Verses 11, 12. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory · no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Ο Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” We have now come to the close of our beautiful and instructive Psalm. Precious indeed, and most practical are the many lines of truth which, it has suggested for meditation. The Lord in His mercy grant that they may neither be overlooked nor forgotten. Under the head of “Tabernacles,” we have dwelt on the usual occupations of a Lord’s Day, and on the mixed multitudes that throng the various places of worship. The attractions of the world, the dangers of delay in the concerns of the soul, the full gospel, the blessedness of the saved, and the misery of the lost, have also been before us. Oh! that what has been written may be the means of blessing to many, but especially to many mere formal, Christ less professors, and to many poor careless sinners. The Lord knows how much they have both been on the writer’s heart through it all. May all who have read, or who may yet read, these pages, be brought to Jesus, and blessed with God’s great salvation!
We also pray, that the Lord may bless these meditations abundantly, to many of His dear pilgrim saints who are now passing through the valley of Baca. Young Christians just entering on their heavenly way have been especially thought of. The Lord in His tender love and care watch over them, keep them, and bless them. The offense of the cross has not yet ceased. But, the Lord be praised, there are still wells in Baca, and a glorious Zion in prospect. May the faith, hope, patience, and courage of thy beloved ones, most gracious Lord, be kept strong in Thyself, until they have passed the vale of tears, and safely reached the Mount Zion of Thy love and glory!
Like our former Twenty-third Psalm of sweetest and most cherished remembrance, the Eighty-fourth closes in heavenly brightness. In the Twenty-third, the believer ends his journey amidst the grateful recollections of the past, the peaceful joys of the present, and the blessed assurance of a glorious future. The heart overflowing with gladness, and surrounded with mercies, the worn and weary pilgrim leaves the valley and enters his Father’s house — the home of never-ending love. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Thus winds up what has been often called — the children’s psalm.
In like manner, we may say, concludes the Eighty-fourth. Amidst the light and glory, the strength and beauty, and the unmeasured goodness of God, the scene closes. And thus, Ο my soul, observe it well, ends every believer’s earthly days. Death is no longer the master, but the servant of the believer — a messenger of peace. All may not know the truth alike, or enjoy it alike, but it is alike true to all. Our unbelief changes not the faithfulness of God, He changeth not, blessed be His name. The Lord God Himself is the pilgrim’s sun and shield. As He said to Abraham, “Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15) What had Abram to fear? we may ask; what could Abram lack, when behind such a shield, and enjoying such a reward? Meditate, again, I pray thee, Ο my soul, on these wondrous words. They are directly applicable to thyself. Thou art, in virtue of thy union with Christ in heaven, a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.
But the great truth for the heart is, not merely the thought of having “a sun and shield” as our light and protection in this world, but rather, who the sun and shield is. Not, observe, what, but who, the sun and shield is. The Lord God is thy sun and shield Ϊ Blessed truth! It meets the whole need of the heart. There is no sunshine like the beams of His countenance, and no shelter like the shadow of His wing. Treasure in thy heart this blessed truth — meditate thereon — make it thine own. And still dwell upon it, until it has become a part of thyself. Bask, as it were, in the sunshine, and repose behind the shield of thy God and Father. All must be peace, and rest, and light, and joy, and security there. No harm can ever come to thee there. It is thy Father’s shield. It is well to be always in the shade as to this world, but ever in the sunshine of thy Father’s face. While here below amidst all the weakness and darkness of this present scene, forget not that the Lord thy God is thy sun and shield — thy light and guidance in darkness — thy strength and protection in weakness. Thus shalt thou be effectually delivered from all doubts and fears, and filled with the full assurance of faith.
Experimentally, may I ask, my dear christian leader, dost thou feel thy heart expand, and willingly open out all its folds to the gracious light of this genial sun? It invites thy fullest confidence. It will warm and enlighten, but not consume. Suffer not a dark corner to remain concealed from its searching, yet cheering beams. It is fitted and intended to make thee perfectly happy. If one dark spot could remain on thy soul in heaven, it would be no heaven to thee.
But not one moment of thy history shall be left in the dark when thou art manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ. There, every moment, and all that belongs to each moment, shall be revealed in the pure light of heaven. Then, thy happiness shall be complete — thy blessedness un-mingled —thy song of praise on the highest key-note of heaven. All will then be fully out between the Lord and thyself. And all that has been contrary to Him in thy ways shall perish from thy remembrance and from His; and all that has been done for Him shall be graciously acknowledged and rewarded. Even a cup of cold water given to one of the least of His disciples in His name shall be remembered and rewarded forever. No good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly. To walk uprightly, is to walk before Him, by Him, and or Him. It is only the believer’s ways that are examined and estimated before the tribunal of Christ. The believer himself can never come into judgment, Christ having been judged for him. (John 5:24.) The Lord enable us now to walk in the light as He is in the light, that now we may be made manifest unto Him. 2 Cor. 5:10-21.
But there are other two words in the verse before us which must be noticed ere we part with our rich and instructive psalm. And words they are of no mean significance — “Grace and Glory.” All blessing, both for time and eternity, is folded up in these two words. “The Lord will give grace and glory.” Both come from Him, and both are the fruit, or expression, of His love. Some have spoken of grace as the bud, and glory as the full-blown beauties of the flower. Others have said, that in David and Solomon we have the illustration of both. Grace was exhibited in David, and glory in Solomon. It was grace that raised David from his low state to the highest honors; and it was the same grace that restored him when he wandered — that comforted him when in sorrow — that sustained him when in conflict, and that kept him safe until he reached his journey’s end.
