Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness. I. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS THERE IS A GLORIOUS HOPE. This creed concerning the future has three clauses: "I shall awake; I shall be like Christ, when I awake; when I awake like Christ, I shall be satisfied." Simple and deep, as the very purposes of God! 1. "I shall awake." Tired eyes fall asleep, tired feet rest; but after God's beautiful ordinance of sleep is fulfilled we shall awake rested, refreshed, re-invigorated. What was it that David believed would wake up? What was it that David believed went to sleep? There is more than a little obscurity on this point. More than one modern writer speaks as if the soul were asleep. That we cannot think. We must apply sleeping and waking to that part of us to which it belongs. We put the body to sleep; we lay it in its narrow grave. We do not know what the Divine alchemy may do for these bodies of ours. 2. I shall be like Christ when I awake. Our bodies will be like Christ's body. The bodies of the saints will be glorified bodies, like the body of the Son of Man. And I feel glad that He lived a little while after the resurrection. 3. I shall be satisfied. (1) We shall be satisfied with ourselves. (2) We shall be satisfied with our homes. (3) We shall be satisfied with Christ. II. THE GLORIOUS HOPE BELONGS ONLY TO THE RIGHTEOUS. The first clause indicates those who will certainly enjoy this blessed hope. Those who can say, "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness." You cannot see His face at all, if you do not see it that way. Righteousness as a state we call holiness. He who by faith in Jesus has righteousness as a standing will, also by faith, receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, which shall save him from sin and all uncleanness. We shall never be able to say, with any firmness of tone, "I shall be satisfied," until we can also add, "Not m my own righteousness, but in the righteousness which is of God in Christ." But that will lead to the other inevitably. (John Bradford.) Parallel Verses KJV: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. |
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