1. The Lord
reigneth. One of the most joyous utterances
which ever leaped from mortal lip. The overthrow of the reign of evil and the
setting up of Jehovah’s kingdom of goodness, justice, and truth is worthy to be
hymned again and again. Let the people tremble. Let the chosen people
feel a solemn yet joyful awe, which will thrill their whole humanity. Saints
quiver with devout emotion, and sinners quiver with terror when the rule of
Jehovah is fully perceived and felt. It is not a light or trifling matter; it
is a truth which, above all other, should stir the depths of our nature. He
sitteth between the cherubims. In sublime glory, yet in nearness, Jehovah
revealed himself above the mercy-seat, whereon stood the likeness of those
flaming ones who gaze upon his glory and forever cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God of hosts.” The Lord reigning on that throne of grace which is sprinkled
with atoning blood, and veiled with the covering wings of mediatorial love, is
above all other revelations wonderful, and fitted to excite emotion among all
mankind; hence it is added, Let the earth be moved. Not merely “the
people,” but the whole earth should feel a movement of adoring awe when it is
known that on the mercy-seat God sits as universal monarch. The pomp of heaven
surrounds him, and is symbolized by the outstretched wings of the waiting
cherubs.
2. The Lord is
great in Zion. Of old the temple’s sacred hill was
the center of the worship of the great King, and the place where his grandeur
was most clearly beheld; his church is now his favored palace, where his
greatness is displayed, acknowledged, and adored. And he is high above all
the people; towering above their highest thoughts and loftiest conceptions.
If Israel delighted in Saul because he was head and shoulders above the people,
how much more should we exult in our God and King, who is as high above us as
the heavens are above the earth.
3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name. Let all the dwellers in Zion and all the nations upon the
earth praise the Lord, or “acknowledge thankfully” the goodness of his divine
nature, albeit that there is so much in it which must inspire their awe. Under
the most terrible aspect the Lord is still to be praised. The terrible Avenger
is to be praised, as well as the loving Redeemer. Against this the sympathy of
man’s evil heart with sin rebels; it cries out for an effeminate God in whom
pity has strangled justice. The well-instructed servants of Jehovah praise him
in all the aspects of his character, whether terrible or tender. Grace streaming
from the mercy-seat can alone work in us this admirable frame of mind. For
it is holy, or “He is holy.” In him is no fault, excess or deficiency,
error or iniquity. He is wholly excellent, and is therefore called holy.
4. The king’s strength also loveth judgment. God is the king, the mercy-seat is his throne, and the
scepter which he sways is holy like himself. His power never exerts itself
tyrannically; he is a sovereign, and his authority is absolute in his
government, but his might delights in right, his force is used for just
purposes only. People in these days are constantly arraigning the Lord’s
government, and setting up to judge whether he does right or not; but saintly
people in the olden times were of another mind; they were sure that what the
Lord did was just, and instead of calling him to account they humbly submitted
themselves to his will. Thou dost establish equity. Not even for the
sake of mercy does the Lord remove or injure the equity of his moral
government; both in providence and in grace he is careful to conserve the
immaculate parity of his justice. The Lord our God demolishes every system of
injustice, and right alone is made to stand. Thou executest judgment and
righteousness in Jacob. The laws are carried out; the executive is as
righteous as the legislative. Herein let all the oppressed, indeed all who love
that which is right, find large occasion for praise. The annals of most human
governments have been written in the tears of the donwtrodden, and the curses
of the oppressed; the chronicles of the Lord’s kingdom are of another sort;
truth shines in each line, goodness in every syllable, and justice in every
letter.
5. Exalt yet the Lord
our God. If no others adore him, let his own
people render to him the most ardent worship. Infinite condescension makes him
stoop to be called our God, and truth and faithfulness
bind him to maintain that covenant relationship; and surely we, to whom by
grace he so lovingly gives himself, should exalt him with all our hearts. He
shines upon us from under the veiling wings of cherubim, and above the seat of
mercy; therefore let us come and worship at his footstool. When he
reveals himself in Christ Jesus, as our reconciled God, who allows us to
approach even to his throne, it becomes us to unite earnestness and humility,
joy and adoration. For he is holy. Holiness is the harmony of all the
virtues. The Lord has not one glorious attribute alone, or in excess, but all
glories are in him as a whole. His power is not his choicest jewel, nor his
sovereignty, but his holiness.
6. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them
that call upon his name. Though
not ordained to the typical priesthood, Moses was a true priest. God has ever
had a priesthood beside and above that of the law. The three holy men here
mentioned all stood in his courts, and saw his holiness, each one after his own
order. Moses saw the Lord in flaming fire revealing his perfect law, Aaron
often watched the sacred fire devour the sin-offering, and Samuel witnessed the
judgment of the Lord on Eli’s house, because of the error of his way. These
each one stood in the gap when the wrath of God broke forth, because his
holiness had been insulted; and acting as intercessors, they screened the
nation from the great and terrible God, who otherwise would in a dreadful
manner have executed judgment in Jacob. Let these men, or such as these, lead
us in our worship, and let us approach the Lord at the mercy-seat as they did,
for he is as accessible to us as to them. They made it their life’s business to
call upon him in prayer, and by so doing brought down innumerable blessings
upon themselves and others. Does not the Lord call us also to come up into the
mount with Moses, and to enter the most holy place with Aaron? Do we not hear
him call us by our name as he did Samuel? And do we not answer, “Speak, Lord,
for thy servant heareth”? They called upon the Lord, and he answered them. Being a holy God he was true
to his promises, and hearkened to them from off the mercy-seat. Here is reason
for praise, for answers to the petitions of some are proofs of God’s readiness
to hear others. These three men asked large things, they pleaded for a whole
nation, and they stayed great plagues and turned away fiery wrath; who would
not exercise himself in adoring so great and merciful a God?
7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar. Responses came to Moses and Aaron out of that glorious
overshadowing cloud, and though Samuel saw it not, yet to him also came the
mystic voice. People have had converse with God; let us therefore speak to God
in return. He has told us things to come; let us in return confess the sins
which are past. He has revealed his mind to us; let us then pour out our hearts
before him. They kept his testimonies. When others turned aside they
were faithful; in their hearts they laid up his word, and in their lives they
obeyed it. When he spoke to them they observed his will, and therefore when
they spoke to him he yielded to their desires. This keeping of the divine
testimonies is a virtue all too rare in these our days; people run after their
own views and opinions, and make light of the truth of God; hence it is that
they fail in prayer. May the good Lord bring back his people to reverence his
word, and then will he also have respect unto the voice of their cry. And
the ordinance that he gave them. His practical precept they observed as
well as his doctrinal instruction. A light estimate of inspired dogma is sure
to end in neglect of moral virtues. Lord, if thou wilt make us mighty with thee
in prayer, we shall also be kept faithful before thee in the service which thou
hast laid upon us.
8. Thou answeredst them, O Lord
our God. A sweet title and a cheering fact. Thou
wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
He forgave the sinners, but he slew their sins. The passage refers to the
nation which was spared through the intercession of these three holy men, but
yet was severely chastened for its transgressions. In answer to the cry of
Moses the tribes lived on, but the then existing generation could not enter
Canaan; Aaron’s golden calf was broken, though the fire of the Lord did not
consume the people; and Israel smarted under the harsh government of Saul,
though at Samuel’s request its grumbling against the theocratic rule of their
fathers’ God was not visited with pestilence or famine. So to forgive sin as at
the same time to express abhorrence of it is the special glory of God, and is
best seen in the atonement of our Lord Jesus. Are you a believer? Then paternal
discipline will be laid upon you if your walk be not close with God.
9. Exalt the Lord
our God. A second time the delightful title
of Jehovah our God is used, and it is quickly followed by a third. The psalm is
Trinitarian in its whole structure. In each of his sacred persons the Lord is
the God of his people; the Father is ours, the Son is ours, and the Holy Spirit
is ours; let us exalt him with all our ransomed powers. And worship at his
holy hill. Where he appoints his temple let us resort. No spot of ground is
now fenced about as especially holy, or to be regarded as more sacred than
another; yet his visible church is his chosen hill, and there would we be
found, numbered with his people, and unite with them in worship. For the Lord our God is holy. Again this
devout description is repeated, and made the climax of the song. Oh for hearts
made pure within, so that we may rightly perceive and worthily praise the
infinite perfection of the Triune Lord.
Excerpt from:
The Treasury of David
By Charles H Spurgeon
