Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. Sermons
A people near unto Him. : —I. THE POSITION OF THE PEOPLE NEAR TO GOD, OR THE RELATIONSHIP INDICATED BY NEARNESS. 1. A legal nearness. "Made nigh by the blood of Christ." 2. A covenant relationship. A solemn mutual pledge, sealed at the Cross. 3. A filial relationship. Not more certainly will affection be felt in the heart of both parent and child among the families of men than in the "Abba Father" of the believing soul, and the tender pity of God's gracious bosom. 4. A mystical union between Christ and the soul. All His becomes yours, and yours becomes His. 5. Partakers of the Divine nature. II. THE PRIVILEGES OF THE PEOPLE NEAR TO GOD. What shall we say to that protection which this nearness ensures to your soul, seeing that the place of your defence shall be the munitions of rocks, that your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure? Jehovah is like a wall of fire about His people. What shall we say of that provision made for you in this wilderness, where every possible want of the body and the soul meets its full and perpetual supply in the riches of Divine goodness, which are all pledged to you by the love and faithfulness of your covenant God? What shall we say of the promises "exceeding great and precious," made to all collectively, and to one by one personally. What shall we say of providences, all arranged by wisdom which never errs, and love which never fails, and controlled by power that is never weary, so as most effectually to promote the salvation of your souls? III. THE TRANSFORMING EFFICACY OF THIS NEARNESS TO GOD. See how it will and must operate from principles necessarily at work. 1. There is the solemnity of your position. If God's nearness be fairly and fully recognized, if He be seen as He is, and you seen as you are, in the light of His purity, will you, can you, dare you be contented to remain in the corruption of nature? 2. There is admiration of God's character. Let His character be seen and felt as revealed in the way of pardoning sin by the Cross in infinite power and wisdom, holiness and truth, all displayed in sweet harmony and ineffable glory, while mercy casts her bright radiance over them all to assure the trembling sinner, and constrain him to draw nigh; then can you see all thee perfections engaged on the side of the sinner, engaged to sanctify and save his soul, and feel not a lofty admiration of the beauty of the Lord? 3. But admiration begets desire. If we feel admiration for any person, do we not wish to make him a friend? The moment that admiration of anything ceases, desire to have and enjoy it ceases too. But the beauty of the Lord is manifested to your faith just that you may feel the kindlings of desire to be His, and to be like Him in His loveliness. 4. But surely the soul that has such desires will frequently, solemnly, and closely commune with this infinitely lovely and blessed God. Such communion gives a consciousness of the reality of Divine things, and is fitted to stir you up and spur you on in the effort to become like your God. It thus necessarily leads to — 5. Imitation. This is the end of the process, imitation of "God manifest in the flesh." His Word will make you wise. His truth will render you truthful. His justice will move you to rectitude. His sovereignty will make and keep you lowly. His purity will lead you to holiness of heart. His mercy and pity will make you tender, and loving, and gentle. (John Walker.) I. IN WHAT RESPECTS TRUE BELIEVERS ARE NEAR TO GOD. 1. The awful breach is healed, and they are reconciled. The separating wall of sin is broken down, and they have boldness and access with confidence to Him who would otherwise be a consuming fire. 2. The power of sin is subdued, and they are near as to union and likeness. Nearness, as to the former, is by the blood of Christ: the latter is by the influences of the Holy Spirit. 3. They are near as to communion and fellowship. Jacob had his Bethel, David his hill Mizar, and Paul, though sometimes pressed out of measure, had also his raptures in the third heavens (Isaiah 12:1). 4. They are near to Him in a way of endearment, being precious in His sight. They are near to His heart, and to His eye, and His ear is open to their complaints. 5. They are so near to Him that they will soon be with Him — at home, and at rest. Faith gives you an interest in the Divine favour, and death will bring you to the full enjoyment of it. Your warfare shall be accomplished, and the victory complete. II. THE REASONS WHY THIS NEARNESS IS MATTER OF EXULTATION AND JOY. 1. This nearness is lasting: those who are thus brought near to God shall be for ever near. 2. Those who are near to God have God also near to them. He will guide, protect, and comfort His people amidst all their difficulties and dangers. 3. They have blessings and privileges which none else can enjoy. They may hear from Him, and He from them; may contemplate His glorious majesty, and commune with Him, as it were, face to face. 4. Being near to God, they are also near to heaven. Improvement —(1) How vain are all our hopes of happiness without God (Psalm 73:27).(2) Let us be reconciled to those providences which tend to bring us near. The severest trials are often among the means which God employs to bring us to Himself.(3) Let nearness to God be the object sought after in every holy duty, both public and private. We may as well be in Geshur as at Jerusalem, unless we see the King's face.(4) Not only let us desire to be brought near in a way of interest, but to keep near in a way of communion. This will soften afflictions, heighten our mercies, fortify us against the fear of death, and be our best preparative for heaven.(5) If the Lord's people be near and dear to Him, let them be so to us. (B. Beddome, M. A.) ( C. H. Spurgeon.). Sing unto the Lord a new song. 1. The elect, regenerate, or true believers have a song of their own for mercies proper to them, beside the praise which they have to give for the Lord's work round about them, and therefore they have a proper reason to praise God for their own particular.2. The song of the redeemed elect and converted is a new song which shall never wax old, nor be cut off, an everlasting song. 3. It is God's ordinance that the worshippers of the Lord should have assemblies and meetings wherein publicly and jointly they may glorify the Lord in proclaiming cheerfully His praise. (D. Dickson.) Mr. Moody says: "There is much more said in the Bible about praise than about prayer. The Psalms are nothing but praise, and as David got nearer the end of the journey he seems to have thought of little else. So it is with Christians — the nearer they get to heaven, the more they praise God. Everything that God has created except the heart of man praises Him. I knew a man who always used to praise God under any circumstances. One day he came in with a severe cut on his finger, and said, 'Praise God, I didn't cut it off.' Let us also praise God that our misfortunes are no worse."People PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Angels, Armies, Army, Heavenly, Host, Hosts, Messengers, PraiseOutline 1. The psalmist exhorts the celestial7. The terrestrial 11. And the rational creatures to praise God Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 148:2Library That Worthy Name. James ii:7. IN the second chapter of the Epistle of James the Holy Spirit speaks of our ever blessed Lord as "that worthy Name." Precious Word! precious to every heart that knows Him and delights to exalt His glorious and worthy Name. His Name is "far above every Name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." (Ephes. i:21.) It is "as ointment poured forth" (Song of Sol. i:3); yea, His Name alone is excellent (Psalm cxlviii:13). But according to His worth that blessed … Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory Sexagesima Sunday Let them Praise the Name of the Lord for his Name Alone is Excellent; his Glory is Above the Earth and Heaven. Universal Worship. --Ps. cxlviii. Covenanting a Privilege of Believers. Purposes of God. The Royal Marriage Feast. The Fourth Commandment The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds. Psalms Links Psalm 148:2 NIVPsalm 148:2 NLT Psalm 148:2 ESV Psalm 148:2 NASB Psalm 148:2 KJV Psalm 148:2 Bible Apps Psalm 148:2 Parallel Psalm 148:2 Biblia Paralela Psalm 148:2 Chinese Bible Psalm 148:2 French Bible Psalm 148:2 German Bible Psalm 148:2 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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