Where does your dependence lay?

Posted : 11 Jul, 2013 02:14 AM

Psalm 119:124 Deal with Your servant according unto Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes.



125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.





A sense of mercy, and the privilege of Divine teaching, were

the earnest of the Lord's salvation, for which the eyes of his

servant were failing, and for which he was waiting in

dependence upon the sure word of His righteousness. And

indeed these two wants daily press upon every servant of God

as matter for earnest supplication. Both are intimately

connected. A deeper sense of mercy will bind us more

strongly to His statutes; while a more spiritual teaching in the

statutes will humble us in a sense of sin, and consequent

need of mercy. As it respects the first-if there is a sinner upon

the earth, who needs the special mercy of God, it is His own

servant. For as the Lord sees abundantly more excellence in

his feeblest desire, than in the professor's most splendid

external duties; so He sees far more sinfulness and

provocation in the workings of his sin, than in the palpably

defective services of professors, or in the open transgression

of the wicked of the earth. Let him scrutinize his motives,

thoughts, and affections, even in his moments of nearest and

happiest approach unto his God; and he will find such

defilement cleaving to every offering, with all the aggravations

of mercy, light, and knowledge, given, that the confession of

his soul, when comparing himself with his fellow-sinners, will

be, "Of whom I am chief." And therefore, as a servant of God, I can only come before Him upon the ground of mercy. For my

best performances I need an immeasurable world of mercypardoning-saving-everlasting mercy; and yet by the blood of

Jesus I dare to plead-Deal with Your servant according unto

Your mercy.

But then I am ignorant as well as guilty; and yet I dare not

pray for teaching-much and hourly as I need it, until I have

afresh obtained mercy. These two blessings lead me at once

to the foundation of the gospel-in the work of Christ, and the

work of the Spirit-mercy flowing from the blood of the Sonteaching from the office of the Spirit. Mercy is the first

blessing, not only in point of importance, but in point of order. I

must know the Lord as a Savior, before I can go to Him with

any confidence to be my teacher. But when once I have found

acceptance for my petition-Deal with Your servant according

to Your mercy-my way will be opened to enlarge my petitionyes, once and again to repeat it-Teach me Your statutes. Give

me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies-that I

may know with intelligent conviction; walk, yes, "run in the way

of Your commandments" with "an enlarged heart." For let me

never forget, that I am "redeemed from the curse" only-not

from the service "of the law"-yes, redeemed from its curse,

that I may be bound to its service. And does not my especial

relation to my God as His servant, furnish me with a plea for

His acceptance? For when this "earth is full of His mercy"-

much more may I, as belonging to His house, plead for the

special mercy of His teaching-His own covenant promise-so

needful for His servant, who desires to know, that he may do,

His will.

But if I am the Lord's servant, how did I become so? Time was

(let me be ashamed and confounded at the remembrance of

it) when I was engaged for another master, and in another

service. But His sovereign grace called me from the dominion

of sin-from the chains of Satan-from the bondage of the world, and drew me to Himself. "His I am-and Him I serve." His

service is my highest privilege: His reward of grace is my

glorious hope. "If any man serve Me," says my Master, "let

him follow Me: and where I am, there shall also My servant

be. If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." As His

servant, therefore, I cast myself with confidence upon His

mercy, and expect to be dealt with according to that mercy.

No-I shall be denied nothing that I "ask according to His will."

For He has condescended to call me-not His servant, but "his

friend"-yes more, to call himself "my brother."

Lord! You have showed me this great favor and grace, to

make me Your servant. I would be Yours forever. I love Your

service too well to wish to change it; yet must I mourn over my

dullness, my backwardness in doing Your will, and walking in

Your way. Oh! teach me Your statutes more clearly, more

experimentally! Give me understanding to discern their

heavenly sweetness and their holy liberty, that I may live in a

more simple and devoted obedience to them, until I come to

see Your face, and to be Your servant in Your heavenly

temple, "no more to go out."



by

Charles Bridges

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