A Song Hama’aloth (3)

Rev. J. Van Haaren (1933-1983)

In our text the poet does not say that the Lord will turn unto me because I long so for Him or because I have called upon Him so much. Neither does he say that the Lord will come because I am so wretched; I have such a deep need. Listen to what he says: “In His Word do I hope.” No, he does not have any ground within himself. Ah, he is not worthy that the Lord would look upon him. He has come to the realization that all his calling and longing is without merit, and such calling can never move the Lord, but he binds himself to God’s Word. God Himself has awakened that expectation in him, opened His Word for him, and led him into the secrets of salvation. What is, after all, the great content of that Word? That there is forgiveness with the Lord and that with Him there is truth and mercy. How is that possible? Only in Christ, for His Word speaks of Him.

The volume of the Book is full of His name, and a living desire is born in His people when He reveals Himself through the lattice of the Word. How they then begin to call upon Him. What a longing there is for Him, to know Him and to meet Him. How precious that Word becomes for them. Then it becomes, “Sweeter are Thy words to me than all other good can be; safe I walk, Thy truth my light, hating falsehood, loving right.” Yea, when that Word may be opened unto them in such a way, they believe that God is True, and their hope becomes active. Then they cast themselves at His feet, saying, “I am not worthy that Thou wouldest look upon me, but I read in Thy Word that there is forgiveness with Thee.” There is born a pleading and a hoping upon that Word.

Do you also know something of such pleading? Have you ever abased yourself before God? Have you ever observed yourself in your sin and guilt? Do you know something of that crying out of the depths? How appalling if you are a stranger to that condition! Then there is no hope for you. Then there is only a terrible expectation of the judgment to come. On the other hand, hoping and expectant people, behold the salvation which God has prepared for the soul that flees unto Him. The Lord neither will nor shall ever put your hope to shame. “Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.”

We have heard the poet cry from out of the depths. How he loathes himself before the Lord because of his sin, but in that loathing of self, God’s forgiving love in Christ shines upon him. For that light he has been waiting, waiting more than the watchers for the morning, and his hope has not been put to shame. The Lord has lovingly embraced his soul, and he was able to experience the power of Jesus blood. A blessed peace flows through his soul because he has not hoped in vain; therefore, he also encourages others to keep courage. He seeks to comfort his brothers with the comfort which he himself has enjoyed. Yea, the life of grace is a life which seeks to be shared with others. If you yourself have once tasted something of God’s forgiving love, then you wish the same for everyone. There is a heartfelt desire to encourage those sighing travelers to Zion who stand so far off and who are despondent of ever receiving forgiveness because their sins are so manifold. The poet says, “Let Israel hope in the Lord.” No, those are not idle words, for he knows of their strife and doubts, and they are not words which he has just heard somewhere. It is not that he has read something about it, but he knows it from personal experience. He has also been in the depths; that is why his awakening will resound with such authority. That is why it is as if he will say, “Worship Him, O Israel, and learn to wait for Him with confidence. What He has done for me, He shall also do for you. He is the great I AM THAT I AM. ‘He hears the needy when they cry, He saves their souls when death draws nigh, this God is our salvation.’”

All that wait for Him shall not be ashamed. It is in this way that He encourages Israel, those who are the true wrestlers. Does not the word Israel mean warrior and wrestler with God? Therefore, those of you who are holding fast, those of you who persevere, those who use holy force, you wrestlers, keep courage! “Let Israel hope in the Lord,” and there is a good reason for that, for with the Lord there is mercy. This mercy belongs to God’s essence. It is the tenderest evidence of His goodness. It is a peculiar mercy which He has over against His people, for He loves them. His affection goes out towards them. It is in agreement with His mercy that He forgives, comforts, strengthens, and helps them. When He shows this mercy, there is peace and deliverance experienced in the heart. This mercy is better than life, and He reveals this in Christ. In Him mercy and peace have met each other, and it is His desire to have mercy upon miserable and dejected ones. In Christ He is able to have mercy upon them; therefore, He will also do it. He does not despise their tears. Oh, wrestlers, keep courage, the Lord will hear your supplication, the Lord will receive your prayer.

The Lord is willing and mighty to save. What a joyful tiding that is for prisoners who languish in bondage. Will they be set free? With the Lord there is plenteous redemption. That redemption is with Him from eternity. Before the world was it was already before His countenance, and in His heart was the redemption in and through His Son. Oh, the unfathomable depths of eternity! There, the redemption flows out of the depths of His good pleasure. Because there was redemption with Him, He sent His Son as the Redeemer, and how fully did He make redemption a reality upon Golgotha. He paid the price; He carried the curse and conquered Satan, the world, and death. He carried away the curse and took possession of heaven. When He applies redemption, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Yea, with Him there is great redemption. He does not only redeem the soul, but the body shall also be delivered from the grave.

Who will be able to enumerate all of the deliverances which He will provide? They are many types of deliverances. Would there be one depth from which He could not deliver, people of God? There is no reason to go about with the head bowed down. He will not let you languish in the depths, for with Him there is mercy and plenteous redemption. “He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Here below, the redemption is still in part. Here below, our flesh continues to war against the Spirit, the world continues in hatred, and Satan continues to lay his snares. No, here it is not the land of rest. The rest lies on the other side, for then all sin and the results of sin shall be taken away; the deliverance shall be complete. The poet rejoices in the prospect, for that complete deliverance will certainly come; “He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” That is not for their sake but only for His holy Name’s sake. There is no expectation from Israel, but there is for Israel. It is just that one-sided work of God which makes the redemption so certain. Israel did not inflame that love; therefore, it is also unable to extinguish it. Israel shall be redeemed from all her iniquities.

The redemption of today is secure for the future. The Lord does not do a partial work. He redeems to provide a complete redemption. That redemption starts here when by the working of the Holy Spirit upon the soul He grants life unto the soul and sprinkles her with the blood of His Son, but He will complete this deliverance in due time. “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10). How poor is a person without God and Christ; he does not know of this expectation. Oh, do not be deceived by Satan who says, “Just bide your time, everything will turn out well for you!” He is a liar from the beginning. Oh, consider that which will serve to your eternal peace!

(This installment marks the end of this series.)

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