But when grace had done its work in David, glory shines forth in Solomon. Glory was stamped on everything under his reign. His throne, his attendants, every detail of his household, even the whole land of Israel reflected his glory (see 2 Chron. 9:1,12), yet grace shone in all the glory. The two things are inseparable. All the glories of the rose are folded up in the bud. But it is chiefly in this world that grace has to do with us. This marks the great difference between grace and glory.
Grace has to do with us in our weakness, failure, sorrow; and willingly brings the needed strength, restoration, comfort, and joy. It is the sweet and needed companion of the days of our humiliation. Oh! what a friend, what a companion, what a portion, grace is for a soul in this world; and what an unspeakable blessing to know the grace of God in truth! “The Lord will give grace and glory.” Forget not this, Ο my soul, reckon on both; on grace now, on glory hereafter. They can never fail. There is no need they cannot meet, and no enemy they cannot conquer. Like the pilgrim’s guardian angels, “Goodness and Mercy,” in the twenty-third psalm, they surround thee on every side. Encircled indeed thou art, whether in Baca’s vale, or on Zion’s hill, with a heavenly company. In parting with the companion of many a happy hour, carry this thought with thee. It may give strength and courage to thy heart in a time of need. What can be more suitable for a pilgrim’s path, than the precious truths which are at once suggested by the beautiful symbols of a “sun and shield?” or by the plain but all comprehensive words — “Grace and glory?” And, as if these did not sufficiently express the love and care of thy Lord, it is added, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Say, then, Ο say, my soul, is not this enough? He is unwearied in His love, He is all patience in His ministry, He waits on thee in every step of thy journey. He fills the pools and wells of Baca, to refresh the pilgrim on his way. What truth, oh! what truth for the heart — what light for the path — what strength for conflict — what assurance of victory, in His boundless grace!
Suffering first, glory follows. Take courage, my soul. “A little while,” and glory will fill the wide, wide regions of thy Lord’s dominions. And being with Him, thou shalt be at the center of it all. Conflict ceases there. Here, grace has to struggle with our evil in many ways, and sometimes it may seem doubtful which is to win the day; but the Lord gives more grace, and it always triumphs. But there, no evil can ever be, either to dispute or divide the scene with glory. Then, the days of evil will be past, and past forever. Then, the Lord of glory will have everything His own way — He will form and fashion everything after His own mind — He will keep everything under His own hand, and stamp everything with His own glorious image. It will be glory, glory, GLORY.
Oh! blessed, happy, looked for, longed for day, come quickly! Oh! what a day that will be — a day of, yet unknown, but of unmingled blessedness — a day of inconceivable joy in rejoining those who have gone before — in seeing thee, Ο most blessed Lord, face to face, and those, once known — well known and loved on earth! Oh! day of days, second to none, save that first of all days, when thou didst give thyself for us — when thou didst lay the foundation in thy death of that day of coming glory.
“Loved ones are gone before, whose pilgrim days are done;
I soon shall greet them on that shore, where partings are unknown.
But more than all, I long His glories to behold,
Whose smile shall fill the radiant throng with ecstasy untold.
That bright, yet tender smile — my sweetest welcome there —
Shall cheer me through the “little while” I tarry for Him here.”
And now, with mingled feelings, waiting and longing for that better day, I close my meditations on our beautiful Psalm. May the Lord bless it to every reader as He has done to the writer, and more if it be His good will. And may the testimony of the psalmist, in the closing note of his sacred song, be the assurance of our hearts and the testimony of our lives henceforward and forever. “Ο Loud of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.”
Ο Lord of hosts, how lovely in mine eyes
The tents where thou dost dwell!
For thine abode my spirit faints and sighs;
The courts I love so well.
My longing soul is weary
Within thy house to be;
This world is waste and dreary,
A desert land to me.
The sparrow, Lord, hath found a shelter’d home,
The swallow hath her nest;
She layeth there her young, and though she roam,
Returneth there to rest.
I, to thine altars flying,
Would there forever be;
My heart and flesh are crying,
Ο living God, for thee!
How blest are they who in thy house abide!
Thee evermore they praise.
How strong the man whom thou alone dost guide,
Whose heart doth keep thy ways.
A pilgrim and a stranger,
He leaneth on thine arm;
And thou, in time of danger,
Dost shield him from alarm.
From strength to strength through Baca’s vale of woe,
They pass along in prayer,
And gushing streams of living water flow,
Dug by their faithful care;
Thy rain is sent from heaven
To fertilize the land,
And wayside grace is given,
Till they in Zion stand.
Lord God of hosts, attend unto my prayer!
Ο Jacob’s God, give ear!
Behold, Ο God, our Shield, we through thy care,
Within thy courts appear!
Look thou upon the glory
Of thine Anointed’s face;
In Him we stand before thee,
To witness of thy grace!
One day with thee excelleth o’er and o’er
A thousand days apart;
In thine abode, within thy temple-door,
Would stand my watchful heart.
Men tell me of the treasure
Hid in their tents of sin
I look not there for pleasure,
Nor choose to enter in.
Own thou the Lord to be thy Sun, thy Shield—
No good will He withhold;
He giveth grace, and soon shall be reveal’d
His glory, yet untold.
His mighty name confessing,
Walk thou at peace and free;
Ο Lord, how rich the blessing
Of him who trusts in thee!
German Choral Altisio.