Psalm 49 - 2008.06.21

"They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him… That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption." — Psalm 49:6-7,9

The subject of today's 'nugget' is redemption or, more specifically, the redemption of the soul. If one accepts the premise that there is more to man than the merely physical, then this subject is of paramount importance.

Consider first in what redemption consists. The key is in v.9—the prospect that one should "live forever and not see corruption." One of the grand propositions of scripture is that the essence of our being is not the physical, but an inner property that employs our physical bodies for its expression and fulfillment. That property is called the soul, and its essence transcends physical life and implies self-consciousness somewhere forever.

With respect to this survival of the soul after physical death, we are instructed, for example, "… It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment [Heb. 9:27]." Or, reflecting on the same subject, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it [Eccl. 12:7]." And the Lord Jesus declares "… the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear [my] voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [John 5:28-29]." Clearly, physical death is not the end. It is in fact, only the beginning. We will spend eternity somewhere in conscious continuation.

It is the word of God which also alerts us to that condition of the soul which makes redemption necessary; the fact that by nature, because of Adam's disobedience to the word of God, man is "dead in trespasses and sins." Death, in the Bible, is perceived in more than one way. When Adam sinned, "death passed upon all men [Rom. 5:12]." That is spiritual death, brought about by God having withdrawn His spirit from the soul of man. This condition resulted in physical death and if there is no redemption, physical death ends in eternal death, the soul of man separated from God forever. It is to remedy this tragic condition that redemption was accomplished by the grace and goodness of God.

Our nugget notes the fact that there are those whose confidence is in material wealth and see it as the solution to every problem. Not so, the Lord assures us. "They that trust in their wealth" cannot buy salvation from sin—their own or anyone else's. The cost of sin is immeasurable, and the price of deliverance beyond our comprehension. So great, in fact, is the debt incurred by sin that there is nothing on earth that can compensate for it.

Had not God undertaken to assume our debt there would have been no remedy for our plight at all. Some mistakenly, suppose that sin's burden can be removed by "good works." Others seek deliverance through various religious exercises. And some, as noted here, suppose wealth can somehow secure one's eternal destiny. Happily, God Himself intervened to make a way of deliverance for guilty sinners. He sent His son to be the Savior of the world (see I John 4:14). "In [Him] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (cf. Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14)." The blood of Jesus Christ is the only currency in all creation that can secure an entrance into heaven!

Jesus Himself said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels [Mark 8:36-38]." He came "to give His life a ransom for many [Mat. 20:28b]," and those who are scornful of Him commit spiritual suicide.

For most of my readers, this meditation will be elementary and redundant, but it should keep us mindful of the wonder and wealth of our salvation. And, if you are not saved, weigh it most carefully!!

With eternity in view,

"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 48 - 2008.06.14

"For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." — Psalm 48:14

In our approach to the word of God it is important to "rightly divide" the word of Truth. Among other things, it is essential that we properly distinguish between interpretation and application, and especially so when we are dealing with the Old Testament. Much of what is given there is by interpretation related to Israel. But, by application much of it can be related to believers everywhere and in all generations. That is the case here. The declaration of the Psalmist applies to every believer born of the Spirit into the family of God.

"This God is our God… " God revealed Himself to Israel and entered into a personal relationship with them. Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that glorious relationship is extended to all men everywhere who affirm faith in the God of the Bible. "This God" is not a dumb idol with whom there can be no real fellowship, communion or interaction. "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.[Ps. 135:15-18]." The God of Israel and of the New Testament believer is a living God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, "… and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full," writes the beloved disciple (I John 1:3). What a glorious relationship is that of the Bible Christian!!

"For ever and ever." Not only does the Christian have a personal relationship with the living God, but it is an enduring relationship. Some of us are keenly aware that our earthly relationships, however precious, are temporary. How wonderful is this, which will never be broken. He is not only the Lining God, but He is an eternal God. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms [Deut. 33:27a]." In and through "this God," we have eternal life: "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one [John 10:28-30]." In Him we have an eternal redemption: "… [Christ] entered in once once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us [Heb. 9:12b]." And, there awaits us in glory an eternal inheritance: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance [Heb. 9:15]." We will enjoy that inheritance in an eternal body: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is ["this"] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit [II Cor. 5:1-5]." And in Him we anticipate eternal glory: "… the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen [I Pet. 5:10-11]." Hallelujah!

Yet there is more in our text; "He will be our guide even unto death." Ironically, death is the one inevitable in life, and the darkest valley we have to traverse. Thankfully, the believer does not have to make that journey alone. He has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Cf Heb. 13:15)," confirming the Psalmist's confidence, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me… [Ps. 23:4]." When Stephen was about to be martyred, "… He being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God [Acts 7:55]." Whatever the manner of our passing, every believer can with confidence anticipate the same "welcome home" from this glorious, gracious God. It is great to be a Christian!
For our encouragement,

"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 47 - 2008.06.07

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises, For God is the king of all the earth; sing ye praises with understanding." — Psalm 47:6-7

The foundation for this text is set in the first two verses of the psalm; essentially, "… the Lord… is a great King over all the earth." It is this that justifies the injunction, "Sing praises," enjoined five times in our "nugget."

Christianity is, and is to be, a singing faith, and the song of the saints is to be essentially one of praise to the Lord. No one on earth has greater reason to be filled with joy and thanksgiving and praise than the true New Testament believer. As the Psalmist says in another place, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." In one of our pastorates we had in the congregation a monotone. He did not know he could not carry a tune, and he sang with us his one note at the top of his voice and with great enthusiasm. It is not musical precision that counts, but the joy and gratitude of "the soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose."

Noteworthy here, however, is the fact that it is not His redemption, but His royalty that is to sponsor our song. Remember that creation was initiated with song. "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy [Job 38:1-7]?" When sin came in and the King was in essence disowned, the song of the spheres was turned to groaning (Cf. Romans 8:22). When the King sent forth His son to redeem the world the angels sang (Cf. Luke 2:13-15) for the joy that salvation had come to this distinguished planet. And at the consummation of the ages, the singing shifts to heaven itself. There is the choir composed of the four beasts, the twenty four elders and all the redeemed (Rev. 5:9-10) who "give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, Who liveth for ever and ever…" The Lamb King is exalted in song by a select choir of 144 voices in Rev. 14:1-4, "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." And, strikingly, as God prepares to manifest His universal authority over all the earth with the outpouring of His wrath in the "seven last plagues," it is the tribulation saints who form the chorus that sings "the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest [Rev. 15:3-4]."

From the creation to the consummation, God is glorified in song. So should it be now in all the congregation of the Lord!

However, there is a modifier in our text. "Sing ye praises with understanding." C.H. Spurgeon put it well, and since I cannot improve upon it, let me enter his quote:
"It is to be feared from the slovenly way in which some make a noise in singing, that they fancy any sound will do. On the other hand, from the great attention paid by some to the mere music, we feel sadly sure that the sense has no effect upon them. Is it not a sin to be tickling men's ears with sounds when we profess to be adoring the Lord? What has a sensuous delight in organs, anthems, etc., to do with devotion? Do not men mistake physical effects for spiritual impulses? Do they not often offer to God strains far more calculated for human amusement than for divine acceptance? An understanding enlightened of the Holy Spirit is then and then only fully capable of offering worthy praise." (Italics mine.)

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!!

For God's glory,

"Pastor" Frasier