Gleanings New And Old

by Oxley, C. B. | Category: General | Aug 1933

Being thoughts from a few Psalms in their moral bearing and practical application.

The wise and well instructed scribe brings out " things new and old." Many are unable to take in much that is new, all at once. Again, most object to constantly have the " old things " drummed into their ears (especially if presented in practically the same words, manner and tones). The scribe who is making progress, if he does not exactly discover " new " truths will find the " old " ones in new places and settings, which will add freshness to the theme

--fresh couplings and comparisons will tend to interest and profit. So may it be with what follows, and above all may our words and meditations be acceptable in the sight of Jehovah, our Rock and our Redeemer.

Psalm 2. v. 6, declares,

"Yet I have set My King

Upon My holy hill of Zion.

All the combined rage, counsel and power of earth and hell could not prevent this. The blessed fact of the glorious and triumphant resurrection of the Lord of Life and Glory is the brightest star in the firmament of The Faith once for all delivered to the saints. For if Christ is not risen, our faith is vain, we are yet in our sins, "But now is Christ risen from the dead." Precious fact, precious truth ! The folly of fighting against Jehovah and His Christ is abundantly and mightily demonstrated by that glorious resurrection. The weakness of God is stronger than men, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men, as 1 Corinthians 1. 25, declares.

With what joy, pleasure and delight must Jehovah have set His King upon His throne! This may be gathered from the words associated with Jehovah's mighty act-

"Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession."Psalm 2. 8.

Kings, judges, and nations, shall yet find it to be their highest wisdom and their greatest blessing to kiss the Son, to bow to his authority, and to put their trust in Him; while those who refuse shall perish in the way, for His wrath will soon be kindled (verses 10-12). What point this gives to the question of verse 1,

"Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing?"

Why? Why? Why? Jehovah's Anointed One--the object of all this rage and hatred and envy, is set by the omnipotent hand of Jehovah beyond the reach of all enmity and opposition. "I have set My King upon My holy hill of Zion."

Peter, who, on the mount of transfiguration, was taught the preeminence of His Lord over Moses and Elijah, declared, as recorded in Acts 2., "that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus - whom ye crucified." And when opening the door of faith to the Gentiles, Acts 10., Peter declared "He (the Lord Jesus) is Lord of all"; while in his.. first Epistle, he exhorts to sanctify Christ as Lord in your( hearts (1 Peter 3. 15).

In Psalm 15. 1, we find different questions from that of Psalm 2. 1.

"Jehovah, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?" May we not apply this in a moral way to ourselves? May. we not ask in our hearts, who shall be associated with the exalted One in His present position in the holy place? Peter writes of the Lord, that he has " Gone into heaven angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him" (1 Peter 3. 22). Principalities and powers own His sway and bow to His will. Shall there not be a people oil earth in association with and in subjection to Him ? Yea, verily. And pray, what manner of people ought they to be? The remainder of the Psalm supplies the answer-"He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart. He that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his friend, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a reprobate is despised; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord ... He that doeth these things shall never be moved."

Psalm 15. 2-5.

Fellowship with the exalted One on high depends upon subjection to His authority here on earth. It is conditional. One will alone must be supreme, and one authority preeminent; the authority of Zion's King, Jehovah's Anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now let us take a glance at Psalm 84. The soul of the writer bursts forth in its longings for the tabernacles of Jehovah- "How amiable are Thy tabernacles,

0 Jehovah of hosts !"

What in the present day may answer to "Thy tabernacles ?" We would suggest, "Assemblies of God,"-companies of saints in subjection to and associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. Joined together according to the will and Word of God, growing together into an Holy temple in the Lord, and forming the Fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 1. 9). Each individual in this blessed position should answer to the description given in Psalms 15. and 84.But is it so? Where do we stand? What is our actual state in God's holy sight ? Let us not be satisfied with merely owning that we fall short, but let- us pray and strive earnestly to conform more to the good and perfect and acceptable will of God; and let us not be afraid to enquire as in God's holy presence whether our souls fondly love the Place of the Name, and take delight in tile divinely appointed exercises of praise, prayer, and such like-and when absent, crying out for tile living God- "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of

Jehovah! My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Psalm 84. 2-10.

Is it so with us ? In such a condition one would never purposely be absent from the assemblings of the Assembly.

"Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; They will be still praising Thee."

Verse 4.

So blessed and happy are they that dwell in God's house that the garment of praise is on them, the spirit of l)raise being in them ; thus they offer the sacrifice of praise continually, the fruit of lips which make confession to His Name. "They will be still praising Thee."

Their strength also is in Jehovah, and the high ways to Zion are in their heart (verse 5). And though they pass through the valley of weeping, it becomes to them a place of springs (verse 6). And if suffering overtake ally in the path of service, he giveth songs in the night-as witness Acts 16. 25. Such as by the grace of God answer to the truth of Psalm 84. not only know that they have passed from death unto life, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, but more than this, "they go from strength to strength," appearing every one of them before God in Zion (verse 7), baskets of first-fruits being in no wise lacking.

Steadfast and happy in communion with the Lord, they with unveiled face behold as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, and are thus gradually changed into the same image from glory to glory; their steadily pursued path shining more and more unto the perfect day. Jehovah God, who is a sun, shines upon them, and as a shield preserves them (verse 11). Thus, lifting up the light of His countenance upon them and blessing them, He gives them peace (Numbers 6.24-26). Upon such is bestowed both grace and glory.

And from them that walk uprightly He withholdeth no good thing (verse 11).

Psalm 23. speaks of " the valley of the shadow of death." But even if we tread tile valley of the shadow of death it is our blessed portion to say, " I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with me : Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." The all-sufficient grace of the ever gracious One, "the great Shepherd," meets all need even at such a time. Yea, in the consciousness of His presence and blessing we may be like Jacob who, when dying, by faith worshipped his God, blessed his children, and pointed them to the Coming One. Truly at all times and under all circumstances it is our privilege to have something for God and something for man. Still praising. Still bearing fruit. " Till He come."

Oxley, C. B. | Aug 1933
General