In this psalm the people are seen, after passing through very deep troubles, brought into the presence of the Lord Himself in the land to which He had promised to lead His chosen race.
A place of rest, joy, and blessing. And now, as their eyes rest on their Lord, they at once break forth into praise; and then the very next thing we find them occupied with is, what the Lord is doing. Not now the mighty finished work wrought out on Calvary, the foundation on which their title to be in this place was laid; but their whole attention is engrossed in the Lords present interest and present occupation.
“The Lord doth build up Jerusalem.”
“He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.”
“He healeth the broken in heart.”
“He bindeth up their wounds.”
“He telleth the number of the stars.”
“He calleth them all by their names.”
Reader, if through grace you know something of the efficacy of the finished work of Christ to meet your needs as a sinner, and the priceless value of His most precious blood to wash away your sins, do you know what the Lord is now doing, and what His present interests are? Building, gathering, healing, binding, counting (telling), calling—such are the Lord’s present interests.
In Matt. 16 we hear the Lord saying, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it:” and from the day of Pentecost till this moment the Lord has been building, gathering, healing, binding, counting, and calling living stones to form part of that building.
Then, reader, say, are you taking an interest in this present work of the Lord; a work which bears eternity’s stamp, and one in which you also have part? The great transaction of Calvary was wrought out by Christ alone; but to-day, in this present work of the Lord, His word calls you to be workers together with Him—carrying the precious gospel light into the dark territories of sin and death, and telling tired ones of the living Savior who calls the weary to Himself and bids them find in Him their rest. Yes, Christ is building, and soon the last stone of that wondrous structure will be reared; ere long the last wanderer will be folded in the Shepherd’s arms, and at His well-known voice all will rise to meet Him in the air. But now the One who at such a cost has bought you, would have you in fellowship with Himself, entering heart and soul into the work which He is fast completing.
If you read through this psalm, you will notice that it commences with praise, and then as each heart and eye is riveted on the Lord, and watching with reverent interest, what He is doing, again and again their hearts overflow in praise to the One who is doing all things so well. Soon, when all is completed, and we are with Him, the triumphant shout of praise will be, “Our Jesus hath done all things well;” but may He now by His love constrain us to take a deeper interest in what He NOW is doing—building, gathering, healing, binding, counting, calling.
P. Η. E.