"Thy Name Is Near"

As another year draws to its close we find strong encouragement in the thought of God's nearness to all those who put their trust in Him. This thought brought great comfort to the Psalmist's heart as he felt the oppression of the world scene in his day. Looking by faith beyond the injustice, violence and folly which then abounded, he declared:

"We give thanks unto Thee, 0 God;

We give thanks, for Thy Name is near:

Men tell of Thy wondrous works" (Ps. 75:1).

The vast world problems of our time have only grown more complex and formidable in 1984. They just don't go away. The year has been stained by military conflict in Central America, India and the on-going Iran-Iraq war. Terrorism and violence are widespread in many lands. The scale of international debt has reached frightening proportions, threatening the stability of some of the world's largest banking groups. Bitter industrial disputes have brought hardship and suffering to many. The danger of nuclear war remains a haunting threat to millions and stirs tremendous protest. The catalogue of woes seems endless.

Yet with the Psalmist we too may magnify our God, giving thanks that His Name is near, rejoicing that despite so much distress in the earth we may still tell of God's wondrous works. These are of course constantly seen in His faithfulness as Creator, in whom we live and move and have our being, who sends the rains and fruitful seasons. He has also worked outstandingly to communicate the message of life on a vast scale in our generation. What great cause for thanksgiving that by many different means the gospel has been so widely spread in 1984! How bold His strategy, how effective His furtherance of this purpose as the age of grace hastens to its climax!

God's control of history is as complete as His control of creation or the development of His spiritual purposes. To us it may seem strange that political power should often be given to those whose character and principles are unrighteous. Perhaps this was puzzling Asaph when he wrote Ps. 75, but God reassured him:

"I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly:

And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn...

For neither from the east, nor from the west,

Nor yet from the south, cometh lifting up.

But God is the Judge: He putteth down one,

and lifteth up another" (verses 4, 6, 7).

Whether by democratic process or arbitrary coup, those who gain political power may do so only by the overruling sovereignty of the Most High: "for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God," as we are reminded in Rom. 13:1. Both in scriptural history and modern experience some have misused their power, dealing arrogantly and oppressing others unrighteously. Yet God has so often developed His own deep purposes through human oppression and injustice, causing the wrath of man to praise Him. A long process of national suffering was in His plan for Israel as God revealed to Abraham (Gen. 15:12-14); of the tyrant under whom they suffered God said, "For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee My power, and that My name might be published abroad in all the earth" (Rom. 9:17); and it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God that the Lord Jesus was crucified and slain at the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:23).

We feel deeply for all who have suffered for the sake of the Name under oppressive regimes during 1984. Through faith in God's Word they will find light in the darkness of their trials. Scripture give reassurance as to God's purpose in allowing His saints to suffer under persecuting governments. Praying for those who persecute them, Christians glorify God in his imitation of Christ. The day will declare His appreciation of their love for Him. Similar conditions perhaps formed the background to another Psalm of Asaph, who wrote of those who held power -

"They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression:

They speak loftily...

Therefore his people return hither; and waters of a full cup are wrung out by them" (Ps. 73:8, 10).

Doubtless the waters of that cup were bitter for those who had to drain it, and countless Christians have a similar cup to drink under stress of modern persecution.

Returning to Ps. 75 we read:

"In the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine foameth;

It is full of mixture, and He poureth out the same:

Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth

Shall wring them out, and drink them" (v.8).

Here is another bitter cup, but this time it is the cup of God's wrath which the unrighteous will in due course be forced to drink.

Meantime, whatever the stress caused by present problems, GOD's NAME IS NEAR!

"The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him,

To all that call upon Him in truth" (Ps. 145:18).

unknown | Dec 1984
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