"Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel." —Psalm 71:20-22
In this, sometimes called "a psalm of old age," the Psalmist reflects upon the path of life over which he has traveled, and the destination which lies not far ahead of him. That is not an uncommon thing with those of us who have reached what some call "the sunset years."
Here, in particular, he sums up in few words the potholes he has encountered on the journey; "Thou hast shown me great and sore troubles." Probably the majority of senior saints could make a similar observation, for, as Job said, "man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward [Job. 5:7]." When trouble comes, however, it serves as the most defining element in our spiritual journey. It is then that we decide whether our faith is real or illusionary. Someone long ago said, "It does not matter what the trouble is; it only matters where the trouble lies. If the trouble comes between you and God, that is not good. If you stand between the trouble and God, trouble only crowds you closer to Him." David's troubles often wrung from his lips a cry for mercy, but never a cry of doubt about God's goodness, grace and power.
So here, his reflection gives rise to renewed confidence; "Thou…shalt quicken me again, and…bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Old age is a brusque reminder that our sojourn here is of limited duration; "It is appointed unto man once to die. "But, for the believer that is not the end. It is, in fact, only the beginning of "the life that shall endless be." As with our Savior, "death could not keep its prey," so with those who put their trust in Him. We can echo the psalmist's confidence, "Thou…shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." The grave will hold the remnants of 'the house we lived in,' but we will move into a "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," (See I Cor. 5:1-8) and when He comes again we shall be raised incorruptible and death swallowed up in victory! (See I Cor. 15:42-58!!)
But, there is more. "Thou shalt increase my greatness,and comfort me on every side." No greater prospect can enter the human mind than what awaits the believer "on the other side." The Holy Spirit, through the apostle John, has encapsulated it, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is [I John 3:2]." We will be then forever free of all that here we defined as "great and sore troubles," not the least of which is the tenacious plague of sin. Oh happy day! As Paul put it,"I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [Rom. 8:18]."
How appropriately, then, does the Psalmist break out into jubilant praise. "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long… [Ps. 71:22-24]." I am inclined to think that David is here anticipating his heavenly occupation. We are often asked, what will heaven be like, and what will we do there? Biblical information is relatively scarce, but if my judgment is correct, heaven will be filled with God glorifying instrumental music, songs of praise sung by enlightened saints and unending testimony to the righteousness of God; the 'song of souls set free!'
My friends, may we share that grand circumstance together! And perhaps not too far hence!!
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." —Eph. 2"4-7
Singing HIS praises,
"Pastor" Frasier
In this, sometimes called "a psalm of old age," the Psalmist reflects upon the path of life over which he has traveled, and the destination which lies not far ahead of him. That is not an uncommon thing with those of us who have reached what some call "the sunset years."
Here, in particular, he sums up in few words the potholes he has encountered on the journey; "Thou hast shown me great and sore troubles." Probably the majority of senior saints could make a similar observation, for, as Job said, "man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward [Job. 5:7]." When trouble comes, however, it serves as the most defining element in our spiritual journey. It is then that we decide whether our faith is real or illusionary. Someone long ago said, "It does not matter what the trouble is; it only matters where the trouble lies. If the trouble comes between you and God, that is not good. If you stand between the trouble and God, trouble only crowds you closer to Him." David's troubles often wrung from his lips a cry for mercy, but never a cry of doubt about God's goodness, grace and power.
So here, his reflection gives rise to renewed confidence; "Thou…shalt quicken me again, and…bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Old age is a brusque reminder that our sojourn here is of limited duration; "It is appointed unto man once to die. "But, for the believer that is not the end. It is, in fact, only the beginning of "the life that shall endless be." As with our Savior, "death could not keep its prey," so with those who put their trust in Him. We can echo the psalmist's confidence, "Thou…shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." The grave will hold the remnants of 'the house we lived in,' but we will move into a "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," (See I Cor. 5:1-8) and when He comes again we shall be raised incorruptible and death swallowed up in victory! (See I Cor. 15:42-58!!)
But, there is more. "Thou shalt increase my greatness,and comfort me on every side." No greater prospect can enter the human mind than what awaits the believer "on the other side." The Holy Spirit, through the apostle John, has encapsulated it, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is [I John 3:2]." We will be then forever free of all that here we defined as "great and sore troubles," not the least of which is the tenacious plague of sin. Oh happy day! As Paul put it,"I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [Rom. 8:18]."
How appropriately, then, does the Psalmist break out into jubilant praise. "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long… [Ps. 71:22-24]." I am inclined to think that David is here anticipating his heavenly occupation. We are often asked, what will heaven be like, and what will we do there? Biblical information is relatively scarce, but if my judgment is correct, heaven will be filled with God glorifying instrumental music, songs of praise sung by enlightened saints and unending testimony to the righteousness of God; the 'song of souls set free!'
My friends, may we share that grand circumstance together! And perhaps not too far hence!!
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." —Eph. 2"4-7
Singing HIS praises,
"Pastor" Frasier
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