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A Relying Upon the Lord

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A Relying Upon the Lord

11 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

This psalm contains important lessons. David, the poet, saw the prosperity of the wicked, while God's children very often had tribulation. The theme, namely, the difference between God's children and the world, returns throughout the entire psalm. It is a well-known matter, and it is difficult not to become jealous of their prosperity. David warns against it and emphasizes that we should ask for grace to be united with the will of God, seeing that at the end there is an eternal difference. In our text David begins, “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” A “way” is a connection between two places. You must understand that this is figurative language and means our path of life with all its circumstances, both sweet and bitter. We begin this way at our birth, and its end is at our death. For the one it will be a short way, for the other longer, but all have to die. Therefore it is so very important to be prepared to meet the Lord, since we do not know when that end will come.

As a consequence of sin, we travel through a valley of tears; nobody can escape the difficulties of life. Because of our corrupt nature, most of the time we are not submissive to such difficult ways, and we often murmur against the Lord our Maker. In fact, we think the Lord makes mistakes and that we do not deserve such ways. We think we know better than the Lord. However, when we look around us, we realize that everyone has to bear a cross, but for the one it is heavier than for the other. Thus we travel our different ways.

Those who travel from place to place see that the scenery changes continually. How evident this was also in David's life! As a young boy he took care of his father's sheep, but later he was brought to the palace of King Saul to play upon his harp. Soon he had to flee for his life's sake when Saul tried to kill him. Then he became captain over a small band of people who no longer felt safe under the rule of Saul. Much later he became king of Judah, and after some years he was also king over Israel. After all his trials, we would think he would have a time of rest. But no, he had to flee from his own son because of his sin against the Lord. The sword did not depart from his house all his days. This way of David is not unknown when we speak about the difficulties that occur in our lives.

King David knew from his own experience how there can be storms in the heart, for the Lord had led him through very deep ways. He could not have walked in those ways in his own strength, but he did so only with the help of the Lord. David was a type of Christ, the great Son of David, not in his sins, but in the deep ways in which he had to go. Christ went the way of suffering and death to open heaven for His church. In all those sufferings Christ was and remained the beloved Son of the Father, even when in the deepest agony. As Mediator He had to pay the debt of the church and satisfy the attributes of His Father. This is a great mystery for God's children, as it also was for Martin Luther until the Lord revealed unto him that the just shall live by faith.

God's favorites have to become cross-bearers, but often they must be compelled, as was Simon the Cyrenian. The Lord Jesus has said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Such difficult and deep ways are necessary for the church to learn what it means to be partakers of His suffering and to desire to go upon the path of sanctification. Every child of God knows of those ways that go against flesh and blood. At the moment of regeneration they are brought from the broad way of sin and the world to the narrow path which leads to life. We think of the way that Christian, in Pilgrim's Progress, had to go with a burden on his back. There are many temptations, tribulations, and problems with which God's people are confronted. At one time David cried out, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.” The Lord is free in His dealings with His people, and the church of God often experiences this.

When we really are brought into need by the Lord, there is only one way left, namely, to flee to the Lord, as David says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” In the original Hebrew it reads, ”Roll thy way upon the Lord.” When an object is not too heavy, we can carry it, but when it is really heavy, we have to roll it. To commit our way unto the Lord is not something we can do ourselves, but it is an act of faith. This means we must possess true saving faith, and this faith must be in exercise. You can feel that this is the opposite of doing it ourselves, as is often proclaimed by others. You then hear what man has to do or has done, but not what the Lord has done. This last part is indispensable. Of course, when the Lord begins to work in the heart, then a change will be seen in such a life, but the work of the Lord comes first.

The apostle Peter wrote, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). As he looked back upon his life, this had become the experience of Peter himself. Did the Lord not care for him in a special way? Otherwise he would have been lost forever, but the Lord was faithful for His unfaithful servant who had thrice denied Him.

