Congregation, Liberation, Desolation

 

Congregation, Liberation, Desolation

God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Psalm 68:6

God is not dead, nor does He slumber. He has not merely set the world upon its course and then withdrawn Himself to observe its operations from afar. The Scripture presents to us a God who is above space and time on the one hand but who actively intervenes in the affairs of humanity on the other hand. Our text for today speaks to the issue of what God is doing on a continual basis in regard to both the elect and non-elect. We observe at the beginning of the text that “He sets the solitary in families.” Here is the congregation of God’s people. From “all nations, and kindreds, and tongues” God draws out those whom He has chosen unto eternal salvation through faith in Christ. Though they be sometimes the only one in their families or villages who believe; yet Christ makes them members of His body the Church, the truest family in heaven and earth. He sets them within the spiritual family context of the local body of believers and thereby gives them a sense of belonging at the local level.

We find that our text also refers to God’s continuing liberation of His people. Christ is ever the Great Liberator of His blood-bought people. We may begin our lives in the bondage of servitude to the god of this world, but Christ will never leave His elect there. There is a constant movement of the Holy Spirit in the world to bring those God will save, out of the spiritual bondage into which we were born and into the emancipated standing of being justified and adopted children of God.

There is another movement of God in the affairs of humanity which is much more solemn. Our text reminds us that “the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” This is the intervention of God whereby He leaves those who are rebellious in the spiritual desolation of their own devices. What a terrible tragedy, to be left by God to our own desolation. Such a life is no less than long slow agony of destitution. ‘The way of the transgressor is hard.’

Let us today be thankful that God has not left us desolate, and let us desire greatly that He will advance His kingdom in and through us.

Our King and Our God,

continue Thy great work with us,

in us, and through us, we pray.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice