INTRODUCTION
The twenty-third Psalm is familiar to many. To some it recalls the earliest associations of youth, and even of childhood. Scenes, voices and faces, long, long passed away and never more to be seen or heard in this world, are vividly brought before the mind in meditating on this beautiful Psalm. The heart, at times, loves to recall and dwell on such early associations. And, not infrequently, in mature years, and even in old age, the lessons learned in youth are the best remembered. Hence the importance of early training and instruction in the things of God and of the immortal soul.
Years ago, a missionary in India came to the bedside of a dying soldier and spoke to him about the concerns of his soul, but he gave no heed to what was said. He was evidently dying fast, but utterly careless and hardened through a long course of sin. The missionary could not bear the thought of leaving him to die in his sins, knowing what an eternity of misery his must be, yet every appeal seemed useless. At last the thought crossed his mind: "I can tell from his accent that he comes from a country where the psalms of David are generally committed to memory in youth. I will try if a verse of a psalm will touch his heart." So he calmly repeated,
“Such pity as a father bath
Unto his children dear:
Like pity shows the Lord to such
As worship Him in fear.
For He remembers we are dust,
And He our frame well knows.
Frail man, his days are like the grass,
As flower in field he grows.”
The dying soldier now looked at the missionary earnestly; he gazed at him as if a voice from afar addressed him. The scenes of home and youth rushed into his mind—a tender chord had been touched. The well-known, though long-forgotten, lines of the beautiful hundred and third Psalm thrilled his soul, and were, we trust, the voice of God in his conscience. He was thoroughly broken down, so that a thousand avenues might now be found to his heart.
Surely this was the fruit of early teaching in his childhood and of the parents' prayer for his blessing. For long both the teaching and the prayers seemed forgotten, but God can never forget. The child may, alas, often does forget, but our God never can. The prayer that has been laid before Him in faith can never be forgotten. It may often seem so, and our evil hearts of unbelief are too prone to fear that it is so; but faith affirms that it can never be overlooked or unanswered. The prayer that has thus been spread out before Him is ever beneath His eye. He has a Father's heart, He knows what it is to bring up children: "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me." Isa. 1:22Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2). He knows every feeling that exercises a parent's heart.
And the good seed of the Word, too, may often seem to have been banished from the mind, until the heart and conscience become so encrusted by the world and sin that to pierce through seems impossible. But God is faithful, and faith will never yield its hold of Him. It can ever fall back on that broad and blessed word, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). And, again, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
By means the most simple and at a moment when we least expect it, our gracious God often works in the hearts of those we love. And when the light of God does shine into the soul, a long life of sin, with its dreadful realities, may start up before the trembling sinner in a moment; and, in another moment, by the grace of God, he may see them all blotted out and his peace made with Him through the precious blood of Jesus. When God works, who or what can hinder Him?
Could we conceive of a case more hopeless than the one just described? The Philippian jailer, or the thief on the cross, was not more so. Far from home—no relatives near—and, it may be, without a friend in this world. And now laid down to die at the close of such a life: is he not beyond all hope? Who thinks of him now? Who cares for him now? Only ONE. He who had often heard, it may be, the parents' frequent, fervent prayer—(O Father of mercies, keep Thine eye on my wandering son; let Thy hand of unwearied love be spread over him night and day; oh, bring him early to Thyself, that he may not so dishonor Thy name)—now gloriously vouchsafes an answer in peace.
The parents may have passed off the scene, and prayer have long been silent for the careless one: but God forgets not the heart that trusted Him, and, in due time, will surely fulfill its desires. He sent His servant at the right time—gave him the right word—and accomplished the blessed work! Glad surprise will fill our souls in heaven when we meet those we once feared might never reach that happy land. Oh, that we may count only on God and never doubt or fear! Knowing that many hearts are deeply exercised in this subject must be our excuse for saying so much thereon.