The morning rays are breaking for Israel in the third book of the Psalms, yet how dark though the star is shining. "The dayspring from on high hath visited us."
"And it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people. Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow" (Luke 7:11,1211And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. (Luke 7:11‑12)).
The account of the third widow shows the remnant brought to the lowest ebb of their prophetic history, calling forth the compassions of Jehovah. It is quite noticeable that although the dead man is carried out, yet God will not permit him to be buried. When a man is dead, all of his strength is gone. What a picture of God's moral ways which apply the same to us as to Israel, or to the Gentiles who will be blessed in that coming day. "The end of all flesh is come before Me." Our gracious God has allowed the enemy to work so that, like Job, all faith might cry out, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken;... but I will proceed no further."
"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."
Psa. 74 depicts the deplorable state of the remnant as they view the desolation of all that is held dear to the heart outwardly. All that man takes pride in must crumble-secular or religious-so that Christ can fill the void of the heart of His people.
"The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah."
"But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them."
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain."
"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary."
In the third book of the Psalms, we are in the midst of the "day... that shall burn as an oven," spoken of elsewhere as the harvest, the separating, cleansing the land of all offenses.
Rev. 14:1515And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15) Mal. 4:11For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. (Malachi 4:1)
Psa. 78 is the homeward trek of the ten tribes. "Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed."
National resurrection can be the only answer for Israel. When the land is desolated, faith holds on and says, "How long?" It is during this period that Jerusalem will be attacked for the first time by the Assyrian confederacy, which will be the rod of Jehovah against His erring people. The Lord will fight and drive out the northern army.
Jacob's trouble, a period of about thirty days, will follow the great tribulation.
Jer. 30:5-95For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. (Jeremiah 30:5‑9)
Psa. 79 gives the unparalleled, intense trial for Judah, when blood will flow like water in the streets of Jerusalem when their present civilization and all present hopes will be trodden in the mire.
Psa. 88, the lowest ebb in the tide of Israel's prophetic history, describes the closing of Jacob's trouble, when the overflowing scourge is passing through, taking one half of the city of Jerusalem captive before they are driven out.
Isa. 28
Only Christ can comfort His people. Just as the widow was at the gate of the city Nain (which means the place of the tombs), she turned to see Jesus standing there.
"And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother" (Luke 7:13-1513And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. (Luke 7:13‑15)).
Can you picture the swelling of the emotions of that widow as she looked up to see the Lord and hear the words from the lips of her Messiah?
Just so the various Psalms give, in inspired language, the feelings of this people of Judah as their "eyes and lips" are opened from death to life, and toward national resurrection.
The redeemed soul feels alone, without Jesus. The little remnant feels alone, without their Messiah. Grace is working, God's wonders are being manifested among His people.
No one but Jesus could say to the widow's son, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." No one but Jehovah could say to the remnant who cry out of the depth, the lowest pit, "Then. Thou spakest in vision to Thy holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed Him."
"And I will beat down His foes before His face, and plague them that hate Him." "Also I will make Him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."
What a tremendous impact upon the surrounding nations when Israel, who had been brought so low, will become the very center of earthly blessing under their Jehovah. Their enemies will all be driven back, the nation formed in the two tribes-"the primary restoration." No one will ever touch a Jew again because Jehovah says, "I will encamp about Mine house."
The time has come for God to declare, "I will make Him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."