3. The People of God’s Covenant Psalm 89:15-16

Text: “And I will give them an heart to know Me, and that I am the Lord: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.”

Jeremiah 24:7.

          “And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21.

Good morning, True Christian people of God’s Covenant! The Lord has given you and I born again hearts to know Him – in Christ Jesus – and to become ‘His people’; forgiven and freed from our vile sins; redeemed by Christ’s sinless Blood Sacrifice at Calvary’s Cross; and on our way to the glory of Heaven, and all by God’s matchless and Sovereign grace. Hallelujah!  Is not this great cause for our deep rejoicing?  Hallelujah!  Thanks be to the Lord God!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.”  (Psalm 103:1-5)

The true Christian people of God’s Eternal Covenant should now rejoice and give thanks.  Mere professors of false faith can examine their pathetic reasons not to do so.

Verse 15. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound…” These mentioned ‘people’ are those chosen by the Lord God from before the foundations of the world, elected, according to His Own Sovereign will and grace to be redeemed by Christ; given to Christ in Eternity before any of us were ever BORN of fallen Adam/Eve; and saved by the Lord Jesus in time, and all according to God’s Sovereign grace and will.

Mankind has no input in such a choice or such a truly wonderful Eternal Salvation plan.  God is God, and He does just whatsoever He, as God, choses to do in all circumstances and ages of mere time.  Amen.

“But our God is in the Heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” (Psalm 115:3)

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:10-12)

Verse 15. “…They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. The people of God’s Covenant seek to walk with Him in close fellowship continually.  He is pure and Holy Light, and genuine Christians should always endeavour to sanctify ourselves, that we might walk in that Holy Light with the One Who has redeemed us from our sin.  We sanctify ourselves by confession of our sins, to Him alone; forsaking of those sins; and being washed by a washing of the Word in daily Bible study.  The open Bible is a means of Spiritual washing. (John 15:3)

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:6-7)

Verse 16. “In Thy Name shall they rejoice all the day. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4) Note that it is “…in Christ’s Name…” we can rejoice.  And what a Name that is to rejoice in!  This same Lord Jesus Christ Who has gone to the Cross bearing all our sins away; and suffered, and was brutalised to take the full punishment of what our sins deserved; Who died a death that only He could die in our place, and as our Substitute – and, HALLELUJAH, rose again from the dead on the third day, to justify ‘His people’ in the Holy Presence of Almighty God from all our sins and guilt and shame. 

Do these Gospel facts not make your heart to fully rejoice, dear Reader?  It certainly does mine.  Glory to the Lamb Who is worthy!  All praise and thanks be to our gracious Lord God!  Amen.  The Lord has made a Covenant with us, ‘His people’.  Thanks be to His Name.

The Gospel: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) God’s Word is truth.

The Gospel is merely good news that our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live a Holy life; die a cruel death on a Cross; and rise again by His power to prove that Salvation is being offered to all ‘His people’, for the full forgiveness of our sins.  Surely this makes our redeemed souls to truly rejoice?  Hallelujah!  Salvation is of the Lord!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.”  (Psalm 103:1-5)  Can you say ‘Amen’ to this, Reader?

Verse 16. “…In Thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Please note that it is ‘…in His righteousness’ that believers shall be exalted, for we have no righteousness of our own!  The person who seeks to exalt him or herself in their own perceived righteousness is a FOOL.  God’s inspired Word clearly teaches us the fact that, “…There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

Note: The Lord God is the One Who does the seeking of ‘His people’.  He alone is the ‘good Shepherd Who gives His life for the sheep’!  If it were down to us, we would never have sought the Lord God, or even believed that He existed!  God the Holy Spirit has to ‘quicken’ us first, before we will ever recognise our vile sins, God’s absolute righteousness and wrath against sin; and become aware of the fearful judgement that must surely come upon all that are never granted faith to believe in Christ and Him Crucified for the sins of ‘His people’.

Christ teaches us: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.”  (John 16:7-8)

Thought: God’s power awakens ‘His people’ to know and to receive His great Covenant of Salvation in Jesus Christ, the only way, truth, and life Eternal.  Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment

I invite comments that are Christian in nature. All comments are moderated, and any negative submissions are deleted and never published.