June 8

They shall sing in the ways of the Lord. - Psalms 138:5.

THESE are words of promise as well as of prediction. God can foresee and foretell evil as well as good: this only requires his omniscience. But God is the author, the sole author, of all good; and therefore, if he foresees and insures this, it is because he has engaged to produce it; for “of him and through him are all things.” “He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Therefore we may consider these words as containing one of the exceeding great and precious promises upon which he has called us to hope, and which are “all yea and amen in Christ Jesus, to the glory of God by us.” The Psalmist tells us the people of God shall sing in the ways of the Lord. With regard to these ways, we know the chosen tribes went three times a year to appear before the Lord, in Jerusalem. These services were called solemn assemblies, and the people not only rejoiced before the Lord in these solemnities, but they approached him by singing. We have some of these songs: they are called “the songs of degrees;” because they sang them as they passed from one place to another, and from one company to another, thus soothing the tediousness of the passage, and increasing their desire to stand within the walls of their Jerusalem.

First, We understand the ways of the Lord to include the way in which God walks with regard to us,-his ways in nature, in his varied dealings with us, and in the different actions of his providence and grace, as well as the ways which he has appointed and commanded his people to walk in with regard to himself.

Secondly, We observe, they not only walk in the ways of the Lord, but sing in them. This implies acquiescence, approbation, satisfaction, pleasure, delight. Whence springs this singing in the ways of the Lord? We may look after some of the near sources of it. The first of which is conviction. It is a reasonable service; and as the Christian is able to give a reason of the hope which is in him, so is he also able to give a reason of his joy. Hence, says the apostle, “They joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have received the atonement.”

Secondly, It arises from renovation. He is born of God, and therefore hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and therefore he feeds-yea, he not only feeds, but feasts-upon the provision of the gospel. He finds God’s words, and he eats them, and they are to him the joy and rejoicing of his heart.

Thirdly, It is derived from experience. He has tasted that the Lord is gracious: this taste has provoked appetite, and increased it; and there is much to cause the Christian to sing in the ways of the Lord, when he considers his former experience, when he reviews the dealings of God with him, the surprising instances of goodness he has met with, in which the Lord has been not only better to him than his fears, but surpassing his hopes, and has done exceeding abundantly above what he could either ask or think.

Fourthly, This singing flows from fellowship. “As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend;” “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”

Fifthly, This springs from his prospects and anticipations. The Christian while here has some Bethel visits, some Pisgah’s views; but there are better things for him still in reserve, and therefore his prospects cheer and animate him principally. Oh to see Jesus as he is! Oh to be like him! Oh to be ever with the Lord, and to have no more to do with a wicked world without and a wicked heart within! Oh to be as innocent as Adam in Paradise, and as holy as the Son of God himself!-what an expectation is here!

“There we shall see his face,

And never, never sin:

There from the river of his grace

Drink endless pleasure in.”