A Perishing World and an Immutable God
Essex Remembrancer
Psalm 102:26-28
They shall perish, but you shall endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a clothing shall you change them…


The great practical lesson which we are being daily taught is this, to withdraw our hearts from a changing and decaying world; and fix our hopes, and seek our happiness, in an unchanging and eternal God. This is the secret of real and permanent happiness to the soul of man.

I. THE DESCRIPTION WHICH THE TEXT GIVES OF THE MATERIAL WORLD — THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. They are described as —

1. The effect of Divine operation. The contemplation of God's creative wisdom and power, as displayed in the works of His hands, should deepen the feeling of awe and reverence, with which we regard His sacred majesty.

2. Mutable, perishable, and destined to destruction.

II. THE CONTRAST WHICH IT PRESENTS IN THE PERFECTIONS OF THE WORLD'S CREATOR AND MAN'S REDEEMER. Thus the shifting scenes and dissolving frame of nature may be improved by the children of God to their own comfort, by giving the force of a most advantageous contrast to the perfections of God their Saviour.

III. THE CONCLUSION WHICH IT DRAWS FROM THIS VIEW OF THE DIVINE CHARACTER. God our Redeemer will maintain His cause in this mutable world, as long as the world shall continue. Conclusion: —

1. How utterly unsuitable the world and the things of the world are to be the chief objects of man's solicitude and pursuit.

2. How preeminently secure and blest are they, whose dependence and hopes are fixed in the eternal God.

(Essex Remembrancer.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

WEB: They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.




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