Another precious and essential truth of Christianity is that the veil is rent, because redemption has been accomplished; and Jesus is gone into heaven by His own blood. Hence we have purged consciences, with liberty to approach God as our Father, and to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus for worship and communion. Blessings and privileges we now therefore have, which were wholly unknown until the finished work of Christ had actually taken place. In the Psalms, we find no idea of these heavenly blessings; on the contrary, their sanctuary is on earth, and worship is spoken of as at Jehovah’s footstool; a point of all importance to notice. “Exalt ye Jehovah our God, and worship at his footstool, for he is holy;” and again, “We will go into his tabernacles, we will worship at his footstool.” (Psalm 99:5; 132:75Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. (Psalm 99:5)
7We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. (Psalm 132:7).) How great the contrast between these words of the inspired psalmist, and those of an inspired apostle, when he says: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10)
The true hope of the Christian, which is the coming of the Lord at any time, when we shall be caught up to meet Him in the air, and so be “forever with the Lord,” is not found in the Psalms; but His coming to Israel, to reign over the earth, and to judge the world in righteousness are repeatedly set forth, as suited to the people there contemplated. It is clear that our hope was not fully known in its details, till it was revealed to Paul the apostle—“by the word of the Lord”—for us. (See 1 Thess. 4:1515For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15).)
Thus, however much we may have recorded in the Psalms for our instruction, (and, thank God, there is an abundance of it), yet we have seen that the special doctrines of Christianity do not come within their scope. The New Testament epistles set forth the heavenly calling, heavenly standing, heavenly relationships, accomplished redemption, rent veil, worship in Spirit and in truth, the indwelling, sealing, and communion, of the Holy Ghost, and the hope of our Lord’s return. For these then we must look to the Epistles. We do find in the Psalms the calling, hope, worship, relationships, and experiences suited to God’s earthly people, and (ever to be remembered), all written for our learning, blessed be God! But we may rest assured that those only, who can distinguish between instruction concerning God’s ancient people Israel, and that about the church of God, will be able rightly to divide the word of truth.
The fact is, that David who is the chief writer of the Psalms, informs us himself that he was “the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel.” (2 Sam. 23:11Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, (2 Samuel 23:1).) This gives us a key to unlock the great subject of the Psalms; and we do press this point, because of its importance, that he is not called the sweet psalmist of the church, but “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” God’s earthly people. Instead then of the people being described there as partakers of a heavenly calling, they are again and again spoken of as having been called from Egypt to Canaan—brought out of Egypt and led through the wilderness into the land of promise. (Psalm 78; 105)
Their hope, too, is constantly referred to as “the earth” or “the land.” We read, “They shall inherit the earth.” “Such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth.” “The righteous shall inherit the land.” “He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 299For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9)
11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:11)
22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:22)
29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalm 37:29).) Earthly glory seems to be the hope of the faithful in this book. We see the longing of their hearts expressed in such words as, “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people, Judah shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.” Again, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” (Psalm 14:7; 102:13-167Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (Psalm 14:7)
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come. 14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. 15So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (Psalm 102:13‑16).) Their hope therefore, is, that Jehovah will come and judge the earth, and establish them in the land of promise. Then they will know that His eyes will be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with Him; and that He will early destroy all the wicked of the land, and cut off all wicked doers from the city of Jehovah. (Psalm 96:13; 98:9; 101:6-813Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Psalm 96:13)
9Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98:9)
6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. (Psalm 101:6‑8).)
The experiences too of the godly in the Psalms, though they have much in common with pious people at all periods, yet, in some respects, are they peculiarly their own; for experience and conduct must always be according to known relationships. For instance, their distress is very great because their city Jerusalem has been laid in heaps, and the carved work of their beautiful temple broken. They say, “They break down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary: they have defiled by casting down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground. (Psalm 74:6, 76But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. 7They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. (Psalm 74:6‑7).) Moreover, their prayers are for vengeance upon their enemies. Instead of loving their enemies, praying for them that de-spitefully use them, and supplicating God to save sinners, they say, “Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen, and render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach.” And again, “Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.” (Psalm 79:6, 12; 137:96Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. (Psalm 79:6)
12And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. (Psalm 79:12)
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. (Psalm 137:9).) All this, however, is consistent, with a dispensation of law and righteousness, and a people having an earthly calling, blessings, and hope. But how different from the injunctions of an apostle—“If thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” How unlike the perfect One, who prayed for His murderers, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Happy those who can now say, “Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body and fashion it like unto his glorious body.” (Rom. 12:20, 2120Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:20‑21); Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34); Phil. 3:20, 2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21).)
We cannot be too often reminded that it is the Holy Ghost alone who guides into all truth; so that we need His operation to be taught rightly any portion of God’s word. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” It is only by the Holy Ghost, that we discern, receive, know, or give forth to others, spiritual things. (1 Cor. 2) Thus, though born of God, and forever blessed in Christ, we are in constant dependence on the Spirit. We need to watch, lest we take up, and traffic in, divine truth, by mere natural intellect.