge His people as His own. But they are His now and He will never leave them nor forsake them, and though they have no comeliness in themselves they have their comeliness in Jesus Christ and will be accepted in Him.
For such a people Asaph draws near to God and says: “O God, plead thine own Cause.” He would have the Lord come forth and rescue His oppressed inheritance. What a cry comes forth from the depths of Asaph’s heart: “O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever”! He would have Him pluck His right hand out of His bosom for the deliverance of His people. He reminds Him of the covenant — “Have respect unto the covenant” — and pleads, “Lift up thy feet to the perpetual desolations.” What earnest entreaties Asaph has to make to his God! And will not His God hear him and send relief?
If these things were so in Asaph’s day, how much more in our day. How low has the Cause of Christ fallen! What need there is of deliverance from the enemy that has entered the very gate. From what source can deliverance come? The Word of God makes plain that vain is the help of man. It is to the Lord that His people must turn in such a day as this, pleading with Asaph: “Lift up thy feet to the perpetual desolations.” So, too, must they cry to the Lord with Asaph, “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause.” They are encouraged to do so by the promise He has given to them: “I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.” He is to be found of those that seek Him, because His ear is ever open to the cry of the poor and needy. Let them not despair. While, on the one hand, the Scriptures warn, “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains”; yet, on the other hand, they declare, “Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.”