It is impossible to commit our way unto the Lord and at the same time to trust in ourselves. Ever since we sinned against the Lord and broke the covenant of works, we can no longer trust ourselves; however, we try to do so time and again. David gives us faithful advice: “Trust also in Him.” The Lord has this right, and He is worthy that His people trust in Him. He is not only the Creator and Provider upon whom they are dependent, but He is also their God. He may justly require His children to trust in Him. When we commit our way unto the Lord, we should do it, trusting in Him, which is an act of faith. How does this take place in our lives? When it pleases the Lord to give discovering light by the Holy Spirit, we become concerned about eternal matters. Such a man, woman, or child begins to call upon the unknown God for His help and guidance. They realize that without Him they cannot go further, and therefore they cry unto Him. The Lord has promised,

Open wide thy mouth of longing, I will satisfy thy need.

Here David comes to the root of the matter. Come unto the Lord, even though you have nothing to plead upon of yourselves. You have indeed forfeited everything, but you can no longer miss the Lord. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” “Trust also in Him” refers to the LORD, written with capital letters. He is Jehovah, and His name explains how He is bound to and united with His people. It points to the faithful God of the covenant. His name is so rich, and it tells us that He is the Maker and Husband of His church. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord alone.

In actual life it is so different. In times of prosperity, I receive the credit, but in adversity, it is God's fault. Therefore in the future I would like to arrange everything. We so easily say, “I will give it into the hands of the Lord,” but by nature we never do so. By grace it becomes different, and in the exercise of faith it is self-evident to be enabled to trust in the Lord. However, it is often a long time before we lay down the weapons of enmity, for we try to maintain ourselves. The Lord knows how to take our foundation away so that we may fall on His side. Flesh and blood are not spared, but only in that way will we acknowledge the Lord in His greatness, wisdom, majesty, glory, and faithfulness.

It is my wish and prayer that we come at this place and fall on God's side. Then we can and may go further. It does not mean that it will always go the way we would like, but the Lord will fulfill His counsel on earth. Although it can go through deep ways in which faith is tried, we may be truly submissive. The Lord causes our soul to be quiet, just like a child that is weaned of his mother. Then there will be a quiet, sweet waiting, because all may have been given into the hand of the Lord, and as He has promised, “He shall bring it to pass.”

The Lord governs all things, and this promise is to the strengthening of the church. But we must read it as it is. There is not added: according to our pleasure. The ways of the Lord are higher than our ways and often go against our flesh and blood. Then we say so quickly, “The Lord has forsaken us, and our Lord has forgotten us,” or “My way is hid from the Lord.” We often think that prosperity is a blessing of the Lord and adversity a sign of God's displeasure, but this is not always true, as God's Word teaches us in many places.

This promise is also without a date. We have to learn to wait for the Lord's time. Also, the way in which it will be fulfilled is not mentioned here. We must leave it to God's wisdom and sovereignty. Paul says, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Therefore the poet may say, “And He shall bring it to pass.” This is a great comfort. The Lord is able and willing to take care of His church, and He shall do it. The Lord is almighty, and He is able to do it. For Him nothing is too wonderful. He speaks and it is done, He commands and it stands fast.

He is also willing to do it. This is not because of reasons in us. This He has shown in the sending of His Son. His suffering speaks of His willingness. The second Adam restored that which the first Adam had destroyed. In Christ God can have communion with the sinner again. Paul said, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Thus He is able and willing; therefore “He shall bring it to pass.” There is no doubt about it, since His covenant Name is bound to it. He cannot do differently. He shows His glory in the execution of His counsel and promise, especially to the welfare of Zion. Blessed is the people who expect all from the Lord only, and who may then flee with all their needs to Him. Man is powerless, but the Lord is the almighty One.

May the Lord give continual and persevering prayer that we by faith may lay all our needs at His feet. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Then we will experience the immediate and special care of the Lord: The work Thou hast for me begun, Shall by Thy grace be fully done.

— Rev. A. M. den Boer (1929-2004)

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 juni 2005

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

A Relying Upon the Lord

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 juni 2005

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's