O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul, Lamentations 3:58. Observe how positively the prophet speaks. He does not say, I hope, I trust, I sometimes think, that God has pleaded the causes of my soul; but he speaks of it as a matter of fact not to be disputed. Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul. Let us, by the aid of the gracious Comforter, shake off those doubts and fears which mar our peace and comfort. Be this our prayer, that we would be done with the harsh croaking voice of surmise and suspicion and speak with the clear, melodious voice of full assurance. Notice how gratefully the prophet speaks, ascribing all the glory to God alone! We perceive there is not a word concerning himself or his own pleadings. He does not ascribe his deliverance in any measure to any man, much less to his own merit; but it is thou O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life. A grateful spirit should always be cultivated by the Christian and especially after deliverance should prepare a song for our God. Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints and every day should be a censer smoking with the sweet incense of thanksgiving. How joyful Jeremiah seems to be while he records the Lords mercy. How triumphantly he lifts up the strain! He has been in the low dungeon and is even now no other than the weeping prophet; and yet in the very book which is called Lamentations, clear as the song of Miriam when she dashed her fingers against the tabor, shrill as the note of Deborah when she met Barak with shouts of victory, we hear the voice of Jeremy going up to heaven. Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. As children of God, may we seek after a vital experience of the Lords loving-kindness and when we have it, speak positively of it; sing gratefully, and shout triumphantly! Roland
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:43:42 +0000