Remarks on the Psalms: Part 5

From: Things New and Old: Volume 22

Psalm • 4 min. read • grade level: 9

As a suffering remnant of godly Israelites is frequently brought before us in the Psalms, it may be well now to point out briefly some of the distinctions which scripture makes in dispensations. Without some knowledge of dispensational truth, it cannot be understood what are the characteristics of the remnant, and where, in the order of events, their future history will come in.

Dispensations.

1. In Adam, before he fell, we behold man in innocence. (Gen. 2)

2. After sin came in, we see men from Adam to Moses, going on as having a conscience and responsible to God for what he saw of His ways in creation. During this period man turned god-maker, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. (Rom. 1:19-32¹⁹Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. ²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. ²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³²Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:19‑32).)

3. From Moses to Christ, we see men under law; and they fell into such gross idolatry, that God gave them into captivity to their enemies. (Exod. 24:3-8³And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. ⁴And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. ⁶And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. ⁷And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. ⁸And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. (Exodus 24:3‑8); John 1:17¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17).)

4. From the death and resurrection of Christ, and the descent of the Holy Ghost to the Lord’s coming, God is calling out and forming the church—the body of Christ; and preaching grace to sinners—to every creature under heaven. His ancient people being for the most part in hardness of heart, scattered because of their sins—Israel outcast, and Judah dispersed. (Eph. 2:15-22; 4:10-13¹⁵Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:15‑22)
¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:10‑13); Matt. 16:15¹⁵He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (Matthew 16:15); Rom. 11:25²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25))

5. Between the rapture of the saints at our Lord’s coming, and the Lord’s appearing with His saints, the Spirit of God will move the hearts and consciences of a remnant of Jews; for though many Jews will be cut off in the time of the great tribulation, a remnant will be spared, brought through this time of “Jacob’s trouble,” and introduced into their promised blessing in the land spoken of by the prophets. It is of these godly ones that the Psalms so often speak. (Matt. 24:21, 22²¹For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21‑22); Zech. 13:9⁹And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9); Dan. 12:1¹And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1).)

6. At our Lord’s appearing in glory, He will bring in the millennial period of blessing, by judging the living, and putting all enemies under His feet; and, at the close of the thousand years, He will execute the judgment of the wicked dead at “the great white throne.” (Isa. 11; Rev. 20)

7. Everything now having been subdued by Jesus the Son of Man, it will be followed by “a new heaven, and a new earth,” in which righteousness will dwell—the eternal state. (Rev. 21:1-8¹And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ²And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ⁶And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. ⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1‑8).)

Man was created in a state of innocence; he was “made upright;” after the fall and before law, he was “filled with all unrighteousness;” under law, righteousness was demanded from man in the way of works; by the gospel, righteousness is reckoned by God to man on the principle of faith; in millennial times, righteousness will reign, and, in the eternal state, righteousness will dwell.

In thus taking a hasty glance at the various ways in which God has been pleased to try man and to make Himself known, we cannot fail to see, that it has seemed good to Him to show what His creature man was in a state of innocence; what he was as a fallen creature having a conscience without law; what he was in responsibility to God as under law; what he is now under the ministry of the gospel of the grace of God preached by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, while the church is being formed; what man will be after Satan has been bound for a thousand years and the personal reign of Christ, before the eternal state. In all these changes as regards man’s responsibility, we must remember that God is the same, and that He always acts agreeably with the perfection of His own nature. These various ways of God with man at different periods, are what are generally known by the name of “Dispensations.”

Properly speaking, we cannot say that the time of the deep exercises through which a godly remnant of Jews will pass, so often referred to in the Psalms, is a dispensation; it is more of a transition state which comes in between the rapture of the saints and the Lord’s being manifested with us in glory. It is rather a preparatory process of deep sifting and of God’s governmental dealing with them, before they are brought into their blessing.

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