SONGS OF DEGREES

Psalm 128:1, “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways.”

We hope to continue writing a little about the Songs of degrees. May it please the Lord to crown also this work with His indispensable blessing. After all, what is more profitable if the experience of our hearts might be, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD”?

The poet falls in line with that which he had been privileged to point out already in Psalm 127. By grace he may show us that the fear of the LORD is the only Fountain of all real happiness and bliss, also in married life.

What burdensome cares parents have to shoulder nowadays! The devil walks about as a roaring lion to draw our children away from the good and towards the sinful and wicked. What an inestimable privilege it is in such cases, if we, as parents, may know the fear of the LORD. Then there is a Refuge, is there not, in the day of affliction.

Our fathers have included this precious song entirely in the “Form for the Confirmation of Marriage before the Church.” Certainly this is proof of the fact that they judged this Psalm to be a word in due season particularly for the families and for the young families as well.

Many young people in our congregations marry. It would be so precious if we could testify of them: they fear the LORD.

Honestly, it is the only thing which can fulfil you with peace. After all, it behooves all men to fear God. Now, there is much slavish fear, but the true filial, childlike fear is only learned from Above.

The apostle, therefore, wrote to the young Timothy, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Tim. 4:8). Shall also our young readers take this to heart?

The world and the lusts thereof pass away. For a moment you can imagine that this is now real life. But it is deception. It lasts but a moment and then we stand before Him Who will judge righteously.

When death approaches, many people are afraid. But what about it if we would become afraid of sins one time while we still are on earth? See, that is something which is necessary, for learning a little of this constrains us to fear the LORD.

And such ones are called blessed. Blessed.

Possibly you are of the opinion: that has been laid up for God’s people when they are in heaven by and by. But read carefully what the poet says. You will notice him pointing out that one can be blessed here. He does not sing, “Blessed will be every one that feareth the LORD,” but, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD.” And this present, of course, includes the future—the Psalm is a Song of Ascent, of going up. Thus every one that fears the LORD is blessed here, but more blessed still when he is forever with the Lord.

Oh, to be privileged to experience in this life that it is blessed to fall on the Lord’s side, to learn to love Him, to walk in His ways. Then you will experience here already that it is good and sweet if you may fear Him.

Moreover, the poet adds—rightly so—, “that walketh in His ways.” Such walking, too, is good and sweet. Indeed, there can be no mention of bliss if we do not walk in His ways. That is only to our destruction.

Therefore, the walking in His way is inseparably tied to the fearing of the LORD. This means: walking is to go along with the Lord continually—on the path of His commandments. Why? So that a little may be experienced, “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

A godly walk is profitable for your own heart and life but also serves as an example for others especially for our youth so that they, too, may see: “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in His ways.” Really, the way of the Lord is a blessed way.

Now, there has been One, namely the Lord Jesus, Who walked perfectly in the way and statutes of His Father. Would that we might learn by grace to follow in His footsteps.

We will be sorry—may it be here below—for our walking in the paths of our own choosing. If it does not take place here below, we will have to mourn forever. Then it is too late.

Blessed we will be if we may learn to walk behind Zion’s King, step by step, singing the Songs Hamma’aloth—procession songs on the way to the heavenly Jerusalem—in order that we may walk in the way of His footsteps.

Chilliwack, B.C.

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