926
THE KING’S BUSINESS
“Revive us again” has risen as sweet incense before God when'the church has been in desolation, and mighty outpourings of grace have resulted. Every true revival local or general, is begun in this prayer or substantially this prayer. The time has certainly come for the church to take up this prayer again, and she is beginning to do it. The verse brings out in a beautiful way the results of a true revival from God : “that thy people may rejoice in thee”. Nothing else brings such joy to God’s peo ple as a reviving from Him. But a spuri ous man-made revival does not bring rejoic ing, but deep sadness, to God’s true people. The Psalmist longed for salvation, but there was only one kind of salvation that he desired, “thy salvation”, God’s salvation. vs. 8-10. I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Surely His salva tion is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” It was- a wise decision of the Psalmist when he said: “I will hear what God the LORD will speak.” Some of us are very anxious that the Lord should hear what we have to say to Him, but it never occurs to them that it is vastly more important that we hear what He has to say to us. Some one has said, “In our prayers we talk to God, and in our Bible study God talks to us, and we would better let God do most of the talking”. If we do not listen to what God says to us first, then God will pay no attention to what we say to Him (I John 3:22). The fact that we are not listening intently to what God says to us, and doing what He says, accounts for a large share of the unanswered prayers. The man who really knows how to pray does not keep talking to God right along, but often stops to listen to what God has to say to him. It would be well for us all if we would often stop in our communion with God and say, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak” (John 15:7). And what does God speak when we “hear” ?
“He will speak peace”. Yes, what God speaks when we stop to listen to His voice is “peace” : peace comes from God’s word. Notice in this connection relation between the 26th and 27th verses of John 14. In the 27th verse is the wonderful promise of “peace” such as the world does not give, but in the 26th verse is the promise of the Holy Spirit, bringing to remembrance the words of Christ; and it is through the words of Christ being brought to mind that the peace comes (See also John 20:19, 26; Acts 10:36). The reason why the average Christian has so little peace is because he spends so little time with his Bible. Some times God speaks peace through His writ ten word, and the one who desires deep heart peace, “the peace of God that passeth all understanding”, should feed much upon the word (Psalm 119:165). Sometimes God speaks peace directly by His Spirit. It is “unto His people”, and “to His saints” that God speaks peace. There is no peace for those who are not “His” (Isaiah 57:21). .When one has heard the word of peace, he must Walk very softly before God, “let them not return again to folly”. When one hears the great heart-filling word of peace, it does not seem possible that they should turn again to folly, but alas! they do (Gal. 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:19; 4:10). Salvation is right at hand for those who “fear (i.e., have a rev erent regard for) God”, and not only salva tion for the individual, but “glory” for the “land”. When God’s people are obedient to His word, then mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. • vs. 11-13. “Truth shall spring ( spring- eth ) out of the earth; and righteousness shall look (hath looked down) from heav en. Yea, The LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the (make his foot steps a ) way of his steps (to walk in)”. We have here a wonderful picture of the blessing that .comes when God’s people repent and are revived. It will be very lit erally fulfilled in the coming day when
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